Did I screw up my amplifier faceplate?

I cleaned my amplifier faceplate this morning and I feel I have damaged the finish. Although when viewed from front nothing much can be understood but at a certain angle of light it shows streak lines. See pics below.

I am not sure if it is supposed to be like that or I screwed it up.

I cleaned the faceplate with those surgical alcohols and it says it contains 70% Ethanol.



Does anyone here have a Onkyo A-9030 ?

 

Maybe a little. This will help:

Sheepskin chamois.
Don't rub really hard. Just polish with mild force.

 

Try wiping it down with a wrung out hot water face cloth and dry with a cotton cloth. If this won't fix the look then you may have slightly damaged it. There may be a finish restorer out there for something like this if you have to go there.

 

I am using those lens cleaning microfibers.

 

Problem is since it has a brushed aluminium finish, I cannot understand if it is supposed to be like that with deep and light shades.

If someone has the same set, maybe it can be confirmed, but I never met anyone owning a Onkyo A 9030 so far.

 

The reflective finish is evenly there. That is throughout the faceplate I can see my hand if I put it infront of the amplifier.

 

I buff Lounge chassis all of the time. Careless metal shop workers leave finger prints and other splorches. Plus I did exactly what you did once (clean with alcohol). Get the sheepskin. Or don't listen to me and re-invent the wheel.

 

I see your point. I would tend to think it's fine based on one thing your pictures clearly show. The lines are a perfect horizontal plane. Damage doesn't look that good. morinix has the answer for final cleaning/polishing.

 

I've tried Viva paper towels, Cotton cloth and polyester/polyamide cloth. All scratch. It's not about that you have an Onkyo A-9030. It's a brushed anodized aluminum surface.

 

It is plastic that has a brushed aluminium finish. It is not aluminium. The A-9050 has all aluminium faceplate and knobs. The 9030 is all plastic.

 

This is a very high resolution image on web of the same set.

http://ksrai.macmate.me/gallery/Onk...A-9030 stereo amplifier /A-9030 (B) Front.jpg

 

Even more reason to go with sheepskin. Be careful, don't press hard.

 

The alcohol damaged the surface. If you see a whitish film/ streaks, that is not normal streaking. (appears that way in your photo) The faceplate can be restored with 3M "Perfect it", part# 05996. This a very fine polish, so several applications may be needed. This product is most effective with a microfiber cloth, one cloth for application, the other to wipe off the residue. It is also important to apply the product in smaller sections, but evenly within that section. Apply and wipe in one direction and in line with the brushed texture.

The faceplate should be removed, but removal of just the knobs will make this job reasonably easy. You'll want to be careful around the "Onkyo" name plate, not to have too much of the Perfect it on your cloth, since it can work its way into crevices, much like too much car wax can do on car.

In the future, I suggest just plain warm water (not cold) for cleaning of any faceplate or painted surfaces on an electronics component. For removal of stubborn fingerprints or film, a little mild dish soap solution followed by pure water will take care of it. Be sure your cloths are whetted sufficiently. Some faceplates will tolerate Windex with only ammonia, no other additives, but if damage occurs, it's too late. ( I learned that the hard way)

 

I would be very careful cleaning the front (myself I use a duster daily very subtle) in case you scratch of where it says bass/treble etc

 

I'd use Windex and turn the tone controls to flat.

 

The streak could be from the other 30% in the wipe solution. Clean it as suggested.

Good luck!

 

I tried using warm water to clean it up. It looks sparkling clean from the front. But when viewed from an angle with direct light I can see the streaks BUT now they have changed the position.

Everytime I wipe, the streaks change their position.

Why do companies make such complicated faceplates?

 

The other 30% is water. It is one of those surgical rubbing alcohols.

 

Okay, I bought a few vials of Sterile Water for Injection (the purest form of water) and cleaned the faceplate. Seems it is good now.

 

If the streaks change position with each cleaning as you said, then they are just streaks. The streaks are residue from your cleaning cloth or simply dust dissolved in solution not entirely wiped off. Careful repeated cleaning can get rid of them. It is always better to have a wet cloth (almost saturated, more than slightly damp) then immediately follow up with a very slightly damp cloth. Vacuum assist isn't bad idea, since you don't want dust depositing through open slots around your switches. This method will leave little to no streaking. Black is the worst finish.

Actually the safest method of cleaning without cumulative wear and tear from cleaning (since frequent rubbing will impose wear on the surface) is to simply dust the faceplate with a soft brush. Vacuum assist will help pull dust away from the faceplate. (just an open vacuum hose held closely to the duster) A few flecks of dust remaining are far less distracting than wear, IMO.

Covering your gear when not in use is always a great idea!

I tend to be a perfectionist with my stuff, and have in the past over-cleaned, so I am passing on some advice rather than having others discover the hard way as I have. (and of course avoid the alcohol)

 

I am investing in one of those mini vaccum cleaners. And yes, no more alcohol.