volume and other knobs?

[seoirse2002]

Hi Guys,
I pulled out an old amp I haven't used for years and the volume and other knobs all have this whitish bloom on them that I can't seem to be able to remove..Ive tried pretty much everything on them,so Ive decided its probably better to source new ones if possible.
Do any of you knowledgable people know where I can source knobs(2 different sizes) here in the UK? I think the original are black anodised aluminium,but any will do.....I was actually tempted to remove the originals and spray them,but that will be a last resort.
Any ideas?

[Rare Bird]

What's der amp?

[seoirse2002]

Its a McLaren A150http://theartofsound.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=10182&d=1373626220

[dantheman91]

Its a McLaren A150http://theartofsound.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=10182&d=1373626220


Hmm looks like a nice bit of kit that...i could live with it :eyebrows:


PS they have probably faded after years of not being used

[seoirse2002]

Its funny,but it can be seen that parts of the knobs where the fingers touched haven't got the bloom on them,and the record selector was never used so is fully "bloomed"
I have no idea how to remove this,or what has caused this...I have tried many things,even t-cut,and brasso with no success. The knob just darkens back to normal and very quickly turns white again in front of my eyes.
http://theartofsound.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=10183&d=1373626241

[Canetoad]

Sand them with fine wet and dry and respray them matt black.

You could also try automotive bumper cleaner/reviver. I know Autoglym makes some.

[seoirse2002]

Sand them with fine wet and dry and respray them matt black.

You could also try automotive bumper cleaner/reviver. I know Autoglym makes some.

Thanks Bernie,
Ill give that a try:)

[Puffin]

Back to Black bumper gunge!

[Firebottle]

Are you sure they are aluminium George? Aluminium has a natural oxide coating on it as it oxidizes very readily.
I've never seen any go like that before.

What is the diameter of the two different knobs and the shaft they are attached to? Two common sizes of shaft are 6.35mm (1/4 inch) and 6mm diameter.
I have a few different knobs kicking about, may not have a set in black, but possibly natural aluminium.

:cool:Alan

[Audio Al]

I keep my knob in good order by giving it a good vigorous rub once in a while, works a treat ;) :lol:

Will see if I can find a photo later :)

[Ali Tait]

Are you sure they are aluminium George? Aluminium has a natural oxide coating on it as it oxidizes very readily.
I've never seen any go like that before.

What is the diameter of the two different knobs and the shaft they are attached to? Two common sizes of shaft are 6.35mm (1/4 inch) and 6mm diameter.
I have a few different knobs kicking about, may not have a set in black, but possibly natural aluminium.



:cool:Alan

Aye, I reckon those are plastic.

[seoirse2002]

Are you sure they are aluminium George? Aluminium has a natural oxide coating on it as it oxidizes very readily.
I've never seen any go like that before.

What is the diameter of the two different knobs and the shaft they are attached to? Two common sizes of shaft are 6.35mm (1/4 inch) and 6mm diameter.
I have a few different knobs kicking about, may not have a set in black, but possibly natural aluminium.

:cool:Alan

Hi Alan,
Thanks for the help,I have tried to use the "back to black"as mentioned earlier but I think it needs a few more coats,
I will do some measuring when I get a chance and when it comes back from service,and if I need to I will get in touch,kind sir.:cool:

[The Grand Wazoo]

I think Back to Black has quite a high silicon content - I'd avoid that like the plague as it will 'creep' everywhere.
Those knobs look shocking by the way - absolutely awful - I have gear that's older than me and the controls look better than that.

......correction, they'd look better than that if they'd been chewed by a rabid goat then spat off the edge of a cliff into a pool of vomit!

I think that they were probably plastic with a thin coat of something then lacquered to make them look black metallic. That layer has worn off and the substrate has become ingrained with finger grease, which has grown a layer of mold. The mold has reacted with the substrate.

Go for some new ones.

http://www.hificollective.co.uk/components/knobs.html
http://www.technobotsonline.com/electronics-hardware/knobs.html
http://www.partridgeelectronics.co.uk/10hardware.htm

[howlindawg]

Lot's of nice (but £££) options > HERE < (http://www.hificollective.co.uk/components/knobs.htmlhttp://)
Cheaper options are out there if you look online or from teh usual electronics parts suppliers.

I would also have suggested that you remove the knobs, give them a thorough scrub, sand, prime and satin black spray paint.
But if you've already coated them with back to black it's going to prove very difficult to clean them properly for painting.

[synsei]

Back to Black bumper gunge!

+1 :)

[seoirse2002]

:doh:.....well at least they are not plastic,I never believed they were as its a quality amp...Ill try to get the gunge off and take it from there...worse that can happen is I have to buy new ones,I will now wait until I get it back after its been given the once over as the volume control is scratchy..time will tell:cool:

[Nitrous]

+1 :)

+2

Works a treat if plastic especially if you can remove them first, may not work if they are aluminium.

