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Author Topic: A suggestion for polishing radio knobs to clean them up -very easily  (Read 753 times)

N4MQ

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I have been cleaning the knobs on my fleet of Johnson radio transmitters, and thought that it would be of interest to others.  The video shows the operation and results on several knobs.  I find MOTHERS mag and wheel polish is the best compound for paint, plastic and metal, including headlight covers.  Really works for me, enjoy. Woody N4MQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vosiRlNyIZc
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SWMAN

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Re: A suggestion for polishing radio knobs to clean them up -very easily
« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2022, 05:33:41 AM »

 Good idea, I like it. 
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K1VSK

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Re: A suggestion for polishing radio knobs to clean them up -very easily
« Reply #2 on: August 05, 2022, 05:57:15 AM »

I use Collonite Fleet polish with great success. Generally used as a mild abrasive on cars and boat finishes before waxing, it seems any polish should work equally well.
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N8NK

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    • N8NK QRP
Re: A suggestion for polishing radio knobs to clean them up -very easily
« Reply #3 on: August 05, 2022, 09:37:00 AM »

Perfect timing. Thank you! I just bought for restoration a Johnson Viking II, Hallicrafters SX-62A and a S-120.
Chuck, N8NK
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KB7LOQ

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Re: A suggestion for polishing radio knobs to clean them up -very easily
« Reply #4 on: August 05, 2022, 11:14:00 AM »

Be careful with bakelite knobs, abrasive cleaners can take off the outer surface shine.  Best to use dish soap.  For all other knobs, the suggestions in the other posts are good.
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KB7TT

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Re: A suggestion for polishing radio knobs to clean them up -very easily
« Reply #5 on: August 10, 2022, 12:12:06 PM »

If your knobs are bakelite then only use Glazit on them...Bakelite is NOT plastic it is porous and has an oil in it to preserve it and make it shine... Wax will not work for long....Amazon sells Glazit and so do local electrical houses.  Switchgear still uses bakelite handles and knobs.... It is great also on thereally old style CDE rotor boxes which are bakelite .

Greg
KB7TT
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N4KYW

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Re: A suggestion for polishing radio knobs to clean them up -very easily
« Reply #6 on: September 18, 2022, 11:26:19 AM »

If your knobs are bakelite then only use Glazit on them...Bakelite is NOT plastic it is porous and has an oil in it to preserve it and make it shine... Wax will not work for long....Amazon sells Glazit and so do local electrical houses.  Switchgear still uses bakelite handles and knobs.... It is great also on thereally old style CDE rotor boxes which are bakelite .

Greg
KB7TT

Greg, is the the refinisher you're referring to?
https://www.arrowmagnolia.com/product/glayzit-telephone-refinisher/
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WD0GOF

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Re: A suggestion for polishing radio knobs to clean them up -very easily
« Reply #7 on: September 18, 2022, 01:09:45 PM »

I sit down with a bowl of knobs, cotton gloves (those old brown jersey gloves) and a bottle of BAR KEEPERS FRIEND. In the course of the evening news, I can polish up a half dozen or so. As for the Bakelite and other non-plastic synthetics a good rub with neetsfoot oil has worked well. No particular reason for using neetsfoot oil, I just had some around and used it and it seemed to work well.
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K1KIM

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Re: A suggestion for polishing radio knobs to clean them up -very easily
« Reply #8 on: September 18, 2022, 03:46:30 PM »

Good old toothpaste. Some of the finest compounding cleaner that costs no more than a single brushing. ;D
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KC3TEC

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Re: A suggestion for polishing radio knobs to clean them up -very easily
« Reply #9 on: November 11, 2022, 06:04:57 AM »

If your knobs are bakelite then only use Glazit on them...Bakelite is NOT plastic it is porous and has an oil in it to preserve it and make it shine... Wax will not work for long....Amazon sells Glazit and so do local electrical houses.  Switchgear still uses bakelite handles and knobs.... It is great also on thereally old style CDE rotor boxes which are bakelite .

Greg
KB7TT

People asked me one time what polish i used on the gear shift knob in my truck.
( standard transmission with a bakelite knob)
Answer years of use..

Plastics can be polished with a fine grade silver polish or brasso, but you must be careful as some metal polishing agents may contain petro-chemical solvents that can damage plastic.
With bakelite murphys oil soap gently cleans them without abrasives.
Dawn dish soap will clean them but may also remove some of the oils.
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