Actually, my question isn't about cleaning so much as about making
pretty. The aluminum faceplates on "silver" '70s receivers and
tuners: are they lacquered? When I clean them up (soap and water)
there is often visible marring left. What can I do to make the
surface look more uniform? I wondered about trying an application of
Armorall but decided to avoid that unitl making an inquiry.

Chris Campbell

Actually, my question isn't about cleaning so much as about making
pretty. The aluminum faceplates on "silver" '70s receivers and
tuners: are they lacquered? When I clean them up (soap and water)
there is often visible marring left. What can I do to make the
surface look more uniform? I wondered about trying an application of
Armorall but decided to avoid that unitl making an inquiry.

I suspect that they are probably anodized (an electrochemical
treatment which leaves the surface covered with a fairly uniform but
somewhat porous layer of protective oxide).

From what I see out on the Net, one problem with anodized aluminum is
that crud can get into the pores in the oxide surface. Your
soap-and-water cleaning may not be getting all of the crud out (or
might even be leaving minerals behind at the end of the rinse which
could leave the marred appearance - try using a final distilled-water
rinse).

It might be worth seeing if an immersion in a good-sized (industrial)
ultrasonic cleaning machine helps - it might get some additional
material out of the pores.

There seem to be some commercial products on the market which are
intended to clean anodized surfaces without stripping the anodized
layer, and to protect the resulting surface once cleaned. I don't
know how well these work.

One significant problem with any "deep cleaning" process is that
there's a very real risk that it'd remove the labeling from the
faceplates!

You could try simply cleaning a panel as well as is practical, and
then spray it with a protective lacquer. This might or might not
produce results which you'd approve of - practice on some junker
panels first, and realize that it'll reduce the value of the component
to collectors.

--
Dave Platt AE6EO
Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!

Actually, my question isn't about cleaning so much as about making
pretty. The aluminum faceplates on "silver" '70s receivers and
tuners: are they lacquered? When I clean them up (soap and water)
there is often visible marring left. What can I do to make the
surface look more uniform? I wondered about trying an application of
Armorall but decided to avoid that unitl making an inquiry.

I suspect that they are probably anodized (an electrochemical
treatment which leaves the surface covered with a fairly uniform but
somewhat porous layer of protective oxide).

From what I see out on the Net, one problem with anodized aluminum is
that crud can get into the pores in the oxide surface. Your
soap-and-water cleaning may not be getting all of the crud out (or
might even be leaving minerals behind at the end of the rinse which
could leave the marred appearance - try using a final distilled-water
rinse).

It might be worth seeing if an immersion in a good-sized (industrial)
ultrasonic cleaning machine helps - it might get some additional
material out of the pores.

There seem to be some commercial products on the market which are
intended to clean anodized surfaces without stripping the anodized
layer, and to protect the resulting surface once cleaned. I don't
know how well these work.

One significant problem with any "deep cleaning" process is that
there's a very real risk that it'd remove the labeling from the
faceplates!

You could try simply cleaning a panel as well as is practical, and
then spray it with a protective lacquer. This might or might not
produce results which you'd approve of - practice on some junker
panels first, and realize that it'll reduce the value of the component
to collectors.

--
Dave Platt AE6EO
Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!

Actually, my question isn't about cleaning so much as about making
pretty. The aluminum faceplates on "silver" '70s receivers and
tuners: are they lacquered? When I clean them up (soap and water)
there is often visible marring left. What can I do to make the
surface look more uniform? I wondered about trying an application of
Armorall but decided to avoid that unitl making an inquiry.

I suspect that they are probably anodized (an electrochemical
treatment which leaves the surface covered with a fairly uniform but
somewhat porous layer of protective oxide).

From what I see out on the Net, one problem with anodized aluminum is
that crud can get into the pores in the oxide surface. Your
soap-and-water cleaning may not be getting all of the crud out (or
might even be leaving minerals behind at the end of the rinse which
could leave the marred appearance - try using a final distilled-water
rinse).

