Cleaning 48 year old tuners?

sashua · Post by **sashua** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 8:34 pm

Hi Paul,
I have a set of 48 year old Grover Sta-Tites. They are very nice but need a serious cleaning to remove a half-century of tarnish. I normally use MAAS polish on old Klusons but these things have so many crevasses that I feel like I am wasting my time. Is there a definitive way to get them back to a bright clean shine? There is no corrosion or oxidation present.

Russ

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 5:05 am

Russ Jewelers use a Sonic Bath to clean Silver and Gold. Sta-Tites were Nickel plated and if no pits or other issues are about them, this is the easy way to clean them. You know how simple they are to take apart. Lube the Worm and Gear with Vaseline when putting them back together. If you want to do it by hand, Meguiars #2 cleaner, that can be bought at most automotive stores, with a cotton cloth works great on projects like this.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 5:44 am

Good morning, Russ.

I will clamp the tuner post in a vise and use a toothbrush with some Perfect-it III to scrub them thoroughly. Then I will soak them in a mix of 3/4 paint thinner (NOT lacquer thinner) and 1/4 ordinary mineral oil, again scrubbing them a bit with the toothbrush. This removes the fine abrasive from the moving parts. Lay them on a paper towel or clean cloth to dry. Wipe them a bit and re-install them.

sashua · Post by **sashua** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 1:55 pm

Thanks to both of you gentlemen.

Russ

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 8:56 pm

So...is there anything that can be done about a fifty-year-old pair of knees?

sashua · Post by **sashua** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 8:28 am

Dane,

As Dale suggested, "lube the worm and gear with vaseline".

Won't help your knees but it might help you forget about them entirely.

Russ

sashua · Post by **sashua** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 8:29 am

Thanks again guys,
Russ

greg_feo · Post by **greg_feo** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 8:22 pm

Where in the world did you find those puppies?

beatlefreak · Post by **beatlefreak** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 9:21 pm

Do you mean the knees or the tuners? LOL

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 6:03 am

If it's about the knees, I think Dr. Jingle-Jangles's advice is the best: "Wipe them a bit and re-install them."

sashua · Post by **sashua** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 6:16 pm

He he he

Inside joke Greg ....me get.