Solvent/Technique to remove Hardened Substances from a Faceplate?

[MacGyver]

anyone know how to safely remove hardened substances from an anodized metal surface without damage to the finish? when i got my PIONEER CT-W910R, it had these random dry spatters of some sort of transparent, lauquer like substance around the front panel. the largest of which can clearly be seen here, between the REC LEVEL and BALANCE knobs:




http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/PIONEER/147759783_o.jpg


i have since been able to remove most of those spatters, including those between the knobs, with alot of careful scratching with the fingernail. still, there is a tiny one i have been working on here, seen on the base of the "T" of the "AUTO" legend:



http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/PIONEER/147759788_o.jpg


i have not been getting anywhere on it, as i've been afraid to scratch too hard at it for fear of damaging the letter underneath...

[NAD613]

Try Goo Gone.

[Scorpion8]

Try Goo Gone.

Be gentle. Some of those labels may be printed or applied as decals. Some solvents will remove them, as learned firsthand on an Onkyo inetgrated back when. Use either a nylon dental pic or perhaps a popsicle stick to gently scratch at it, since those materials are both softer than the faceplate metal. If you do use solvents, then apply a tiny bit to a Q-Tip or medical swab and apply only at the exact affected area.... don't spray the whole faceplate.

[MacGyver]

these legends are applied via a silk-screen printing method. the metal is a realitively thin, delicate aluminum. it doesn't take much to put a nasty nick in it. as such, i am naturally aversive to attempting anything overly randy on it. this isn't exactly the most common deck around, and i've had to wait far too long to finally obtain one. nevertheless, i have managed to get most of that crap off without any damage. the only real trouble spot left is that AUTO one...

[Scorpion8]

Well, your fingernail is the right hardness (or rather, softness) to do the job w/o damage to the faceplate. There are a variety of orange-based cleaners that might work. Try using a wooden toothpick, dipped into orange-based cleaner and then apply a single drop to the area of concern. Let it soak, and make sure it doesn't spread or flow around (tilt the deck up onto the back end if needed). After a few minutes, use the toothpick to gently scrape at the spot and see how that works.

[MacGyver]

Well, your fingernail is the right hardness (or rather, softness) to do the job w/o damage to the faceplate. There are a variety of orange-based cleaners that might work. Try using a wooden toothpick, dipped into orange-based cleaner and then apply a single drop to the area of concern. Let it soak, and make sure it doesn't spread or flow around (tilt the deck up onto the back end if needed). After a few minutes, use the toothpick to gently scrape at the spot and see how that works.


you mean something like GOJO's "FAST ORANGE" hand cleanser?

[Scorpion8]

NOT, repeat NOT the stuff with pumice in it. You'll just scratch everything.

[TheReeler]

And what can be done when the problem is that a plastic surface has been decolorated?.

Here is an example:

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/thereeler/despintado.jpg

Which kind of product can be used here so that the black color expands again and cover the white decolorated plastic?.

I saw a guy one time to do it, but don't know which product he used *fit*

[MacGyver]

NOT, repeat NOT the stuff with pumice in it. You'll just scratch everything.


10-4. you're absolutely right. i never even thought of that!!*el_loco* don't worry, i have not done anything as yet...

[Scorpion8]

And what can be done when the problem is that a plastic surface has been decolorated?.

Which kind of product can be used here so that the black color expands again and cover the white decolorated plastic?.

A couple of solutions are available. The chepie method is a Sharpie pen (broad nib). Rub it over until close and then polish down/buff into the old plastic. The next cheapie method is a new faceplate off a parts donor. Otherwise you're out to trying various laqueurs of finishes. Perhaps fingernail polish of the right color, which will harden like an enamel finish. And then polish it down with buffing compound.

All depends how much time, effort, zloty$, and elbow grease you want to put into your project.