Vintage Asylum

RE: Fisher 400 cleaning THE BEST ADVICE YOU EVER READ HERE

128.48.7.107

In Reply to: RE: Fisher 400 cleaning posted by ako_hobby on June 26, 2007 at 13:38:57

Hello, AKO:

So you want some good advice? You got it!

Here are my recommendations:

For the front panel:

Try using common dish-washing detergent. Remove the front panel assembly and soak or gently sponge the front panel applying VERY LITTLE direct pressure against the surface. Most grime and junk will float right off.

PLEASE DO NOT USE ALCOHOL on the front panel or you might further damage the anodized surface. I one did this and the front panel wound up being stained unevenly for some weird reason. It took on a kind of frosty appearance, if you get the meaning.

Also, remove and soak all of your knobs in liquid dish-washing detergent. Scrub the ribbed sides with a used toothbrush, rinse and pat dry. I also pop off the spun brass cap pieces, scrape all of that cruddy old German grayish glue. Then, I re-glue them to the knobs, observing the notch or flange for proper orientation. Next, I place each one on a spinning jig with abrasive, right before I clean them again with lacquer thinner. Essentially, they now have a brand new turned brass surface. Finally, I re-coat them with clear brushing lacquer while they spun in a low-speed jig. When dry, I reinstall them all. Nice and neat, and just like new or BETTER than new, frankly!

For the dial glass:

First and foremost: Be ULTRA careful if you wish to try and remove the glass. You will need to carefully unscrew and remove the glass retaining taps above and below which hold down the glass itself. Very often, the glass dial will stick to the rubber blocks supporting it from below. If you are very careful, you can "pry" it loose, but you could also break it in the attempt of removal. (Do not contact me if this happens. I will be hiding below a rock out in the desert when you try to reach me). Test the glass in an area away from lettering, using a Q-tip moistened in gentle, mild dishwashing detergent or test with clear water. If this works, try an area near the lettering to see if it is stable. Don't be stupid! Stop if you encounter problems. If things look good to you, carefully and gently proceed to clean the side of the glass with the lettering.

DO NOT BEAR DOWN HEAVILY on your cleaning process or you may damage, remove or lift the silk screened printing. Windex is probably not recommended (except for the front of the glass, where there is NO printing on the surface at all). I have had Windex completely remove all silkscreening on SOME dial glasses, at least it will on a Marantz 10-B, most assuredly. BE SAFE AND HAPPY, as they say!

Also, replace the foam below the dial glass. This is probably dried and beginning to crumble, leaving filthy residue everywhere. Get rid of it and replace using self-adhesive window frame weatherstripping--available at any hardware store.

TO CLEAN THE CHASSIS:

I use "Fast Orange", a product containing some sort of citric acid (orange oil?) and PUMMICE. Be sure to buy the version with the PUMMICE, not that creamy stuff for sissies! Do not press down hard or you may remove the printing. Wear gloves and use your fingers to GENTLY spread and massage the "Fast Orange" cleanser around. Let it sit on the surface for a while and then clean and remove the residue with clear tap water. Pat dry and repeat as needed.

Do not just pour this stuff all over the place, either! Work on small areas, one at a time. Do not let the stuff go underneath the IF transformes or it will do some damage. This applies to anything that you also spray onto the chassis.

This works like a charm for me, at least!

BTW, if you wish to also repaint your transformers, try masking off the rest of the set and prep them with gentle sanding (400-grit). Clean with denatured or even isopropyl alcohol, let dry. Re-spray with either satin black lacquer or satin black enamel. On my Fisher 500-B and the Fisher 400-CX-2 that I am now restoring, I actually removed the screws holding down the transformers, inserted masking tape below and then completely masked off the rest of the chassis before I repainted them. They look unbelievably gorgeous now!

VOILA!

Good luck!

Richard Links
Berkeley, CA

Follow Ups:

No Wonder the - unclestu52 19:12:19 06/29/07 (0)

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