[ICOM] Cleaning up faceplate knobs

[AI4WM]

John,
I have 2 methods.  I soak the knobs in MeanGreen or Supe88 cleaner
overnight.  Super88 seems best. Advance Auto sells it.  Sometimes these
cleaners remove the index lines or any other text.
The second method is ultrasonic cleaning.  I found Palmolive dishwashing
detergent (regular not scented or concentrated) works the best while not
damaging any silk screening or other finishes.  The time in the bath depends
on the amount of gunk.  I rinse them in very hot water and let them sit or
blow them off with air so the retaining springs or any other insert does not
rust or corrode. If it is a knob with a set screw I remove the set screw(s)
first.  Sometimes the small spring inserts in those kind of knobs can be
safely removed before the bath to eliminate any possibility of rust.

Harbor Freight has cheap ultrasonic cleaners that should work for knobs.  I
have a used commercial one from ePay so I can also do circuit boardds.



On Thu, May 26, 2011 at 3:40 PM, John Geiger <aa5jg at fidmail.com> wrote:

> I have an Icom 706 original I picked up a couple of months ago. Yesterday
> while taking it mobile I realized how dirty the knobs are on it.  Usually
> it
> sits in the semi-dark shack and I don't notice such things.  There is some
> sort of hardened gunk in the grooves on the volume and RIT knobs. Not the
> end of the world but would like to clean it up, if possible.  What is the
> best cleaner to use on plastic knobs such as this?'
>
> 73s John AA5JG
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-- 
73,
Bill
AI4WM