Brownings-Cleaning them up

[Dr. Rigamortis]

What is everyone using to clean up their old birds? ie; cleaning the covers, fronts, mics for both the metal fronts with silk screen and the plastic fronts of the Mark IV's? I now have a Golden Eagle and a Mark II with SSB15 and Transadaptor all having the metal fronts. I want to clean them, but I dont want to wipe away the lettering or tarnish the paint. Any input is appriciated.

Thanks, Dr. R

[Tombstone (R.I.P.)]

I know what you mean being paranoid about using something that might damage plastic or take the lettering off. When I got the Mark III that I use now the metal faces and knobs were a mess from nicotine from a heavy smoker. I dismantled both units enough to get the face plates off and held them over my kitchen sink and soaked them down with Windex and the nicotine was pouring off, then I rinsed them with warm water and gently dried them with a soft cloth and they came out like new. I'm looking at the Windex bottle now and it says it contains amonia-D, it didn't harm the lettering. If the moisture happens to soften the glue that holds the windows on over the tuning dials, just make sure they're dry and use a few drops of Super Glue to put them back on. Go easy on the clear dial and meter windows, they scratch easy so you don't want to rub on them very hard. I just soaked the knobs in Dawn water for about an hour, scrubbed them with a tooth brush and rinsed them with water. After I put everything back together it looks like new. The hardest part was getting the allen head set screws on the knobs loose.

Tombstone.

[Dr. Rigamortis]

Well I've cleaned up one Mark III using some car car stuff....can't think of the name right now, but it really shined it up and cleaned the dirt from it. I didnt even think about the ammonia till I was going thru some stuff like you. So I'll have to read on it and see if it has any. I'll look at Wal-Mart and see if they have any cleaner that is basicly "ECO FRIENDLY" which should be all natrual and not really harmful to that kind of stuff. I would say really just use soap and water on a damp sponge or cloth is most likely the best. Ill see what some of the other guys say on here. Thanks, Dr. R

[BionicChicken]

On the meter fronts and any clear plastic you can use Brasso. It will clean up fine scratches and give a good clear shine.
I've used it for years on wattmeter faces and anything else plastic. It does a great job.

BC

[Afterburner(OT-749)]

For the outside of my units I use just the cheap old rubbing alcohol that you can buy at the dollar store. It is a more diluted type than the name brand. Just put it on a cotton ball, the better half just loves me when I use all her's up! the cotton balls that is. I do the same thing for my computers and never have had any issue at all with lettering, even on the keys of the computer.
#smilies-42774# #american#

[Dr. Rigamortis]

Ive used alcohol before, but Ive seen it take off some lettering, but t works well on most everything Ive used it on.

[Tombstone (R.I.P.)]

The amonia in the Windex didn't bother the lettering but just plain dish washing liquid should be even safer.

Tombstone

[Tombstone (R.I.P.)]

Great tip on the Brasso for removing scratches from clear plastic, BC. I'll remember that.

Tombstone

[mark4]

For NASTY smoke tar and feathered browning covers.
I have used Dow's bathroom cleaner-Scrubbing Bubbles.
Will not hurt the vinyl finish and melts away the tar and nicotine!

[BladeRunner now OLD FLASH!!!!!]

I've been having pretty good luck with the Windex with ammonia D. It's taking it off in layers. I'm going to take the face plates off as someone else has suggested adn I'm going to get some good Gold paint or Gold leaf and recoat eh meter frames that jave just about lost all their color. While I'm at that I'm going to clean all the switches and pots.

[amastron]

Where can one find the Front Face Plate Paint, or a replacement color that matches?