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Post subject: Restoring Old Tolex - N(TM)AD
Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 1:07 pm
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Hey, what are you guys using to restore the lustre of the Tolex on an older amplifier?
I have just acquired an older Boogie Combo and it arrived today and it's pretty filthy. Looks like it's never been cleaned in it's life. I've pulled the chassis and the grille & speaker and all the hardware like steel corners, the handle & feet. I've got it scrubbed down with water and a toothbrush and a small amount of mild detergent and it is drying while I type. I will start gently vacuuming the speaker cone next as the lower section has nearly 30 years of dust on it but I thought I'd ask about the Tolex and hopefully get a couple answers while I work on the rest.

I don't really care for ArmorAll as it has silicone, leaves a greasy feel, becomes a dust magnet, turns things brown over time and according to some folks pulls moisture out of whatever it's applied to, thus damaging it. I understand the last bit is the subject of debate in some circles but the first parts are enough to have steered me away for several decades. I did a preliminary search and discovered people are using several kinds of products. One guy swears by Mink Oil (which I do have on hand), another guy says Vaseline is the best bet (also on hand) but I fear those products could leave an even greasier feel and be more of a dust magnet than ArmorAll. One guy uses Pledge which in my mind seems right out of left field cuz this is vinyl, not wood.

Just wonder if anybody has any other suggestions. The Tolex has surprisingly few dings and no tears but it's kinda dull. One thought I had was Guitar Polish but that's kinda like pledge in that it's not really the purpose of the product. Another thought I had was shoe polish but I can't help wondering if that would would leave black marks on my pants leg when I carry the amp. I welcome all thoughts on the matter.

Sorry, I didn't take any pics of it in its filthy condition but will post a couple when it's cleaned up.

( .50 Caliber - 1987 )

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Post subject: Re: Restoring Old Tolex - N(TM)AD
Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 1:21 pm
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After a good cleaning as you described, I use a product called 303 on a soft cloth. It brings back the original luster without the oiliness of most other products. 303 is usually available at boat marinas or maintenance stores as it is a marine product. I use it on my amps and the dashes of my cars (there are not leather, use something else for that).

HTH

T2

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Post subject: Re: Restoring Old Tolex - N(TM)AD
Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 1:24 pm
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For Tolex, I use Baking Soda with nylon brush and very small amount of water .

Grill cloth , same but no brush only a piece of clothe with BS . When dry I use vacuum.

Armor All is shinny for few weeks less if you wipe it .


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Post subject: Re: Restoring Old Tolex - N(TM)AD
Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 1:26 pm
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T2Stratman wrote:
After a good cleaning as you described, I use a product called 303 on a soft cloth. It brings back the original luster without the oiliness of most other products. 303 is usually available at boat marinas or maintenance stores as it is a marine product. I use it on my amps and the dashes of my cars (there are not leather, use something else for that).

HTH

This ?

http://www.goldeagle.com/brands/303-products
T2


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Post subject: Re: Restoring Old Tolex - N(TM)AD
Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 1:35 pm
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stratele52 wrote:
T2Stratman wrote:
After a good cleaning as you described, I use a product called 303 on a soft cloth. It brings back the original luster without the oiliness of most other products. 303 is usually available at boat marinas or maintenance stores as it is a marine product. I use it on my amps and the dashes of my cars (there are not leather, use something else for that).

HTH

This ?

http://www.goldeagle.com/brands/303-products
T2


That's the stuff...but I use the Protectorant...this one specifically...guess I should have included that the first time!

http://www.goldeagle.com/product/303-ae ... protectant

T2

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Post subject: Re: Restoring Old Tolex - N(TM)AD
Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 2:03 pm
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I use Einszett 1Z Plastic Cleaner

Image

and

Image

Einszett 1Z Vinyl Rubber Care and Protectant from Germany... ('cause you know the Germans always make good stuff... :lol: ) on Tolex.

It's a big brand amongst Porsche owners and I've used it better than 10 years on my 964 Cabriolet, my '76 BMW 2002 & my '90 BMW 325is (E30).

It's also used by many Boaters for it's superior UV protection.

The Cleaner is super effective (you will not believe how dirty your cleaning rag will be... much more than soap/water, fantastic or any other household cleaner - even removes cigarette Tar & Nicotine).

The Protectant contains both plasticizers and UV protectants, restores a nice deep color. Plus, it doesn't dry greasy or glossy and repels dust.

Also, it contains no silicones or formaline, is water-based and biodegradable. Extremely long-lasting.

@ $32 for the pair it's not cheap, but you use so little, it lasts a long time (I do all my cars annually and my Amps, and my current bottles are from 2009 and more than half full).

It's just the best product out there... I know... over the years, I've tried them all !


cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Restoring Old Tolex - N(TM)AD
Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 4:08 pm
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Great timing, Lightnin!
I was just thinking about a plastic cleaner and protectant since vinyl is also a petroleum product. Or at least a hydrocarbon anyway. I remembered I had some Plexus which I find is fabulous on my bike(s) plastic parts. I tried it and it worked great. Plexus needs a final buff to remove a slippery feeling and once that was done the Tolex was nice and black again.

