Cleaning vintage stereo equipment can be considered a skill or art. Aggressive cleaning can damage the appearance and functionality of your prized amplifier or receiver. A thirty to fifty year old stereo is fragile. Conversely, leaving equipment dusty, cigarette stained, or greasy makes it unattractive. Solvents and cleaning techniques can be used to clean vintage stereo equipment to restore its original appearance.
Cleaning Vintage Stereos with Solvents
Undoubtedly, if you are a seller, clean equipment pictures will surely boost your selling price especially in auctions. There is a whole art to cleaning face plates, dials, wood cabinets, etc. Using the wrong solvent or method can permanently damage the equipment that your trying to make look like new. Cleaning vintage stereo equipment is not difficult using the guide below.
Cleaning Vintage Face Plates
Firstly, some of the chemicals used to clean a vintage face plate are: Naphtha (lighter fluid), Windex, tap water, or some car waxes. Spray Nine is a good choice to clean soiled front panels. It will take off years of tar and grease with ease. Spray Nine is an extremely strong detergent and one must be careful not to spray this solvent directly on to the face plate before a testing a small area first. This concentrated solvent can remove the silk screened lettering on your beloved face plate. Test a small amount on a rag or paper towel in an inconspicuous area before soaking up the face.
Specifically, adhesives are best removed with lighter fluid. Glass or plastic surfaces are cleaned with Windex or water with a chamois cloth. Quality car wax, with a liquid cleaner, can work wonders on both face plates and stained chassis.
Refurbishing Wood Stereo Cabinets
Secondly, many vintage components have wood cases. Unfortunately, the finish on these wood cabinets have become quite delicate. Strong cleaners will remove the stained finish to reveal an undesirable raw wood color. Certainly, it’s best to use a damp cloth using plain water or Windex to clean wood finishes. Occasionally, it’s necessary to touch up a wood case with furniture markers of similar color. Some vintage cabinets are made of steel or other metal alloys. You clean painted metal cabinets with a light detergent or diluted Spray Nine. Whereas, black cabinets, trim, and bezels can be touched up with permanent black marker.
Cleaning the Finer Parts
Lastly, other parts of equipment can be cleaned accordingly. Cleaning vintage stereo equipment is done with paper towels, chamois, cotton cloth and Q-tips. Power cords and knobs can be cleaned with Spray Nine. Set backs can be cleaned with Windex and touched up with black Sharpie markers. Back to Black can be used to restore faded dark surfaces. A variety of solvents, and elbow grease, can make your equipment shine like new.
For more information, or to sell your vintage equipment in the New York or New Jersey area. Please contact us, or call 718 698-2428.
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