It might be worth seeing if an immersion in a good-sized (industrial)
ultrasonic cleaning machine helps - it might get some additional
material out of the pores.

There seem to be some commercial products on the market which are
intended to clean anodized surfaces without stripping the anodized
layer, and to protect the resulting surface once cleaned. I don't
know how well these work.

One significant problem with any "deep cleaning" process is that
there's a very real risk that it'd remove the labeling from the
faceplates!

You could try simply cleaning a panel as well as is practical, and
then spray it with a protective lacquer. This might or might not
produce results which you'd approve of - practice on some junker
panels first, and realize that it'll reduce the value of the component
to collectors.

--
Dave Platt AE6EO
Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!

Try a citrus based cleaner and cotton wool,but you may remove the labelling
so be careful.
"Chris Campbell" wrote in message
om...
Actually, my question isn't about cleaning so much as about making
pretty. The aluminum faceplates on "silver" '70s receivers and
tuners: are they lacquered? When I clean them up (soap and water)
there is often visible marring left. What can I do to make the
surface look more uniform? I wondered about trying an application of
Armorall but decided to avoid that unitl making an inquiry.

Chris Campbell

Try a citrus based cleaner and cotton wool,but you may remove the labelling
so be careful.
"Chris Campbell" wrote in message
om...
Actually, my question isn't about cleaning so much as about making
pretty. The aluminum faceplates on "silver" '70s receivers and
tuners: are they lacquered? When I clean them up (soap and water)
there is often visible marring left. What can I do to make the
surface look more uniform? I wondered about trying an application of
Armorall but decided to avoid that unitl making an inquiry.

Chris Campbell

Try a citrus based cleaner and cotton wool,but you may remove the labelling
so be careful.
"Chris Campbell" wrote in message
om...
Actually, my question isn't about cleaning so much as about making
pretty. The aluminum faceplates on "silver" '70s receivers and
tuners: are they lacquered? When I clean them up (soap and water)
there is often visible marring left. What can I do to make the
surface look more uniform? I wondered about trying an application of
Armorall but decided to avoid that unitl making an inquiry.

Chris Campbell

On 12 Dec 2003 13:21:34 -0800, (Chris Campbell)
wrote:

Actually, my question isn't about cleaning so much as about making
pretty. The aluminum faceplates on "silver" '70s receivers and
tuners: are they lacquered? When I clean them up (soap and water)
there is often visible marring left. What can I do to make the
surface look more uniform? I wondered about trying an application of
Armorall but decided to avoid that unitl making an inquiry.

Chris Campbell

Hello,
For what it's worth, when I was selling Marantz gear back in the 70's,
we used to clean the faceplates, successfully, with Scott's Liquid
Gold on cotton balls.

On 12 Dec 2003 13:21:34 -0800, (Chris Campbell)
wrote:

Actually, my question isn't about cleaning so much as about making
pretty. The aluminum faceplates on "silver" '70s receivers and
tuners: are they lacquered? When I clean them up (soap and water)
there is often visible marring left. What can I do to make the
surface look more uniform? I wondered about trying an application of
Armorall but decided to avoid that unitl making an inquiry.

Chris Campbell

Hello,
For what it's worth, when I was selling Marantz gear back in the 70's,
we used to clean the faceplates, successfully, with Scott's Liquid
Gold on cotton balls.

On 12 Dec 2003 13:21:34 -0800, (Chris Campbell)
wrote:

Actually, my question isn't about cleaning so much as about making
pretty. The aluminum faceplates on "silver" '70s receivers and
tuners: are they lacquered? When I clean them up (soap and water)
there is often visible marring left. What can I do to make the
surface look more uniform? I wondered about trying an application of
Armorall but decided to avoid that unitl making an inquiry.

Chris Campbell

Hello,
For what it's worth, when I was selling Marantz gear back in the 70's,
we used to clean the faceplates, successfully, with Scott's Liquid
Gold on cotton balls.

