VM model 570 console and 102 matching speaker.

[William]

Over the last few days, I have been scrubbing on my "finds that followed me home" new toys. It is interesting to note how filthy the inside of the cabinet is but how clean the furniture side is. It took 4 sets of clean soapy water to get the inside clean, each time the water was black. But the furniture side, one pail and the water a light tan. For the life of me, I cannot figure out what made it so dirty. You would have thought they came from a home where people smoked, but there is no tobacco odor at all. I'm puzzled, do you all have any ideas? Here is a photo of the filthy amp, and also the underside so you can see what makes it tick.

Bill

[electra225]

Looks like it might have been the shop set for a woodworking shop. That is pretty dirty......

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

Sometimes cleaning is the most onerous chore
for me.

But then, you get some real good satisfaction when it
looks nice again.

That's some nice and better organized wiring V-M did in the chassis.

[TC Chris]

Looks like it might have been the shop set for a woodworking shop. That is pretty dirty......

Nah, a wood shop would have produced sawdust. Ask me how I know. That's just plain old dirt. Years of accumulated dust and debris.

Chris Campbell

[William]

To me, to become that dirty it must have been played 24/7. I also wonder if it sat over a return or hot air register. Also, every VM console I have worked on has had well organized wiring which makes it very easy to service. I guess the bean counters allotted extra money to make life easier for those that had to service a VM product.

Bill

[electra225]

I have been watching videos about cleaning chassis. CLR seems to be a frequently-mentioned product that I may give a try. Naval jelly also gets a lot of mentions. I have been using steel wool and Simichrome, but that's getting to be too much work, and you have to be careful not to get steel wool into the IF cans and that.

[Firedome]

I always vacuum really well to start. Wonder if it came from an area with bad air pollution from factories, traffic, maybe next door to a bus depot? lol

[electra225]

The best video on cleaning recommended using Method all-purpose cleaner and a brass-bristled brush. Method all-purpose cleaner can be bought at Lowes for under $5. I used some Glance, an industrial window cleaner I have here and a brass brush on a W-G radio chassis that was just dingy, not caked with dirt. That worked pretty well. The Method stuff is plant-based. Glance is made by Johnson-Diversey, the industrial arm of Johnson Wax. They use that stuff at Walmart for almost everything. You can use it on windows in direct sunlight and it won't streak. I use it on windows and also for general purpose cleaning. It has alcohol in it, so you shouldn't use it to clean records.

[hermitcrab]

I have a friend that lives near a factory that makes Onion rings... the odor of fried onions fills the air for blocks around ... he claims his car has a coat of cooking oil on it daily.... who knows what environment the set was exposed to...

[William]

I made an inquiry today at the store where I purchased my new VM toy. Apparently, this store gets called to buy up what's left over from an estate sale. The VM 570 and VM 102 were in the basement of the house and removed from there. He said the house was clean top to bottom which accounts for the way the cabinet looked. I'm guessing in its hay day, it was used a lot and maybe sat next to a furnace register or maybe close to the kitchen although nothing was greasy. I guess it is what it is and now it's all cleaned up.

Bill

[Firedome]

I'd be hesitant to use a brass brush in some circumstances, it would scratch chromate or copper plating on a steel chassis and aluminum on chassis like HHScott. Vacuum loose dirt then use a soft artist type brush then a stiff bristle brush if needed with mild detergent or a mild solvent, I use isopropyl alcohol oftentimes when grease from smoking is present... however YMMV.

[Motorola minion]

I vacuum first, removing all the spiderwebs, dust etc. A dry swiffer works great at what a vacuum misses. I have had consoles that never lost that musty basement smell, when powered up it was noticeable. Cure was to spray lacquer on inside and underside of cabinet and then it was gone

Nothing beats old toothbrushes for dusting, using the vacuum crevasse tool to make sure everything is sucked up and not put into the air.

Forced air heat was bad enough but when you add a bad heat exchanger, the brown dust will be black and greasy instead

I drop everything off in my barn, garage, etc. until inherent stink is gone or at least until bugs and spiders leave it...then I clean it.