The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello there.

I hope you find this suggestion useful.

I was messing around my Edison Home and accidentally got the grey-black graphite-based grease that is present inside and around the main spring.

I heard that this is a mess to get removed, but if you use Olive oil (possibly extra-virgin) it comes out very very easily.

Then removing olive oil from your hands is easy with any kind of soap.

Here in Italy we know some alternative uses for this widespread food product..

Beats spraying your hands with WD40 and wiping it with a shop towel!

And also classic natural soap removes it very well. The trick is to remain with the soap in hands one or two minutes... We tend to use soap very fast and then immediately clear tap water. To remain with the soap (any good natural one) two minutes makes all the difference.
But thanks for the oil trick. In Spain we use olive oil profusely... Never thought of washing my hands with oil!

I'm not familiar with graphite-based grease, but for stubborn stuff on hands (like grease) I use clothes-washing powder. It appears to deal with the grime plus has some abrasive qualities to help with the removal.

Theoretically, the GoJo creamy soap is designed for this use, isn't it? And it has a version with abrasive powder for stubborn stains...

I have long advocated the use of inexpensive vegetable cooking oil for cleaning motors. I first learned this watching roofers clean roofing tar from their hands with vegetable oil. No need to use expensive olive oil.

Inigo wrote: Mon Sep 12, 2022 3:19 pm Theoretically, the GoJo creamy soap is designed for this use, isn't it? And it has a version with abrasive powder for stubborn stains...

It’s not soap, it (at least it used to be) is lanolin based — wool fat — so again, oil dissolving oil.