The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have tried everything to clean this bedplate. It will not clean up. When its wet, it looks good. Should I just put a coat of clear on it?

That built-up schmegma as seen to the right of the data plate and other areas WILL come off if you leave GoJo/Goop sitting on it for hours or even overnight. Of course, the delicate blue lines need to be carefully watched.

Otherwise, that coat of clear would work, but I hate sealing in that gunk.

This bedplate is the poster child for "Why We Don't Use Three-In-One!

Good luck!

George P.

Amberola wrote:I have tried everything to clean this bedplate. It will not clean up. When its wet, it looks good. Should I just put a coat of clear on it?

The attachment DSC_0010.JPG is no longer available

hmmm they sure loved this phonograph the nasty stuff that i can see looks like old swarf to me they probably made recordings on this phono
maybe it might be an idea to remove the id plate to give you space to clean the gunk off
also it maybe a good idea to ask shawn borri how to clean old swarf of phonographs he must be dealing with oiled swarf all of the time
scratching and scraping aint a good idea also re-painting with a clear will also not work since there's oil in that gunk it will eventually blister
you could very carefully use brasso BUT MIND THE PINSTRIPES! they will erase with brasso!
you could also go in search of some kind of solvent but again mind the pinstripes they are gelatinous water transfers and if soaked too long the will come off

for precision buffing i use cigarette filters from time to time cuetips have a tendency to unravel


ps is that a hole
i marked it with arrows

phonogfp wrote:That built-up schmegma as seen to the right of the data plate and other areas WILL come off if you leave GoJo/Goop sitting on it for hours or even overnight. Of course, the delicate blue lines need to be carefully watched.

Otherwise, that coat of clear would work, but I hate sealing in that gunk.

This bedplate is the poster child for "Why We Don't Use Three-In-One!

Good luck!

George P.

I will put Goop on it before I go to bed, and clean it off in the morning. I haven't left anything on it for long, just wiped on, and then off.

tinovanderzwan wrote:

Amberola wrote:I have tried everything to clean this bedplate. It will not clean up. When its wet, it looks good. Should I just put a coat of clear on it?

DSC_0010.JPG

hmmm they sure loved this phonograph the nasty stuff that i can see looks like old swarf to me they probably made recordings on this phono
maybe it might be an idea to remove the id plate to give you space to clean the gunk off
also it maybe a good idea to ask shawn borri how to clean old swarf of phonographs he must be dealing with oiled swarf all of the time
scratching and scraping aint a good idea also re-painting with a clear will also not work since there's oil in that gunk it will eventually blister
you could very carefully use brasso BUT MIND THE PINSTRIPES! they will erase with brasso!
you could also go in search of some kind of solvent but again mind the pinstripes they are gelatinous water transfers and if soaked too long the will come off

for precision buffing i use cigarette filters from time to time cuetips have a tendency to unravel


ps is that a hole
i marked it with arrows

DSC_0010.JPG

Its not a hole, just some Goop on there.

Amberola wrote:I have tried everything to clean this bedplate. It will not clean up. When its wet, it looks good. Should I just put a coat of clear on it?

DSC_0010.JPG

Also try the orange non-pumice Goop hand cleaner (plastic squeeze bottle with black top), which has citrus oils that really break up grease and oil. It's a bit harder to find, but worth a shot.

I also know that Meguiar's Scratch X will be recommended, but that tends to be more of a polish than a grease remover. Perhaps that's worth a try after the crud is gone.

If you have trouble finding the Goop, I got quite a few of them earlier this year using Harbor Freight's website. Cheaper than Amazon or Wal-mart.com FYI

Matt

Thanks guys. I have the Goop, GoJo, and Scratch X-2. I have worked on this machine more than any other I have ever had.

You can always try WD-40, which will remove grease, wax, tar and sludge from car finishes without hurting them in any way....

I have used Hoppe's No.9 gun solvent. It will clean of the hardened gunk very quickly. I use an old toothbrush, and it works great. However, you have to be careful around the decals.
Harvey Kravitz