Wood cleaning of nicotine

[Electronic M]

Originally Posted by vts1134

Any one tried this on older rubber insulated wire?

You have some of that wire that has not rotted and shorted out it's set!?!?

Virtually every rubber wire I've seen was dried and cracked or getting there....I pretty much reflexively replace it now.

[Findm-Keepm]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

You have some of that wire that has not rotted and shorted out it's set!?!?

Virtually every rubber wire I've seen was dried and cracked or getting there....I pretty much reflexively replace it now.

Agree - replace any rubber wire that is cracked. If glazed (can't clean gunk, but it is still flexible), use Rubber Re-nu from Rawn. When I was in the Calibration Lab, we used the stuff by the quart to keep expensive cable assemblies clean and flexible. We're talking cables that were immersed in water/oil, fuel and other contaminants on the flight line, so they got gunked up. Rubber Re-nu, if it is still the same formula, STINKS, so use it sparingly and outside if possible. I get a headache if I even smell anything close to that smell.

We also used it to revitalize/deglaze rubber on phono idler tires. Makes them last - we replaced very few idlers on BSR, V-M, Garrard and Collaro changers, thanks to a little bottle of the stuff.

Cheers,

[Cruiseomatic]

When I can, I'll try the zep. Now what can I use to re-humidify the wood first? Its been in outdoor storage for 3 years and the stain dried out and now shows scratches that weren't there before. I actually wish there was someone in the Houston area that could "recondition" the cabinet. I'm currently between places so I have nothing setup or a way to do anything but would like this taken care of asap to prevent more damage. But good news is, even though she's been in outdoor storage for 3 years and moved extensively, she still works great and CRT is still bright, just needs readjusted. Wish Bob was either here or I was in Chicago, lol. He does great work with wood.

[fsjonsey]

Originally Posted by Cruiseomatic

When I can, I'll try the zep. Now what can I use to re-humidify the wood first? Its been in outdoor storage for 3 years and the stain dried out and now shows scratches that weren't there before. I actually wish there was someone in the Houston area that could "recondition" the cabinet. I'm currently between places so I have nothing setup or a way to do anything but would like this taken care of asap to prevent more damage. But good news is, even though she's been in outdoor storage for 3 years and moved extensively, she still works great and CRT is still bright, just needs readjusted. Wish Bob was either here or I was in Chicago, lol. He does great work with wood.

Please try the Zep. It puts ammonia based cleaners to shame, while still being gentle. Once again, test it on a small space before you use it. At the worst, could potentially remove some ink chassis stamps. This risk is greatly reduced if you dilute it with water 2:1, but It's effectiveness on tar will be greatly reduced.

As far as dried out wood, Well, I guess my cigar knowledge may apply here too. I'd Stick the cabinet in a closet or other small enclosed space with a portable ultrasonic humidifier set on it's lowest setting. You can pick one up for under $60 on Amazon. US Humidifiers spray a cool visible fog and are really easy to control. Ultrasonic Humidifiers are way more efficient than their paper wick counterparts. Unlike the common paper wick humidifier, they don't have a soggy paper wick sitting in a tank of stagnant water to spew mold and bacteria spores everywhere, and they control humidity output much more precisely. Add a capful of Humidifier Bacteriostat to each gallon of water you use.

[Cruiseomatic]

Right now, its in a climate controlled industrial storage unit with things all around. Im hoping the a/c will moisturize the wood.

[fsjonsey]

Originally Posted by Cruiseomatic

Right now, its in a climate controlled industrial storage unit with things all around. Im hoping the a/c will moisturize the wood.

Air Conditioning, like all forms of refrigeration, dehumidifies the refrigerated air. That's why we use it. It makes the interior air cooler and dryer. It's the same reason I always have to tell people not to keep their Cigars in the Refrigerator (a bad myth that has been perpetuated for over 60 years...)

[Cruiseomatic]

Not this place, there is some humidity in the air. I think the cool moist air after a while will help.

[dtvmcdonald]

Originally Posted by Chip Chester

A little off-topic, but Goop works well on plastic insulated wiring, too. De-gunks, reveals the insulation color, and doesn't dry it out. Discovered this on old car wiring, but works on old electronics as well. Stands to reason, since they use the same electrons.

Chip

You bet! I used it yesterday on two CRT HV connectors that were truly abysmally black with big bumps of blackness. It worked perfectly.

Some 1939 age rubber wire is OK. The radio for my TRK12 had it all cracked and needing replacement.
This radio has seen very extensive use.

The TV chassis, which had been used an an engineering test set and not used since
the change to the current channel setup, and came to me quite pristine in crates,
has nice rubber pliable wiring, except for the the blue color, which had to be replaced.
Only maybe 5% of the wiring was rubber, the rest cloth.

[fsjonsey]

Originally Posted by vts1134

Any one tried this on older rubber insulated wire?

Sorry for bumping an old thread, but here's a trick from a friend in the Corvair community. Calamine lotion softens up old, brittle rubber like magic, but it takes time. I had an early 40's Zenith console radio with a wire loom to the magic eye tube that was brittle but intact. Taking his advice, I took a small brush and painted the wires with the lotion every day for a month. The dried insulation basically drank up the lotion and slowly became soft and pliable again.

[zeno]

At the shop we cleaned all repairs before they went home.
All we used was amonia & watter about 50-50. Cheap & easy.
You could wipe down a clean looking set & get a rag
full of brown mung.

73 Zeno

[TUD1]

When I got my 1973 Zenith Chromacolor, it was coated with tar. I always use Gojo hand crème on my antique radios, and Gojo did not fail me one bit. The Gojo demolished all the tar and left the TV looking almost new.

[dtvmcdonald]

Yes, Goop works on rubber too.

[wa2ise]

Originally Posted by Jon A.

Haha, sounds a lot like me. Same goes for drinking. That's one advantage of never having been part of the "in" crowd.

Well, I got a minor in beer drinking when I majored in electrical engineering at Syracuse University (BSEE 1978)