Re: [Harp-L] amp cosmetic repair/clean

Ray Beltran <raybeltran@xxxxxxxxxxx> · Sat, 19 Nov 2005 08:59:44 -0800

Where's Billy Mays when you need him? Right there in a tub of Oxy-Clean.
Pulled the grime-filled knobs off the panel of my Silvertone 1433 and  
dropped 'em in a bath of hot water and a bit 'o Oxy-Clean. In the  
time it took to retrieve an old toothbrush and roll up my sleeves to  
scrub them puppies, lo and behold... they were as clean and white as  
me pappy's dentures. I pulled 'em out the bath, rinsed 'em off, and  
put them back into service.
I've entertained ideas of mixing a solution, placing it in a  
spraybottle, and shooting the grill from a safe distance. (Pulling  
the speaker out first, of course). Cuz I can't figure out how to  
remove that peculiar wrap-around grill on the Silvertone.
But Billy Mays is an honest man.
Maybe J. Ricci oughta try his harps in this stuff, eh?
Ray.
www.resgraphics.com/music

On Nov 19, 2005, at 6:29 AM, harp-l-request@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:

Message: 15
Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2005 16:01:23 EST
From: EGS1217@xxxxxxx
Subject: Subject: Re: [Harp-L] amp cosmetic repair/clean
To: atteeharp@xxxxxxxxx
Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <9.5096371f.30af9b23@xxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Attila Czig writes:
"As to the grill cloth, I have no idea, except maybe to remove it  
and  hand

wash or replace it.
This is the thing the most I am  interested in. I dont want to  
replace it,

because I could not find same  grille cloth. But what is good for  
cleaning

that?

I dont want to harm  too.

A."
.......What I would try first before anything is to very gently  
brush out

all dust/grime with a clothes brush, old soft toothbrush (or old   
shaving brush

if you're lucky to have one).   If that isn't  sufficient, then  
before  hand

washing, I'd try pinning the cloth out  onto a flat surface  
(ironing board?)

over a few towels....then use a spray or  liquid upholstery cleaner  
(I used to

use one by Resolve).  If I  remember, I believe the method is to  
use a damp

sponge to gently work the  product into the cloth, lifting out the  
stains as you

go.
 If you have to leave the cloth in place on the speaker, the same   
product

might work as well, but you'd have to take care to put something  
behind  the

cloth to protect the works from the spray.
If you have to hand-wash, you'll probably get it clean, but it will  
remove

any body or stiffness from the fabric.  This can possibly be  
replaced by  use

of a spray starch and ironing several times (several applications)   
through

some thicknesses of cloths or towels.
There's also possibly DRYEL....I've used that with excellent  
results for

lots of fine unwashable fabrics.   Most supermarkets/drug stores  
carry  the

kit...you remove stains with a treated cloth, place the item in a  
velcro'ed  bag

with another cloth then toss the whole thing into the dryer for 30  
timed

minutes.   It comes out clean, refreshed and smelling  good.   Not  
sure it can be

used for this type of material,  though.  Good luck.

Elizabeth