The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Yes, petroleum distillates do work! I like Mineral Spirits because it has a higher evaporation point than the other solvents, which means less fumes, therefore not as flammable and less dangerous to our lungs. Kerosene is another one that has a low fume output. Brake cleaner is probably the most effective cleaner, but some of them have Methylene Chloride in them, which is very dangerous to inhale yet one of the fastest acting degreasers known.

I just used vegetable cooking oil on a motor rebuild as recommended by JohnM and it worked great! And as he said none of the negatives associated with petroleum products. The only caution I can suggest is buy your own bottle so you don't use up the wife's!

Thanks JohnM, this is a game changer for me. I can see where I will be using this for a lot of other projects.

I also would like to share my latest discovery on cleaning springs and motor parts. I am now only using baking soda ( sodium bicarbonate), a low cost and highly effective medium with absolutely no smells and actually no negative side effects. I have used it for my last four spring and motor services, on extremely hardened grease on very old HMV and Victor springs and motors. I could not believe my eyes how it loosened the old crap inside HMV springs! I soak the springs/parts for 30 minutes in hot water adding baking soda to ease the process, before adding baking soda directly to the springs as I work them through ( also for motor parts) while gently removing the grease with my fingers with some added water to saturate the old grease. No stress, no pain, no bad smells. I even use my bathroom sink for cleaning springs now..but don't tell my girlfriend. I initially thought baking soda only could be used for soda blasting motor parts, but no...blasting is not needed for our work.

The best cleaner to dissolve old grease and oil from metal parts is inexpensive vegetable cooking oil. It’s non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-carcinogenic. Solvent exposure is cumulative. Avoid it.

the method I use is to put everything into a 5 gallon bucket with a lid, put in 2 gallons of paint thinner (mineral spirits) and soak for a week or two while I work on other things. Then take each piece out and scrub and wash with concentrated dawn dish soap to fully degrease. A scotch bright pad works great to. I keep reusing the mineral spirits, good for 4-5 soaks at least before I change it out and have it recycled.