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Cosmetic cleaning: Faceplates knobs etc, what's your solution?

Tangerine

Tangerine

Thanks for all the fish!
I had a look around here for a thread on suitable methods for cleaning the cosmetic exterior of Silver and Champagne components. The info I did find was sparse so I figured that there could be a sticky (decided on by the Mods of course) that would include all successful methods to restore that showroom shine. It should also include what not to do as that is as much help when rying to avoid turning your frontpiece into an aluminium blank.
Hopefully this will attract some Aussie bretheran that would cite local cleaning products.
Now that I have a full 9 series champagne set, I am looking for tips on how to best clean them as well as silver gear.
 
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I have always had good results with warm soapy water and a toothbrush. (Preferably and old one or your significant other's...lol).:yes:
 
Tangerine said:
Now that I have a full 9 series champagne set
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Don't want to derail your thread, but I uploaded a full "Champagne" series catalog (1982) to the Pioneer manual database linked to from my signature.

As to cleaning, I simply use lukewarm water with mild dish-washing liquid, an old toothbrush, terrycloth, and Carnuba topcoat safe auto wax. I think it comes out pretty nice, but I am sure others have more elaborate methods.
 
I have not used it on audio yet, but NANOWAX is a spray carnuba wax that will not turn white. Spray on, wipe off.

I use it on my fresh paint 240sx. Good stuff.

Evan
 
Njord Noatun said:
Don't want to derail your thread, but I uploaded a full "Champagne" series catalog (1982) to the Pioneer manual database linked to from my signature.

As to cleaning, I simply use lukewarm water with mild dish-washing liquid, an old toothbrush, terrycloth, and Carnuba topcoat safe auto wax. I think it comes out pretty nice, but I am sure others have more elaborate methods.
Click to expand...

Yes I have seen the catalogue, excellant job!
I have a similar smaller one given to me when I bought the A-9 which I will scan and upload, should be a good adjunct to your one.

Now back on track. What do you use to clean up the RCA jacks, to me most of mine on my SA-8800 look somewhat corroded/pitted.

Has anyone else had this issue?

Les. :)
 
like others have said: warm soapy water, toothbrush. Dry it off. Car wax (I use plain old turtle wax paste style) and buff. Sometimes an additional rinse with a toothbrush to get all the paste wax out of the nooks and crannies, followed bye a final buff with soft cloth. I've restored a number of dirty, oily, stained, cloudy face-plates (and knobs and switch caps) back to basically new with this method.
 
For general cleaning of the face plate, I take it off the unit and claen both sides of the glass with Windex first to get most of the crud off and then use vinegar and water with newspaper. For the aluminum, I use warm soapy water with a toothbrush and soft cotton towel. For stubborn stains like tobacco, I might use the Windex.

For the RCA's I use a small cloth sprayed with WD-40 to put a light coat on overnite. I then wipe off with a clean cloth or repeat the process if needed. The WD-40 cuts through the crud well.
 
To clean oxidized RCA jacks, I cut small strips of crocus cloth (extra fine) and polish it for about two minutes. Looks great after!
 
Njord Noatun said:
Don't want to derail your thread, but I uploaded a full "Champagne" series catalog (1982) to the Pioneer manual database linked to from my signature.

As to cleaning, I simply use lukewarm water with mild dish-washing liquid, an old toothbrush, terrycloth, and Carnuba topcoat safe auto wax. I think it comes out pretty nice, but I am sure others have more elaborate methods.
Click to expand...

Great pics, Many thanks for the Pioneer Info:thmbsp:
 
miklemke said:
For general cleaning of the face plate, I take it off the unit and claen both sides of the glass with Windex first to get most of the crud off and then use vinegar and water with newspaper.
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I have been advised against using Windex, as it contains ammonia, which may harm the surface treatment of the faceplate and over time oxidation.
 
I've used Windex for 15 years on a list of vintage Pioneer that's fairly long and if you don't let anything "soak" in it my results were great. I did let some knobs soak (early on) in a cup full of it for about an hour and it hazed them. I got a phone call and forgot about 'em......
 
Njord Noatun said:
I have been advised against using Windex, as it contains ammonia, which may harm the surface treatment of the faceplate and over time oxidation.
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I think if you re-read his statement, he said he only uses the Windex on the glass portion of the faceplate... not on the faceplate itself. He then goes on to tell what he does with the aluminum part(s).
 
Hard to beat old-fashioned dish liquid and a toothbrush (as others have mentioned). I made the mistake of using Mean Green - that stuff is WAY too strong. Sure does clean though (grin)...
 
I use a big soft sponge and some mild warm water with Dawn dishsoap. It gets of most anything I have encountered. After that, a gentle polishing with a dab of toothpaste on the sponge. ( a tip I got here at AK ) Wonderful, it softly buffs and restores a very natural sheen to the aluminum faced components. Also great for polishing turntable components..arm, weights, platter, etc. A *small* amount of toothpaste on a damp cloth / sponge.
 
For all RCA jacks...

Can't get much better than MAAS Metal cleaner for cleaning those 30 year old tarnished RCA jacks. Usually one, sometimes two applications gets them 99.999% near new condition. Apply a dab to your cleaning cloth, wipe/rub a few times, wipe off with a clean cloth. Presto.
 
I use the hottest water available and some mr. clean .... it works so well that you don't even need to scrub try it ... it's amazing
 
jsarsfield said:
I use the hottest water available and some mr. clean .... it works so well that you don't even need to scrub try it ... it's amazing
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I have NOT tried this, but wanted to say that it does not surprise me. I was a jeweler for several years, and this is one (among many) solution that the industry used to use in their ultrasonic baths. Baths which would also contain fragile gemstones like Opals, Pearls, Emeralds, oiled or treated stones etc... so you HAVE to use rather gentle stuff.

Btw... people are going to kill me for saying this.... but I recently picked up a $10 yard sale receiver (Technics by Pioneer) that had been in someone's garage shop. In addition to tons of sawdust, it had spray paint on some of the knobs & the silver face. I used lighter fluid applied to a cloth first, and some elbow grease to get that off. No hazing, and it looks fine. Something very odd about this that I stumbled upon:

After I did the initial cleaning, there were still a couple of spots on the faceplate. I guess out of force of bad habit, I wet my thumb w/my tongue, and rubbed on them. They came out immediately! I then got a clean washcloth, and yep, SPIT on it a few times then used this to get the rest. I don't know if it's from dropping too much acid in my youngest years, but there seems to be something in my saliva that was getting out what even lighter fluid was leaving behind.

(Alas, the insides of the receiver did not survive my tinkering.... but now I've got some nice clean spare parts!)
 
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