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Cabinet and Chassis Restoration and Refinishing For help with cabinet or chassis restoration (non-electrical), please leave a message here. |
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4th Apr 2016, 10:50 pm | #1 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Bristol, UK.
Posts: 981
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Cleaning tuning dial?
Hello, I would like advice please on the best way to clean, if possible, a tuning dial.
paper stuck on a metal plate, quite firmly. white ( might have been cream, hard job to tell.) brown/black printing. 70 years old/ covered in a black dust , coal dust? and general dirt. Paper is very thin and 'crisp'. Thank you for any ideas you might have. All the best. Geoff. |
4th Apr 2016, 11:00 pm | #2 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Oxford, UK.
Posts: 17,843
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Re: Cleaning tuning dial?
THat's a tough one, Geoff.
Personally, I'd just dust it with a soft brush, and leave it at that. If the results are too poor, then it would probably be best to scan it, then play with it on the computer and print a replica, which should be attached in such a way that the original is left in an undamaged state underneath. Hope you're well and nice to see you posting again, Nick. |
4th Apr 2016, 11:01 pm | #3 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,936
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Re: Cleaning tuning dial?
The first thing to do is to scan it into a computer. Printing out a new scale may be the easiest solution anyway, and will give you something to fall back on if your cleaning efforts go wrong. You can 'clean' the scanned dirty image using a graphics editing program like Gimp.
(crossed with Nick) |
5th Apr 2016, 4:06 pm | #4 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Bristol, UK.
Posts: 981
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Re: Cleaning tuning dial?
Hi thank you, it upon closer investigation it was coal dust. A soft cloth and a little spit dabbed with care. After I had taken a picture of it. It is better.
All the best. Geoff. Thank you Nick for your good wishes, can manage an hour or two at a time. |
5th Apr 2016, 6:48 pm | #5 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
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Re: Cleaning tuning dial?
Spit, the oft forgotten cleaner, full of enzymes that dissolve many things. Also a great lubricant when tapping aluminium.
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6th Apr 2016, 12:40 am | #6 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 16,535
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Re: Cleaning tuning dial?
Isn't sterile spit used by picture restorers?
Often the only available headlamp cleaner on a mucky winter's night, too.
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6th Apr 2016, 10:59 am | #7 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Bristol, UK.
Posts: 981
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Re: Cleaning tuning dial?
Hi thanks about the aluminium tapping, that really is useful. Good for dissolving bird droppings as well.
Cheers. Geoff. |