[seoirse2002]

I now know for sure they are not plastic....jeez..the amp cost $1500 when new!! hand built..:scratch:

[Stratmangler]

:doh:.....well at least they are not plastic,I never believed they were as its a quality amp...Ill try to get the gunge off and take it from there...worse that can happen is I have to buy new ones,I will now wait until I get it back after its been given the once over as the volume control is scratchy..time will tell:cool:


I now know for sure they are not plastic....jeez..the amp cost $1500 when new!! hand built..:scratch:

What's the price got to do with it?
I'll tell you what, and that's Sweet FA.
You've paid for "Intellectual Rights".

It might well be a "quality amp", but the fixtures and fittings count for sod all.
Sorry to have burst the bubble ....

Just buy some new knobs :)

[seoirse2002]

What's the price got to do with it?
I'll tell you what, and that's Sweet FA.
You've paid for "Intellectual Rights".

It might well be a "quality amp", but the fixtures and fittings count for sod all.
Sorry to have burst the bubble ....

Just buy some new knobs :)
Can't say I know what you mean by "Intellectual Rights" and I don't think the Football Association is Sweet at all...

I would disagree with you about fixtures and fittings.....and price has got everything to do with it,as the build quality,and the materials used,and also the quality of the components can have an impact....so the "fixtures and fittings"as you call them, are quite important and relevant.....unless,of course,you can't see the difference between a cheapo,plastic,mass produced item and a hand built item using quality components,....having said that,I have heard amps costing thousands that,to me,are pure crap,and Im not naming names.
I don't want to buy new knobs as I want to keep this old amp original,so I would prefer to refurbish the ones on there.My comment about the original cost of the amp was meant to demonstrate that a hand built amp costing actually $1800 in 1987 was unlikely to have plastic knobs as was suggested by others.....so you haven't burst any bubble,Ive been around too long for that,and I know quality when I see it....obviously you don't if you think it counts for sod all....and everything has its price,and price is to do with everything:cool:..by the way,I got it for a song

[Stratmangler]

Can't say I know what you mean by "Intellectual Rights" and I don't think the Football Association is Sweet at all...

I would disagree with you about fixtures and fittings.....and price has got everything to do with it,as the build quality,and the materials used,and also the quality of the components can have an impact....so the "fixtures and fittings"as you call them, are quite important and relevant.....unless,of course,you can't see the difference between a cheapo,plastic,mass produced item and a hand built item using quality components,....having said that,I have heard amps costing thousands that,to me,are pure crap,and Im not naming names.
I don't want to buy new knobs as I want to keep this old amp original,so I would prefer to refurbish the ones on there.My comment about the original cost of the amp was meant to demonstrate that a hand built amp costing actually $1800 in 1987 was unlikely to have plastic knobs as was suggested by others.....so you haven't burst any bubble,Ive been around too long for that,and I know quality when I see it....obviously you don't if you think it counts for sod all....and everything has its price,and price is to do with everything:cool:..by the way,I got it for a song

Sweet FA = Sweet Fanny Adams, or Sweet Fuck All, depending on your perspective.

You purchased an amp in 1987 and the knobs have corroded - whoopee do!!!
Cost has fuck all to do with it :)

PS - you looking to sell?
I'll give you £100.00 for it, if you're interested.
It's got to sound better than the passive pre Jerry has been touting recently (I have one, it doesn't work in my setup, and it's going back)

[Stratmangler]

Sweet FA = Sweet Fanny Adams, or Sweet Fuck All, depending on your perspective.

You purchased an amp in 1987 and the knobs have corroded - whoopee do!!!
Cost has fuck all to do with it :)

PS - you looking to sell?
I'll give you £100.00 for it, if you're interested.
It's got to sound better than the passive pre Jerry has been touting recently (I have one, it doesn't work in my setup, and it's going back)

Second thoughts - I'll give you £75-00 for it - it's 26 years old, and electronics do not improve with age.

[Stratmangler]

Just reread the thread, and picked up on the "back to black" element.
Offer revised to £25.00, and I'm happy to arrange collection.

That silicon shit gets everywhere :eyebrows:

[seoirse2002]

Totally agree with you about that silicone Chris....but not the swearing,which also gets everywhere,and my sisters ipad loving 7 year old now has a new catchphrase which she is using at every opportunity.:eyebrows:
my wife,having read the post,could only comment "another knob problem?":lol::lol::lol:

[seoirse2002]

Nearly there......:cool:
http://theartofsound.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=10188&d=1373795277

[Canetoad]

If you want to paint them a bit of methylated spirits will clean off all the silicone. It's obviously the cheapest and fastest solution. If you want to fully restore it I'd go with a repaint.