Cleaning Bakelite?
 

I have the amp and turntable out of my little RCA 45 record player.

There are marks on the top, and general filth allover the rest of it. Whats good for cleaning the case, and hiding minor abrasion marks? I figger this is a good place to ask this, as I also own 8 bakelite radios. None of the others are nearly this nasty.

Thanks!

Bruce
Asheville, NC

It's been a really long time, but I used to clean them up with automotive rubbing compound (dupont no7 maybe?) and wax them with automotive caranauba wax. Really minor marks will rub out, but heavy scratches will probably show worse since everything around them will look new. Seems later on I was having trouble getting decent rubbing compound.

I would try it on an inside spot to make sure it wont make a mess. I think toothpaste also works. Maybe. YMMV.

John

Yeah, Blue Lateral's formula is pretty much what I've used, with very good results. The set will look like pure divine hell after you use the rubbin' compund on it, but don't worry-it may take more than one coat of the carnauba wax. Bakelite doesn't shine so much as it GLOWS after you've spent some time & elbow grease on it.

I also have one of the little RCA 45 RPM record players, I used Maguires Car cleaner and wax followed by their carnuba wax, it looks really good, also have used it on an old Zenith radio with equally good results.
As posted by Blue Lateral it may be wise to try it on the inside of the bottom cover first just to be sure all is well.

Thanks Guys! I
l'll let you know how it goes on Saturday.

Do a Google search for "Magnolia Glayzit". Antique Electronic Supply may have it, or possibly Graybar Electric. It was originally produced for restoring the finish on bakelite telephones such as the WE 300 and early 500 sets. Results are absolutely stunning on all things bakelite. Spray cans.

I've used Flitz and/or Simichrome on Bakelite, but have found the polishing compound/carnauba treatment works the best. Flitz/Simichrome are a little more aggressive, but harder to get off, & I think the key is the waxing step. Interestingly, it doesn't seem to make much difference if you wash the bakelite off beforehand or not-in fact, washing it may make things a bit tougher. I think bakelite is semi-porous...water won't go thru it, but I think it will absorb water to a degree. Bakelite is VERY "funny" stuff to deal with. Never have found ANYTHING that will glue it back together-if its broke, its broke, & that's that. It IS brittle-DON't drop a bakelite radio case on the floor, if you can help it. And its not particularly hard-you can scratch it easily.The mottledy-brown color is not too appealing to a lot of people, but its all they had back in the 1930s-'40s.

I'm with Sandy, I use a light rubbing compound followed by several coats of a good car wax. Check out the attached pix of my Zenith 7H820 AM-FM bakelite radio.

Bill from Indy

I've got that exact same radio, Bill, yours looks better than mine. I think Zenith must have made about 3 bazillion of that set-and all the variations of the case...

That Zenith is beautiful. If my RCA looks half that good, I'll be very satisfied!

Most any NAPA will have Mothers rubbing compound, that's what I use. On a couple of the really dull, ugly sets I tried the compound for cleaning aluminum; that REALLY cut through the haze. Finish 'em off with some spray-on auto detailer, works great-

I have read somewhere that sawdust is one of its components which makes it as you describe.

A quick fyi...never use 409 or any similar spray cleaners/degreasers on bakelite. It will definitely etch the surface, permanently. If it was shiny before, it won't be after.

Yeah, I found that one out the hard way, too.. Really, even Windex bollixes Bakelite up to a degree...Like I said, its funny funky stuff...

Watch out for that rubbing compound!
 

I am not a chemist and I don't play one on TV but...

People who purport to know about such things say that bakelite gets it's shine from the outside layer of resin curing against the polished inside of the mold. If the surface wears it loses it's gloss.

If the surface isn't already worn, using rubbing compound to remove the dirt would also risk permanently removing the thin glossy resin surface. Once the resin/sawdust mixture underneath is exposed, nothing will get back that original shine.

Bakelite is a thermosetting plastic. That's why you can't repair it. It's permanently in it's set condition and won't dissolve or melt. I can't see why any nonabrasive cleaner would have much effect on it, however I'll heed the advice of people who say they've had a bad experience with 409 or Windex. Mild dish detergent and water is always a safe bet!

.

This thread got me to wondering about this and I found some good information here.

--Dave