Cleaning aluminum faceplates
aaharvel
Posts: 4,489
my sig. 2.1 amp is starting to show a few random fingerprints. What is recommended to clean aluminum when this happens? Thanks.
H/K Signature 2.1+235
Jungson MagicBoat II
Revel Performa M-20
Velodyne cht-10 sub
Rega P1 Turntable
"People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
Jungson MagicBoat II
Revel Performa M-20
Velodyne cht-10 sub
Rega P1 Turntable
"People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
Post edited by aaharvel on
Comments
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Throw it in the garbage and buy a new one.I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Rushmore. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs and take them down. Just remember, they can buy anything but they can't buy backbone. Don't let them forget it. Thank you.Herman Blume - Rushmore
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Windex sprayed on a soft cotton cloth first.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
hmm.. i tried that already and it did help somewhat (the windex, not the garbage can) but still.. i'm afraid the aluminum might be coming off. Anyways, thanks F1. I'll keep working on it.
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If it is real aluminum, then it is probably coated with a clear lacquer (sp?) coating. Pure, uncoated aluminum will oxidize and creates black marks when it rubs against other things, including your fingers.
Assuming it is coated with lacquer, I would not use anything stronger than a mild dishwashing detergent such as Dawn. Or you can you a microfiber cloth. I have found them pretty cheap at Sam's Club in the optical department.Robert
zombie boy 2000 wrote:You are officially in the high-end of the deep-end of the top-end.
Bonus Room Over Garage:
Toshiba 27" CRT TV
Digital Source: Sony DVP-NS3100ES
DVR: Panasonic DMR-ES15
Denon 3806 AV Receiver
- L/R Preamp out to Parasound HCA-1200 Amp
Polk RTi70's, CSi40 Center, RTi38 Side Surrounds, RTi38 Back Surrounds
Living Room: (2ch only)
TV: Sony KV20-FV12
DVD Player: Sony DVP-NS715P
Yamaha R9 Receiver Polk RTi38's -
Almost all faceplates are anodized aluminum, you won't hurt it with Windex. Just be careful around the silkscreen lettering.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Almost all faceplates are anodized aluminum, you won't hurt it with Windex. Just be careful around the silkscreen lettering.
I watched someone wipe off the lettering on a minty Carver C-1 rubbing the hell out of it with some Windex and a cloth.....I would get the NON-ammonia Windex just to be safe....... -
Let me know if you go with the garbage can idea and I'll be digging through your trash.
You might try just a cotton cloth and water. Sometimes it the simplest ideas that work the best. -
i usually just use some mild soap and water.. small amounts of each... and rub and scrub then dry it off with a nice soft cloth. How old is the amp?
can you post a pic of it? just for the halibut?
PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin: -
alrighty thanks for the advice guys- i'll definitely look into it and i'll post a pic of the faceplate in a couple of days (when i get back from vacation
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I use a Dremel with a wire brush attachment.
In reality I've used a few things depending on the finish of the aluminum. I've seen coated Al but most is anodized. Windex is my usual cleaning choice but I've used Mother's Al polish on silver and black pieces with no issues. Just don't rub it like your hands in your pants and you should be fine. YMMV.CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint. -
See if you can find a product called Invisible Glass, it will not harm the finish and will take all residue and fingerprint oils completely off leaving you with a perfect,brand new look [minus scratches, dings, or other permanent damage]. I used to purchase this product at Sam's club but the store I go to has discontinued that brand. Hope this helps.~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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See if you can find a product called Invisible Glass, it will not harm the finish and will take all residue and fingerprint oils completely off leaving you with a perfect,brand new look [minus scratches, dings, or other permanent damage]. I used to purchase this product at Sam's club but the store I go to has discontinued that brand. Hope this helps.
Isn't "Invisible Glass" a petroleum solvent based product? If it is, I would think that it might dissolve any lettering that is printed on the faceplate. I would be sure to read the label carefully on that product before using it on anything other than glass. Just my $.02.
RobertRobert
zombie boy 2000 wrote:You are officially in the high-end of the deep-end of the top-end.
Bonus Room Over Garage:
Toshiba 27" CRT TV
Digital Source: Sony DVP-NS3100ES
DVR: Panasonic DMR-ES15
Denon 3806 AV Receiver
- L/R Preamp out to Parasound HCA-1200 Amp
Polk RTi70's, CSi40 Center, RTi38 Side Surrounds, RTi38 Back Surrounds
Living Room: (2ch only)
TV: Sony KV20-FV12
DVD Player: Sony DVP-NS715P
Yamaha R9 Receiver Polk RTi38's -
The label does not indicate that it is a petroleum based product. The only information given is that it contains; water, hydrocarbon blend, and hydrocarbon propellant. The label states that "Safe to use on original equipment manufactured [OEM]". You can even use this product on most aftermarket tinted windows. The only warning listed is that it is not recommended for use on polycarbonate plastic. I clean my windows, stovetop, microwave etc... with this product yeilding excellent results with no issues after a year of consistant use.
I use it to restore all my stereo gear, no matter what the brand and have incountered nothing but excellent results with no degradation of lettering.
(No affiliation by the way)~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
it probably contains naptha which is a aromatic hydrocarbon*NOTE: Hydrocarbons are made during the oil refining process and are most definately petroleum basedThe label does not indicate that it is a petroleum based product. The only information given is that it contains; water, hydrocarbon blend, and hydrocarbon propellant. The label states that "Safe to use on original equipment manufactured [OEM]". You can even use this product on most aftermarket tinted windows. The only warning listed is that it is not recommended for use on polycarbonate plastic. I clean my windows, stovetop, microwave etc... with this product yeilding excellent results with no issues after a year of consistant use.
I use it to restore all my stereo gear, no matter what the brand and have incountered nothing but excellent results with no degradation of lettering.
(No affiliation by the way)Rogue Audio stereo 100 tube amplifier - Lector Zoe preamplifier with 6H30 pi's
.Audience AU24SE speaker and ic cables- Chord Qutest DAC - Black Cat Silverstar II 75ohm digital cable-Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature system with large bass cabinets to accommodate 10" Seas magnesium woofers.
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I thought I read somewhere that straight (pure) diluted ammonia worked well. Or something that started with "A" anyway
EDIT: Yeah, it was ammonia. Do a Google on 'aluminum faceplate clean* ammonia'2 channel - Willsenton R8 tube integrated, Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC, audio optimized NUC7i5, Windows 10 Pro/JRiver MC29/Fidelizer Plus 8.7 w/LPS and external SSD drive, PS Audio PerfectWave P3 regenerator, KEF R3 speakers, Rythmik F12SE subwoofer, Audioquest Diamond USB cable, Gabriel Gold IC's, Morrow Audio SP5 speaker cables. Computer - Windows 10/JRiver, Schiit Magni 3+/Modi 3+, Fostex PMO.4n monitors, Sennheiser HD600 headphones -
Sometimes fingerprints will permanently etch some aluminum faceplates if left on for a while, and there's nothing that will solve that problem. Endust for electronics or Windex work well. The best thing to do is to prevent the problem in the first place by wearing light cotton gloves (the kind one should wear when handling tubes) when moving gear in and out of a rack.
