I tried as we usually do it to mix a liquid dishwashing soap with hot water and soak the knobs and then scrub it with toothbrush.
Zero effect on that gummed up skin oil plus dust......it is lodged well.
A sharp object will take it out but I do not want to scratch the backelite.
Are there any solvents I could use?
WIll GoJo do it? I would use it but I do not know if it affects the backelite in an adverse way.
No, GoJo is fine to use for bakelite knobs.
Set the knobs face down in the GoJo for a few minutes, then scrub with a toothbrush.
Toothbrush and alcohol works for me. Bakelite is almost indestructible. Once you get them cleaned up, you can spritz them with some clear lacquer if you want to make them look brand new.
See my post in the other thread about Simple Green.
I used Goop (same as gojo) and an old toothbrush. Worked very well! I'm contemplating a light coat of lacquer as PuhPow recommended.
I've had very good luck letting them soak in a heavy spray of furniture polish (Pledge). The grime seems to come right off with a toothbrush and the polish shines them up. Go-Jo or Goop should do well also, and any treatment might take more than one application. The sharpest thing I would try using as a last resort is something like a wood toothpick.
I did use toothpick, otherwise anything metal scratches it.
I think I read somewhere alcohol is not a good thing to use on Bakelite like ammonia it can irreversibly dull the finish of the Bakelite. Some folks use shoe polish on them to get the shine back after cleaning with something too harsh. Easier and less toxic than lacquer. I bought a can a while back and was really surprised how much it cost. When I was a kid it was 10 or 15c at the drug store now it's like 3.50-$4 !!!!!
Terry
Terry
Those 4 I tried initially to clean with Windex (and then you told me not to) do not look any different than the 5th one that I did not touch with Windex and only used GoJo on it.
All 5 are not exactly shiny but are OK.
PS. I hate laquers on things it is not intended to be on. Eventually it cracks and peels and scratches. Like those stainless steel fridges with "no fingerprints" because they aree simply covered with some varnish or laquer. It scratches and then looks worse than any smudged stainless steel which, BTW, you can clean in a jiffy with that cleaner they sell for it.
After you have the knobs clean, try going over them with some metal polish. After you are done wash the excess polish off with soap/water.
My elixir of choice is Krud Kutter, in the red container and soft toothbrush.
Chuck
Quote:Those 4 I tried initially to clean with Windex (and then you told me not to) do not look any different than the 5th one that I did not touch with Windex
I've never tried Windex, but 409 cleaner severely dulled a set of Bakelite knobs on me a long time ago. Since then I've never had to go any stronger than a good soak with spray Pledge.
Agree with TA on the metal polish if needed. I had a pretty dull Motorola 56H and my (current) favorite metal polish (Satin Gloss) made the cabinet and knobs look like new.... I was impressed.
Hot water and a denture cleaning tablet like Polident works for me.
I clean my knobs with steel wool and Dawn, using a tooth brush to get the crud out of the grooves. This dulls the surface but gets all the dirt and oxidized plastic off. Next I buff the knob with tripoli on my buffing wheel staying away from any knurled or fluted areas and being careful not to press too hard which generates heat and could melt the plastic.
After polishing with a soft cloth to remove the buffing compound residue I wax the knob with carnauba wax. Did this technique on over 20 radios with excellent results:
http://galleries.shacknet.nu/steves/gall...que-Radios
Steve D