Cleaning aluminium surfaces

13 replies

Good afternoon everyone,

while working inside my Beomaster 8000, I decided to take a bit care of the optics too and I noticed that I'm unable to clean the aluminium plates in an effective way. I only tried the "soft" until now (soft cloth with warn water and a bit of dish soap). The markings you can sse in the picture below just stay there... What can I use a bit more aggressive?

Thanks for your help,

Marco

Hi,

I use a "magic sponge"!

I've had great sucess with this partiular "brushed" aluminum surface using the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. It is also known as melamine foam.

I used it on my BeoSystem 5500 top panels, rubbing agressively with the grain. It has no abrasives but did a fantastic job of removing years of dirt and marks. Also works great on the BeoGram record decks with the brushed aluminum platter surrounds. I have not tried it on the platters though.

Michael

 

It also works good on cleaning a phono stylus.  For that you don't brush the stylus at all.  You dip the stylus onto the magic eraser material - straight in and straight out. No lateral movement at all. It works really well. Since the magic eraser comes in a large block I just cut off a small piece to place under my stylus so I can just dip the cartridge and stylus down on the eraser material easy.

Michael Sean wrote:
Also works great on the BeoGram record decks with the brushed aluminum platter surrounds. I have not tried it on the platters though.

-and you shouldn't...πŸ˜•

The platters has some kind of coating - even less agressive cleaners can ruin it. And it might end up looking terrible...I've tried once... 😠

My B&O Icons:

BeoCenter-9500.png BeoCenter-9500.png
Beoremote-Beo4.png Beoremote-Beo4.png
Beovox.png Beovox.png
Beovision-10.png Beovision-10.png
Beosound.png Beosound.png
Beosound-5.png Beosound-5.png
Beosound-4.png Beosound-4.png
Beoplay-S3.png Beoplay-S3.png
Beoplay-A1.png Beoplay-A1.png
Beomaster.png Beomaster.png
Beocenter-2.png Beocenter-2.png

Yup, I ruined the platter on my Beogram 3000 tangential years ago. Fortunately that was long enough ago that B&O had spare platters still available and I was able to get a new one. Whew.

Steffen wrote:

Michael Sean wrote:
Also works great on the BeoGram record decks with the brushed aluminum platter surrounds. I have not tried it on the platters though.

-and you shouldn't...πŸ˜•

The platters has some kind of coating - even less agressive cleaners can ruin it. And it might end up looking terrible...I've tried once... 😠

I have used it on platters without problems, but there may exist different coatings on the platters, try the backside first.

 

Location: Mexico city

Retired
Printing machine technician
Restored various 1960-70 items
Rock and Roll music
Collecting Vinyl
Restored Jukebox Wurlitzer 1050

The platters definitely have a coating. My Beogram 8000 after 18 months in storage looked like it was diseased. I tried cleaning it and every attempt only made things worse. I had to acquire anther platter as a result.

 

One thing I have tried with success is Old English Lemon Oil. This is a petroleum-based product which does a splendid job on the veneers but it also cleans/polishes the aluminum.

 

I am a little concerned that the aluminum panels on my Beocords are also coated, so I use this product sparingly and not often, but after five or more years the effect has only been positive.

Location: Victoria, British Columbia

My B&O Icons:

BeoCenter-9500.png BeoCenter-9500.png
Beovox.png Beovox.png
Beotime.png Beotime.png
Beosound.png Beosound.png
Beogram-400x.png Beogram-400x.png

Piaf wrote:
I am a little concerned that the aluminum panels on my Beocords are also coated, so I use this product sparingly and not often, but after five or more years the effect has only been positive.

I have used thinner, ISPA, white gasoline, and just about any cleaning soap on the aluminum on Bms, Beocords and TTs,and no problems. But never on the platters, they seam to be quite sensitives, I never use abrasives, if you do, you will have to do it all, and text and symbols may disappear, and you will have to grind it down to bare aluminum, which will start oxidizing within a couple of years, protected with oil or whatever. And will never look the same.

Location: Mexico city

Retired
Printing machine technician
Restored various 1960-70 items
Rock and Roll music
Collecting Vinyl
Restored Jukebox Wurlitzer 1050

Thanks SΓΈren,

 

I rather thought that must be the case, but I really appreciate conformation coming from you!

 

Jeff

Location: Victoria, British Columbia

My B&O Icons:

BeoCenter-9500.png BeoCenter-9500.png
Beovox.png Beovox.png
Beotime.png Beotime.png
Beosound.png Beosound.png
Beogram-400x.png Beogram-400x.png
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