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General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc. |
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3rd May 2022, 5:28 pm | #1 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Rayleigh near Southend-On-Sea, Essex, UK.
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That smell...!
I’ve a bit of strange question…
I’ve an amplifier chassis removed from a cabinet which has been stored in what I think was a damp cellar or suchlike. The problem is the amplifier now has that musty stale smell one gets when something has been stored in an old damp room or cellar. I call this smell the "kept in the damp cupboard under the sink smell" Any idea for removing this smell from the amplifier, apart from giving it a wipe clean with some detergent and leaving it in a well ventilated dry warm room to let the smell leach away. I’ll probably discard the cabinet (which is now sitting in now dry garage) but I’ll see how it goes with the smell. Regards Terry |
3rd May 2022, 6:07 pm | #2 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Portland, Dorset, UK.
Posts: 870
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Re: That smell...!
In a sealed box with an Ozone generator? They are great for getting smells out of things though I don't know if ozone is damaging to electrical stuff.
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3rd May 2022, 6:08 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK.
Posts: 7,548
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Re: That smell...!
I had a similar problem with a Pye TV I rescued....and this one had been stored in an unheated spare room for 20 odd years. Everything had that damp smell about it....I'm surprised the LOPT survived. Vacuuming the dust didn't really do much. Once I'd got it into a position to actually apply mains, the smell was even worse! However it did start to clear with some use. Once it had a watchable picture and I was reasonably sure nothing nasty was going to happen, I just left it running and the smell gradually dissipated. 15 years later....not a trace
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3rd May 2022, 6:34 pm | #4 |
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Re: That smell...!
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3rd May 2022, 6:55 pm | #5 |
Octode
Join Date: May 2017
Location: St Austell, Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 1,018
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Re: That smell...!
The Smell will go on it's own eventually, once it is in
a dry and warm environment and preferably being used. The Dryer and Warmer the better. That assumes of course, it has been cleaned well, so all the Dust and grime is removed. Could take a year or more worst case, or with luck, only a couple of weeks, really depends on how much moisture it has absorbed over the years. Ian |
3rd May 2022, 7:24 pm | #6 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Colchester, Essex, UK.
Posts: 4,081
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Re: That smell...!
As summer approaches it may be possible to de-stinkify the amplifier by leaving it on the back seat of the car on hot days, with the windows cracked open a third of an inch. In respect of the cabinet (as opposed to the amp proper) this may of course make it warp. An old piece of bedsheet over it will mitigate this.
Febreze is quite a clever product...i don't know how it works, but it does. Dave |
3rd May 2022, 7:46 pm | #7 |
Hexode
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Weymouth, Dorset, UK.
Posts: 473
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Re: That smell...!
I was given an ancient Vortexion amplifier back some 30 years ago and placed the stinky amplifier in my dad's greenhouse alongside the tomato plants.
After a month, the tomatoes were unaffected and the amplifier smelt pleasant again, with a feint whiff of tomatoes. If only I still owned it ...
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3rd May 2022, 8:56 pm | #8 |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK.
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Re: That smell...!
Yep - Ultra violet light and gentle warmth + some air changes: AKA 'Summer sunshine' (but don't let it overheat or 'bake').
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4th May 2022, 5:42 pm | #9 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Rayleigh near Southend-On-Sea, Essex, UK.
Posts: 1,852
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Re: That smell...!
Hello,
Many thanks for all the replies. It all makes sense and I’ll keep it in a utility room which has radiator and quite a few windows so the combination of the heat and the summer (?) sun coming in the windows will help reduce the smell over time. I will get SWMBO to get some Febreze and I’ll wipe it down with that - it’s worth a try prior to putting it in the utility room. …However, there is now the problem persuading SWMBO it’s a good idea to have a ‘smelly’ amplifier in the utility room Regards Terry |
4th May 2022, 5:58 pm | #10 |
Heptode
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK.
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Re: That smell...!
