I have the same stuff (called "Magic sponge" in Finland) and it has been excellent for cleaning wooden cupboard doors around the knobs, etc - and yes, it works with just water! It never occured to me to try it on B&O aluminum... thanks for the tip!

I was skeptical when my coworker told me about how well it worked, but it was less than $2 US. I want my equipment to look and perform perfectly. I did all the maintenance, but the panels made it less than perfect. I could not believe how well it worked on the aluminum. It's the best $2 US I've ever spent. Give it a try!

Hi Gene

This sounds like an interesting product to clean aluminium with.  I have a 4002 which has reasonably clean cover plates and platter but there are some minor blemishes like a light scratch and some minor discolouration and would like to try the product you mentioned.

However, I am pretty sure if one asks around the supermarkets they won't know what I'm asking about. There are also umpteen Chinese stores here in Cape Town these days and I think I may have better luck to find the product in one of these shops.

I work with aluminium and do my own anodising on small aluminium items. I am not sure if the 'average Joe' knows the anodised surface on aluminium is non-conductive and very hard.

I have done some quick tests with my multimeter set to continuity and the probes touching the B&O plates and platter and there's no signal. This in my mind, indicates the plates and platter have been given a brushed surface en then anodised.

In the past, I have mechanically removed anodising from aluminium and this is exceptionally difficult. There are other means to remove anodising from aluminium - for example by immersion in boiling phosphoric acid for short periods.

My question is - assuming the Beogram covers are anodised (as they appear to be non-conductive) - what type of discolouration or surface grime have you been able to remove with the product you wrote about?

dauphine/andre 

Gene wrote:

I was skeptical when my coworker told me about how well it worked, but it was less than $2 US. I want my equipment to look and perform perfectly. I did all the maintenance, but the panels made it less than perfect. I could not believe how well it worked on the aluminum. It's the best $2 US I've ever spent. Give it a try!

Can you give us a link where you can buy this stuff (Ebay)? Thanks!

Andre-

My 4004 was in great condition, or so I thought. I removed the top panels for a quick belt change and decided to give them the once over with a magic eraser. What was once a somewhat cloudy alumininum panel became a fresh from the factory looking panel. It removed the years of pollution that had settled on the panels. The magic eraser is advertised to remove permanent marker from just about any hard surface. A fellow Beophite I know had a terrible incident. His young son (2 years old) marked his Beomaster 2400 with a permanent black marker. He thought all was lost. About a dozen swipes with the eraser not only removed the maker, but polished the aluminum to look much better than it did before the marker.

I have used the eraser on panels with lettering without damaging the lettering. I have removed scuffs that I though were scratches. I have also removed discoloration from deeper scratches that made them much less noticable. I dropped a stainlees steel water bottle into a camp fire and it had black discoloration on it when I finally got it out. I took it home and scrubbed with a wet cloth and soap without any success. Once again, the magic eraser restored it to new. Wikipedia says:

Melamine foam is a foam-like material consisting of a formaldehyde-melamine-sodium bisulfite copolymer.

The foam is manufactured in Germany by BASF under the name "Basotect". It has been used for over 20 years as insulation for pipes and ductwork, and has a long history as a soundproofing material for studios, sound stages, auditoriums, and the like. The low smoke and flame properties of melamine foam prevent it from being a fire hazard.

In the early 21st century it was discovered that melamine foam was an effective abrasive cleaner. The open cell foam is microporous and its polymeric substance is very hard, so that when used for cleaning it works like extremely fine sandpaper, getting into tiny grooves and pits in the object being cleaned. On a larger scale the material feels soft. Because the bubbles interconnect, its structure is more like a maze of fiberglass strands, when compared to the array of separate bubbles in a material such as expanded polystyrene foam (for example, Styrofoam).

Rubbing with a slightly moistened foam may remove otherwise "uncleanable" external markings from surfaces. For example, it can remove crayon, magic marker, and grease from painted walls, wood finishings, plastic-adhering paints from treated wooden tables, adhesive residue, and grime from hub caps. If the surface being cleaned is not sufficiently hard, it may be finely scratched by the melamine material. The foam wears away, rather like a pencil eraser, leaving behind a slight residue which can be rinsed off.

Melamine foam for cleaning uses is supplied by several companies under brand names such as:

• Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
• 3M Scotch Brite Easy Erasing Pad
• Nano Sponge
• Coralite Ultimate Sponge

and generically as a "dirt eraser".

Google "magic eraser" and you will get hudreds of articles about it and its uses.

Leslie-

Just get on eBay and search for "magic eraser". You will find hundreds of offers. Hopefully some are in your country so you can avoid extra cost.

Thanks Gene! Most of them is  for US shipment only🙁 Others who ships worldwide comes from China🤔

Leslie wrote:

Thanks Gene! Most of them is  for US shipment only🙁 Others who ships worldwide comes from China🤔

Shut down your computer and walk to the supermarket. These aren't really any secret products you'd need to order online 😁