2. misc-audio
  3. 1047270562

Cleaning & polishing speakers & gear

While i know that i've posted "reminders" about cleaning / polishing / oiling speaker cabinets on a somewhat regular basis, my girlfriend just showed me something that she bought last week. Olde English now has "furniture wipes". These are similar to baby wipes but are treated with Olde English furniture polish. As such, they are very convenient to use and minimize the amount of spraying, rubbing in and wiping off that one has to do with other polishes / oils. While i would not recommend relying on these if the speakers have been "abused" i.e. not cleaned and oiled in a long period of time, they sure do come in handy for those times when a quick touch up is all you need. Not only is it very quick and easy to give the cabinets a once over with these, i'll probably do it more often since they are so convenient and hassle free. You don't have to worry about applying too much chemical to the rag or cabinet or getting overspray onto the drivers, which could cause deterioration or end up eating the foam surrounds, etc... Just remember that, just because they look like a baby wipe, they really aren't suitable for that purpose : )

With that in mind, has anyone come up with "quick & dirty" methods for cleaning their gear or specific chemicals / cleansers to use / NOT use ? What do you folks use to remove fingerprints, etc... without removing printing, discolouring faceplates, etc... ????? Sean
>
sean
8 responses Add your response
sean OP
6,231 posts
 
S7Horton: What do you put on speaker cabinets that are 20+ years old in order to keep them from drying out and preserve what's left of their natural beauty ? If paste wax is your "end all" answer, what brands do you recommend and how often should it be applied ? Sean
>
bob_bundus
1,834 posts
 
Endust for Electronics: spray some on a piece of blue lintfree paper towel for cleaning equipment faceplates etc. Also good for cables (works like antistatic Nordost Eco 3 but is way way cheaper) & applied to the label side of some CD's it can help to smooth out a harsh-ish sounding disc.
herman
2,253 posts
 
Whenever we have a very warm day here in Tennessee, I drag all of my equipment out onto the driveway and hose it down real good with my garden hose. You have to be careful to let the sun really dry it all out, but there is nothing like a good spring cleaning to really freshen up the listening room.

On serious note to the woodworker, I recently bought a nice rosewood veneered chest of drawers that has a very shiny finish that is well worn in a few spots and I would like to refinish it. I saw these Formsby kits at Home Depot. It looks really easy but I am suspicious about the "too good to be true" syndrome. Any thoughts on these kits or do I need to hire a pro? Perhaps you could point me to some good books or web sites that address the fine points of furniture refinishing. These resources may be helpful to those who have stereo equipment that is in need of some refinishing also.
s7horton
1,077 posts
 
Being a woodworker, I typically cringe at hearing everything that people put on their woodwork. If the correct finish is applied, there should be no need for a polish, and in fact, that can break down the finish. A good way (for me) to get rid of fingerprints is not put them on in the first place. Not always logical for everyone, but it works for me. Second, for the most part, a dry cloth with nothing on it should be sufficient to clean most speaker cabinets. I'm all for cleaners for electronics..at connections, or cleaning screens of cdp's that sort of thing. If you really desire putting something on your speakers cabinets, why not try some paste wax? just my 2 cents..
unsound
7,329 posts
 
Thiel recommends "Endust". They claim that other products leave a residue that causes something called "fisheye" to the finish. KIWI BRANDS also markets an item called "Endust for Electronics".
amandarae
512 posts
 
Hello,

I use the 3M static cloth. With this, no need for other solvents since I am a "paranoid" in conserving the appearance of my Martin Logans. The cloth works using the priciple of statics. It cleans dust without scratching even a very delicate surface. It was designed by 3M for this very application. It can bought at any office supplies store that carries 3M or you can go to the Martin Logan website and they have it there also which, incidentally, looks better and just the right size compared to those you'll find in office supplies store.

...to inform, not to convince(TINTC).....

regards
richingoth
326 posts
 
I use NAPHTHA on my gloss black piano finish speakers and subs, turntable etc. with a automotive finshing cloth. It evaporates very fast. Saw this in my guitar repair books.
jeffloistarca
1,004 posts
 
I use the Pledge Anti-Static mitts on all my stuff; like the wipes you describe above but can be used on anything without leaving any residue. I keep a box nearby and when I notice dust accumulating on my gear, it only takes a minute or two and everything is perfect again. Once in a while I use a bit of aerosol Pledge on my turntable's dust cover, covers up all the fine dusting scratches. Oh yeah, I vaccum my electrostatics monthly as well.
Log in to respond
More to discover
80x80
Synergistic Research Galileo UEF XLR 3M Interconnect Cables
80x80
Purist Audio Design Dominus Diamond
1.5 meter AC
80x80
Commonwealth 12D