Here she is:


Image

Image

I think she's in great shape for nearly 30 years old and been gigged plenty.
Cleaned her and snapped a few.
Now I'm off to take her for a rip.

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Post subject: Re: Restoring Old Tolex - N(TM)AD
Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 6:13 pm
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BMW-KTM wrote:
Great timing, Lightnin!
I was just thinking about a plastic cleaner and protectant since vinyl is also a petroleum product. Or at least a hydrocarbon anyway. I remembered I had some Plexus which I find is fabulous on my bike(s) plastic parts. I tried it and it worked great. Plexus needs a final buff to remove a slippery feeling and once that was done the Tolex was nice and black again.

Here she is:


Image

Image

I think she's in great shape for nearly 30 years old and been gigged plenty.
Cleaned her and snapped a few.
Now I'm off to take her for a rip.


Lookin' Good !!!

:D :D :D

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Restoring Old Tolex - N(TM)AD
Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 12:41 pm
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Tell us about the amp.
I find that amp gas has replaced my guitar gas. I see an interesting amp, and a voice inside says I need one of those. It doesn't tell me why, just that I need it! :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Restoring Old Tolex - N(TM)AD
Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 1:08 pm
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Drew365 wrote:
...and a voice inside says I need one of those. It doesn't tell me why, just that I need it! :lol:


:wink:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Restoring Old Tolex - N(TM)AD
Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 1:27 pm
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Drew365 wrote:
Tell us about the amp.
I find that amp gas has replaced my guitar gas. I see an interesting amp, and a voice inside says I need one of those. It doesn't tell me why, just that I need it! :lol:


I know what you mean! I struggled hard to pass up a used DeVille and just after it was sold a used Hot Rod DeVille showed up. I know I don't need one, just want it. I'm busy raising kids by myself and pretty much all my playing is in the basement or bedroom. Still have a few years before I can think about gigging and the way karaoke is growing our town is running out of places to play anyway. A used Peavey Classic 50 watt 2 x 12 combo has been calling me too but so far have resisted the urge. My Blackheart amp is 15 watts with both power tubes going or 7 if I switch one off. Mostly I run it on 7 watts - is plenty for around the house playing so don't know why I keep wanting a DeVille. The volume would have to be so low that I would never get decent tone out of it. I play an outdoor Harvest Festival semi-regularly and that is the only time I'd be able to crank up the volume enough to get good use out of it. Have to max out or mic the Blackheart outdoors.


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Post subject: Re: Restoring Old Tolex - N(TM)AD
Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 1:29 pm
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Well, Drew, it's a single channel amp with a lead switch, not unlike some Fender amps with a Fat switch. Step on the footswitch and you get a bunch more gain and more volume as well but not a real two channel affair because there's no dialing to be done in the lead mode.

It has a reasonable amount of clean headroom when played clean. On the lead mode there's no headroom at all. It's all crunch. Not in the same territory of crunch as the later Mark amps but still pretty rockin' with some nice overtones and the ability to feedback in a controllable manner. The cleans are suprisingly deep and chimey. The clean side can also be dialed up to a fair amount of grind but nowhere near the kind of gain found on metal style amps. I would categorize the crunch as somewhere between creamy and hairy.

It's a small amp, roughly equivalent to a Blues Junior in terms of physical dimensions but a bit heavier than a BJ and with WAY bigger cajoñes. It likes to have the mids scooped somewhat. Played with the EQ knobs fairly flat, all around 5, it sounds pretty good but it's better if you push the bass and treble a little and scoop the mids a little and add just a touch of presence. For my tastes so far I've been running the treble at around 7, mid 4, bass 6 and presence at 4. I've also run it with those setting more extreme, pushing treble and bass more and scooping the mids more and it still sounds pretty good. It has some very musical tones in it. The spring reverb is similar to a Fender.

For a small package this thing is very big sounding. I'd say it's almost in the same territory as my Fandango for depth of bass and spanky chime. It seems to accentuate the quack of my Strats, even the ones with silent singles. This will be my new small portable amp for taking to impromptu jams with buddy over beers.

I sold my motorhome a couple of weeks ago as I wasn't using it and the guy saw my Egnator Rebel 20 mini stack and wanted that amp too so sold them both to him in a package deal and I replaced it with this Boogie.

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Post subject: Re: Restoring Old Tolex - N(TM)AD
Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 1:44 pm
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T2Stratman wrote:
After a good cleaning as you described, I use a product called 303 on a soft cloth. It brings back the original luster without the oiliness of most other products. 303 is usually available at boat marinas or maintenance stores as it is a marine product. I use it on my amps and the dashes of my cars (there are not leather, use something else for that).

HTH

T2

Last year I was cleaning my fiberglass boat and had some stubborn dirty spots that boat cleaner just wouldn't take off. The next weekend I was cleaning my tub with Kaboom bathroom cleaner and a lightbulb went off - went out and tried it on the boat and those stains came right off. Think I'd want to try it on a cheap amp's Tolex before a good one though.


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Post subject: Re: Restoring Old Tolex - N(TM)AD
Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 3:14 pm
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Matt, looking good, cool pic's, congratulations !

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Post subject: Re: Restoring Old Tolex - N(TM)AD
Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 3:36 pm
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Thanks, Rollie.
I'm liking it.

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