Febreze is excellent but is meant to be sprayed onto fabric until just damp. I believe the equivalent for killing smells in spaces such as rooms, is Neutradol. This is a gel which slowly evaporates from its tub. Perhaps use this in a large cupboard etc containing the offending items. It is not expensive from say Tesco.
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4th May 2022, 6:28 pm | #11 |
Octode
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: West Midlands, UK.
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Re: That smell...!
I experienced this with some computers that I had put into store in the back room of a friend’s industrial building. (As the existing machine running the ancient software failed I brought another one into use until I eventually ran out.) Kept in the spare room and with occasional use the smell soon disappeared.
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4th May 2022, 7:14 pm | #12 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Colchester, Essex, UK.
Posts: 4,081
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Re: That smell...!
Neutradol is also available as an aerosol, i found it's smell was not too overpowering.
Dave |
4th May 2022, 7:56 pm | #13 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK.
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Re: That smell...!
I'd clean it and put it out in the open on clear, sunny and windy days and see what happens. I think the smell will fade quite quickly given an opportunity for it to be purged by clean fresh air.
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5th May 2022, 8:29 am | #14 |
Nonode
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Dukinfield, Cheshire, UK.
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Re: That smell...!
At Rochdale rally some years ago there was a bloke flogging piles of connectors and adaptors, leads etc. The stench of 'old cellars' and possibly rotting animals was strong to say the least. However, he had some good stuff so I bought what I needed and put them in a spare bag and knotted it up for the trip home.
As soon as I got home I emptied the contents into a plastic box and liberally sprayed them with isopropyl (I have a large pump dispenser which i use for cleaning my electric razor etc) and let it stand overnight with the lid on. Next morning on opening the box there was only the faintest whiff, but I gave the contents another spray anyway and the next day there was no trace of the smell at all. I then left the box without its lid in the sunshine for the rest of the day.
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5th May 2022, 1:24 pm | #15 |
Octode
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Location: Rayleigh near Southend-On-Sea, Essex, UK.
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Re: That smell...!
I was in town this morning and I pooped into Savers and got one of those Neutradol thingys.
As you’ll see from the picture its not that large and it will easily go in hefty plastic bag or even a bigger Really Useful box, so I can pop the amp along with the Neutradol thingy in either of these and put it in the Utility room to see how it goes. Terry |
5th May 2022, 1:54 pm | #16 |
Dekatron
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Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK.
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Re: That smell...!
"I pooped into Savers and got one of those Neutradol thingys" - comical slip of the pen there..
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5th May 2022, 3:52 pm | #17 |
Octode
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: West Midlands, UK.
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Re: That smell...!
Are Savers now complaining about a smell?
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5th May 2022, 3:53 pm | #18 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Rayleigh near Southend-On-Sea, Essex, UK.
Posts: 1,852
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Re: That smell...!
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5th May 2022, 4:43 pm | #19 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Rayleigh near Southend-On-Sea, Essex, UK.
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Re: That smell...!
What started off as a smelly amp is now a smell in Savers…
Viz… There's a smell in my amplifier, dear Liza, dear Liza And now a smell in Savers, dear Liza, dear Liza etc., etc. Anyway, its good to have laugh now and then! Terry |
5th May 2022, 4:57 pm | #20 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2011
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Re: That smell...!
Just a thought Terry, the smell will be emanating from the surface of the amp and whatever detritus is languishing there; moulds, dust, dirt etc. So basically you're going to have to undertake a certain amount of cleaning, as much as you can, as the smell is going to be hard to shift just by ventilation and the use of masking agents. A friend of mine (a member on here) uses spray aluminium wheel cleaner on them then totally submerses the whole chassis in water and/or a hose down to quickly get rid of the cleaner (do not leave on too long!) and swears he's never had a problem, that's IF cans and all, so long as the unit is blow dried and left in (for example) the airing cupboard overnight to thoroughly dry.
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