In article , Robert Rowton wrote:
On 12 Dec 2003 13:21:34 -0800, (Chris Campbell)
wrote:

Actually, my question isn't about cleaning so much as about making
pretty. The aluminum faceplates on "silver" '70s receivers and
tuners: are they lacquered? When I clean them up (soap and water)
there is often visible marring left. What can I do to make the
surface look more uniform? I wondered about trying an application of
Armorall but decided to avoid that unitl making an inquiry.

Chris Campbell

Hello,
For what it's worth, when I was selling Marantz gear back in the 70's,
we used to clean the faceplates, successfully, with Scott's Liquid
Gold on cotton balls.

Any type fluid like that is likely to improve appearance. I have used WD-40,
STP Son of a Gun, lemon wax, etc. I like to first try the rugged approach, which could mar or
permanately ruin finished surfaces. Raw aluminum is often improved by using a harsh
alkaline cleanser. It will remove all grime and smoke, and will actually etch it. It could also
remove painted on lettering. Lacquered panels are especially trickey, if they
actually use lacquer. Lacquer absorbs moisture and fogs, at least tempoarily.
Enamel is much more rugged. My guess is, most panels are not painted with clears. The back edge of
the panel could act as a testing ground for your methods, to try and discover which methods are
best.

greg

In article , Robert Rowton wrote:
On 12 Dec 2003 13:21:34 -0800, (Chris Campbell)
wrote:

Actually, my question isn't about cleaning so much as about making
pretty. The aluminum faceplates on "silver" '70s receivers and
tuners: are they lacquered? When I clean them up (soap and water)
there is often visible marring left. What can I do to make the
surface look more uniform? I wondered about trying an application of
Armorall but decided to avoid that unitl making an inquiry.

Chris Campbell

Hello,
For what it's worth, when I was selling Marantz gear back in the 70's,
we used to clean the faceplates, successfully, with Scott's Liquid
Gold on cotton balls.

Any type fluid like that is likely to improve appearance. I have used WD-40,
STP Son of a Gun, lemon wax, etc. I like to first try the rugged approach, which could mar or
permanately ruin finished surfaces. Raw aluminum is often improved by using a harsh
alkaline cleanser. It will remove all grime and smoke, and will actually etch it. It could also
remove painted on lettering. Lacquered panels are especially trickey, if they
actually use lacquer. Lacquer absorbs moisture and fogs, at least tempoarily.
Enamel is much more rugged. My guess is, most panels are not painted with clears. The back edge of
the panel could act as a testing ground for your methods, to try and discover which methods are
best.

greg

In article , Robert Rowton wrote:
On 12 Dec 2003 13:21:34 -0800, (Chris Campbell)
wrote:

Actually, my question isn't about cleaning so much as about making
pretty. The aluminum faceplates on "silver" '70s receivers and
tuners: are they lacquered? When I clean them up (soap and water)
there is often visible marring left. What can I do to make the
surface look more uniform? I wondered about trying an application of
Armorall but decided to avoid that unitl making an inquiry.

Chris Campbell

Hello,
For what it's worth, when I was selling Marantz gear back in the 70's,
we used to clean the faceplates, successfully, with Scott's Liquid
Gold on cotton balls.

Any type fluid like that is likely to improve appearance. I have used WD-40,
STP Son of a Gun, lemon wax, etc. I like to first try the rugged approach, which could mar or
permanately ruin finished surfaces. Raw aluminum is often improved by using a harsh
alkaline cleanser. It will remove all grime and smoke, and will actually etch it. It could also
remove painted on lettering. Lacquered panels are especially trickey, if they
actually use lacquer. Lacquer absorbs moisture and fogs, at least tempoarily.
Enamel is much more rugged. My guess is, most panels are not painted with clears. The back edge of
the panel could act as a testing ground for your methods, to try and discover which methods are
best.

greg