Boombox Repair/Restoration Kit

What would be essential Items for a newbie just starting out ?

What is the best way to remove 20 years of dirt,dust,nicotine etc without damaging the finish?

Well, here's my list of usual items. Maybe I'll round everything up and take a pic:

* Various assortment of flat-head and Phillips screwdrivers including miniature sizes
* Soldering gun
* Needle-nose pliers
* Tweezers
* Small telescoping magnet
* Q-tips / cotton swabs
* Isopropyl alcohol
* Meguiars Plast-X polish
* Endust wipes for electronics
* Orange Glo
* DeOxit
* TDK electronic demagnetizing cassette
* R/C fuel tubing
* Assortment of dental-type picks
* Multimeter
* Test tape
* X-acto knife (or similar)
* 2-inch paint brush

For basic cleaning, just go with a mild detergent and water. For tough stains, grime, grease, and dirt, Orange Glo works wonders!! Just don't use too much of it.

Nice list FD, other things I use include;
- A multimeter
- test tape
- RCA cords to test in/out puts
- Paper clips (I use them to pull dents out of grills/ and to clean real tight places. works well.)
- A working boombox so you can listen to while you work!
- Beer or liquor for the real tough to figure out problems.
- A digital camera to document and post up on Boomboxery!

Peace.
Paul Z.

Nice list FD, other things I use include;
- A multimeter
- test tape
DOH! How could I forget those?! I've updated my list. Thanks MZ.

Let me go ahead and post Vladi's response to this thread:

"Single malt scotch - I won't open another boombox without it."

Thanks Guys for your response

you can also dismantle the box and wash all non electronic parts in the bath tub ,then when it's dry put it all back together ,you can dust the speakers and the guts while its apart.

Use WD-40 to remove sticker glue ( I hate stickers on boxes!) First remove sticker by hand best you can, next spray on wd 40 slowly, let it penetrate, then wipe away glue! Recommend trying it on an unconspicuous area like the bottom in case the finish decides to come off with it..

If WD-40 proves too strong for the finish of the box, you can also try Goo Gone's Sticker Lifter. Although it might make sense to test it also.

The other day, I spent two hours pulling a bunch of twenty-year-old Toronto Blue Jays stickers off an old Panasonic RX 5080. I found that different glue residues needed different cleaning liquids to really come off easy, but the winner for me was plain white vinegar. Plus my thumbnail beats the pants off a sink scrubby for glue lifting action.

microfibre cloth
sandpaper or fingernailfile for rusty, corroded battery spring and contacts
chrome polish, finisher

great tips !!!

I love the list fellas, I just started taking apart some of the projects I have... I find it myself very content and entertained detailing these old boxes that have been collecting dust for many years. I've been learning the small tricks of the trades through making a few mistakes here and there. Now if I could just figure out the smartest way to remove the grills so I can clean and repaint them.

I love the list fellas, I just started taking apart some of the projects I have... I find it myself very content and entertained detailing these old boxes that have been collecting dust for many years. I've been learning the small tricks of the trades through making a few mistakes here and there. Now if I could just figure out the smartest way to remove the grills so I can clean and repaint them.
On your SCR8 you need to bend all tabs and cut glue with razor, then evenly push grill out...Good luck

Don't forget things to fix damaged boomboxes! Acrylic Cement is the best and everyone should have it "just in case"

Don't forget things to fix damaged boomboxes! Acrylic Cement is the best and everyone should have it "just in case"




what brand makes the best Acrylic Cement?

Here is a great thread!:

viewtopic.php?f=47&t=4420&hilit=cracks


Superduper referred me to some awesome stuff, I just got it a few days ago and I will never look back either!

.....As you are also UK based...check out maplins/ rs componants or cpc for Servisol products....
Great switch cleaner and they do a foam cleaner you can just spray all over and work in with an old tooth brush....works a treat!

Excellent thread, really appreciate the tips

What to use on to clean the PCB board?