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Philco Dial Cleaning - Printable Version

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Philco Dial Cleaning - klondike98 - 06-05-2026

There is a discussion going on in the NWVRS group about the topic. I posted the technique article from our library techniques
https://philcoradio.com/library/index.php/shop-talk/techniques/cleaning-philco-tuning-dials/

The folks in the discussion have used mineral oil rather than the mineral spirits mentioned in the article. Anyone have experience on what works best for you? (This is the early 1930s dials).

RE: Philco Dial Cleaning - morzh - 06-05-2026

I use white spirits (another term for mineral spirits).

I do not have the oil and never used it.

I am not sure how it is used. If the dial is grimey, sure, it wil disolve that grime. But then you need to

1) wipe it.
2. You need to wipe it clean, else it will remain as a oily film and wikk keep attracting dust/dirt. Which is, again, calls for mineral spirits.
Which, I think, could've been used in the firts place.

RE: Philco Dial Cleaning - klondike98 - 06-05-2026

The oil was used with cotton swabs like you would do with mineral spirits. Yes, that was my thought, that the oil would attract dust snd dirt unless you could get it all off.

RE: Philco Dial Cleaning - morzh - 06-05-2026

It will make it look better short-term. Untill it attracts the dust.

Those Philco dials, they do develop some dull matte surface over time, which could've been a bit glossier, maybe, when it was fresh out from the factory.

You could (provided it does not ahrm anything) use it as an intermediate cleaning agent, if you need to soften the grime, but at the end of the cleaning I would remove it all. Which means you need to use something to remove it.

RE: Philco Dial Cleaning - Arran - 06-05-2026

Mineral oil is way to thick, and viscous, so much so that I have used it to lubricate a bicycle chain. I would not use it to clean anything, it's more then likely that it will leave some sort of sticky residue. As to what to use to clean a Philco dial I would ask what year and what model? On the 1936-38 sets many will wash away with water, on a 1930-32 set it will not. On my Philco 60L the dial was not a wash away scale, nor was the 3118 one which is a 1934 or 35 set, but I can't speak for all models. I would think something like naptha or kerosene might be alternative to mineral spirits, but not mineral oil.
Regards
Arran