Seeking Cab cleaning advice (GoofOff? WD40? Palmolive?)

[quarterback]

I've finally gotten a chance to completely dismantle the CP from the "Main Event" cab I bought back in November and now it's time for a good cleaning (the CP and controls, not me)

So, any specific suggestions for cleaning:

[quarterback]

Well, I used the GoofOff2 but it didn't seem to work as well as the GooGone original stuff.  It's easier to clean up and isn't as pungent, but didn't seem to pack the punch of the oily toxic stuff.

I also found that 409 did at least as good of a job on the CP as the GoofOff2.  I also dismantled all the buttons and soaked the parts in a warm water/goofoff2 mixture.  I don't know, liquid dish soap might have done as well, it got most of the grime off with a little rubbing.

But I'm still at a loss for the rusty parts.  The springs, the joystick shafts, the mounting bolts.  I dn't have any Barkeeper's Friend rust cleaner, but don't know if there's a better way.  Any suggestions?

[Rocky]

I also use 409 on CP overlays and sideart.

I disassemble the joysticks and buttons and soak them in warm water and dishsoap. Sometimes parts need some scrubbing with a brush.

I use WD-40 to remove surface rust. If joystick handles are bad, I've used fine sandpaper to clean them up. Others have put the handles in a drill and used a wire brush on them.

I usually spray a light coating of silicone on the moving plastic parts and rubber grommets of joysticks before putting them back together.

YMMV,
Rocky

[Arcadiac]

I used fine steel wool, actually just Brillo soap pads to clean rust off of chrome plated steel table legs.  Rinse and dry well and then polished with chrome polish.  I usually just try something I have around the house first, on an area that won't show, saves a lot of money buying specialized products I may just use once.  Never tried it, but there is a product called Naval Jelly that is supposed to be best for removing rust.  Dawn dish soap is gentle enough for other areas, again just test it first.  I used Windex for cleaning my buttons, etc.  I like dismantling and cleaning parts myself, it just makes for a better working and looking project when I'm done!  Good Luck!  ARCADIAC!

[quarterback]

Thanks for the replies y'all.   

I was particularly curious about the rust removal after I (stupidly) scratched up my marquee plexi last month.  I was cleaning it with a sponge but it was one of those sponges with a rough green plastic 'scrubber' side and before I knew it I had scratched up the plexi.

So now I'm moving a little slower before I really screw something up
Thanks

[cw]

Yall might try the "magic eraser" a new  product from mr. clean.... does one heck of a job getting all the dirt and grime off of cps.   It pulled all kinds of stuff off that other cleaners left behind.....   

[nostrebor]

For rusty joystick shafts I just take them apart and chuck them in my drill press. (a regular drill will work too) then spin the stick while holding some 220 sandpaper lightly against the shaft. once the rust is gone I go to 400 grit paper, then a rag with car wax to polish it up and seal it. Works great, and makes the stick look NOS nice. You dont need a lot of drill speed here, and patience is the key to not screwing up the stick.

[quarterback]

Yall might try the "magic eraser" a new

[quarterback]

For rusty joystick shafts I just take them apart and chuck them in my drill press. (a regular drill will work too) then spin the stick while holding some 220 sandpaper lightly against the shaft. once the rust is gone I go to 400 grit paper, then a rag with car wax to polish it up and seal it. Works great, and makes the stick look NOS nice. You dont need a lot of drill speed here, and patience is the key to not screwing up the stick.

Thanks.  I don't have a drill press but I've got a couple of variable speed power drills.

On another note, today I learned something else that I shouldn't do.  While cleaning my coin boxes, I got 409 on the instructions/diagram/label sticker on the top.  With just a little wiping, 409 will take the print right off that sticker.  Not a huge deal, but annoying to me nonetheless

[krick]

Here's a cleaning tip that I haven't seen mentioned in these forums thus far...

To remove adhesive residue, use lighter fluid (NOT butane).

I use it all the time when I buy used CDs from a local store and I want to get the price sticker glue off of the CD case.

The first time I saw lighter fluid used this way was to remove price stickers from cardboard action figure packages.

[Rocky]

I use Acetone (nail polish remover) to remove adhesive. I have a Time Pilot cabinet that someone removed the top half of the side art (it came in 2 pieces). They left a horrible mess. 12 oz. of nail polish remover cleaned it up real nice.

Acetone takes some effort and rubbing, but it does a nice job. If you use it on paint, watch out. If you rub hard, you'll remove paint from art stickers.