I have a B&K ST 202 amp (about 140 wpc) that I bought around 1992 or so and has been in storage for many years.  My thought is to use it in combination with a pair Tannoy System 8 speakers (that were serviced several months ago) as an alternate set of monitors.  I normally use KRK V8’s.

The black anodized aluminum front panel is no longer that jet black.  Any suggestions on cleaning it.
 
 

What color is it now?

I would describe it as faded black with some yellow or gold tones depending on how the light hits it.

This.

It's a cleaner, not just a polish. Very good stuff.
 
 
oh...it's not a liquid. It's saturated cotton like material.
 
I also use this. Both get it done.
   
   
 

Are you sure you'd want to use that - it's an abrasive and can (with enough uses) wear off the anodized finish.

I'd try a quick wipe of Armor-all....works on dull finishes. You could try a motorcyle shop too, say J&P cycles, they have stuff for dulled black engine finishes that would work also..

We use to remove unwanted anodizing with Easy Off Oven Spray.


Don't ask me how I know.











BTW, I doubt this applies to the OPs question.

:-)

I imagine a damp cloth and maybe a mild soap are what I'd use.

SuperG


Are you sure you'd want to use that - it's an abrasive and can (with enough uses) wear off the anodized finish.

I'd try a quick wipe of Armor-all....works on dull finishes. You could try a motorcyle shop too, say J&P cycles, they have stuff for dulled black engine finishes that would work also..

I believe you're questioning what I recommended. I don't know if he's sure either but I can
say I am. I use it. I've used it for years on my Harleys. Not trying to convince anybody of anything though.
 
 

Unfortunately, I can’t post photos right now because photobucket is all messed up for some reason … I will try to figure something out so you can see the current shade of black of the aluminum.

I used Windex on a soft rag and it took off a light coating of dirt and grime without affecting the lettering in the logo but had no effect on the color which is kinda' what I expected.

This is my guess … it sounds like when the aluminum is anodized they include a pigment in the bath to add color and I suspect that this fading is a type of lobster effect.  It is not that the lobster turns red when you boil it; the red is always there, it is that other pigments chemically change (notice I didn’t say ‘go away’).  Or at least that is my understanding of the color change in a lobster and probably something similar is happening here.  This leads me to believe that there is probably not much I can do with the exception of a fairly serious polishing to remove surface layers.  I will probably avoid a polishing because I want to keep the decorative logo intact.

I do have an Amazon gift card burning a hole in my pocket and when we moved a little over a year ago my supply of various chemicals (cleaners, adhesives, etc.) could not come with me so I will probably just order a can of the polishing “wadding” and try it on some other projects.

I'm with ya, Spacey... I'm a biker also...

I use the NeverDull on chrome all the time. But all said and done, it's still an abrasive (which is why it works great on chrome..), and their ain't a while lot of anodized finishes on Harleys. An anodized finish is really just a thin surface of colored aluminum oxide. Take one of those, say, blue anodized pegs the crotch-rocket guys use, rub some chrome polish on that - it *will* rub off the blue after a time.

Since we're on weird cleaning solutions,

A completely unorthodox method to brighten old, yellowed computer gear...

Use Westley's Bleche Wite. Then follow up with a more conventional cleaner to neutralize any residual bleche wite.

You always can tell a biker's garage - they have every cleaning product known to man.

eh?