[Boatanchors] CLEANING PANELS

[Mr. and Mrs. Magoo]

I would caution anyone contemplating any procedure which includes immersion 
of the panel and soaking for several hours to remove nicotine and other 
stains.  I did that several years ago with an HX-50 panel; unfortunately, 
the paint had cracked in one corner along a contour where it could not be 
seen and the result was that sections of paint simply flaked off.

The result was need for a complete restoration of the panel, which I am 
still attempting to deal with.  Attempts at applying a full-panel adhesive 
decal failed: it proved virtually impossible to apply the darned thing 
without wrinkling/removal, an operation which also removed some colouring 
from the paint.

So, beware-don't immerse any metal work for any reason.  I still maintain 
that a series of gentle "scrubbings" with mild soaps and cleansers will, in 
the end, result in the best job possible.

Bill, VE3NH