Great video. I have also found that a good cleaning with diluted 409 and then regular Pledge works really well as long as you dont spray it directly on. Saturate a washcloth or soft towel and use circular firm motion when polishing it in. Half of the problem with bakelite is the patina that develops over the decades. The patina is the aging color that some folks really like so it depends on what color you are going for.Soft scrub or anything gritty will remove the patina along with the dirt....
Thank YOU! You actually pronounce it CORRECTLY. I get SO tired of hearing "people" say Bake-A Lite!!!! It's NOT Bake-A-Lite, it IS Bakelite. Excellent video man! (And kudos to you for pronouncing Bakelite correctly)
Sure. I've never actually had a chance to use the old Brasso in the metal can, but I've heard it was good stuff. The only time I've used the newer stuff is on really dull rough bakelite as a first step to clean it.
I find if you let the brasso dry and rub it off it also gives it a sheen. Believe it or not, i use plain old vaseline to shine up my bakelite. I just apply it and rub in.
have you heard of Gumption ??? is like this pasty thick stuff . not sure if you can get it everywhere though. i use it to get most scratches out of a watch crystal works good.
Interesting that you mentioned the Citrus products. I’m an Auto Detailer ( for 23 years). I use a citrus solvent ([ D-Limoline]) for cleaning interiors on vehicles. I’m just getting into the radio collecting hobby. Can’t work on them yet, but I’m learning. I was actually looking for something on Catalin . I bought a ‘54 Airline, and the case is filthy and lots of scratches on top. Plastic, I can deal with just fine, but outside of the basic definition, I’ve no idea what it is. 📻🙂
It's the abrasive grit in the soft-scrub that does the work. The lemon scent doesn't have any effect on the bakelite or plastic. I've never polished up Catalin so can't offer any advice other than be very careful. Congratulations on owning one though. Way outside my price range :)
Hi.I live in Norway so i dont have access to these products.Can someone please tell me what kind of products these are?And what they contain? Im restoring an old radio my grandfather built and i want to build a pc inside,and give it to my mother. Thanks.
Good advice! I just picked up a nice old Simpson 263 bakelite multimeter I'd like to polish up, but I don't want to harm the original NASA calibration sticker...
You've got it backwards. It's white paint on a black bakelite cabinet. I'm not sure it's even possible to make white bakelite. Unpainted white radios are made out of Plaskon or some other early plastic I think.
Bob, is this that white Philco that was on your shelf and looks great in many of your other vids?? Seems you recorded this around 2009 so maybe thats why I ask? When you scraped the black paint I see white... and it looks like the classic 46-420??
FYI. The new reformulated Brasso is not nearly as good as the stuff you're used to. It actually makes the surface worse. Will have to look for an alternative.
Hello there. I have an expensive piece of baklite and wanted to ask your experience and gain some of your wisdom on how to fix something. Is there any way we can speak over email. I will pay for your services if you can help me. Cheers
Oh... I really did not know that.. I thought it was part of the Bakelite mix and covering. Hmmm I think me better check out how bakelite is made.. assuming I can understand why they use formaldihde and pulp... yikes!!
12 years later and the video is still helpfull, thanks for the warming about sanding bakelite down.
Great video. I have one with paint spots and now I know I don't have to be too concerned about using something too harsh like stripper. Thanks
Great video. I have also found that a good cleaning with diluted 409 and then regular Pledge works really well as long as you dont spray it directly on. Saturate a washcloth or soft towel and use circular firm motion when polishing it in. Half of the problem with bakelite is the patina that develops over the decades. The patina is the aging color that some folks really like so it depends on what color you are going for.Soft scrub or anything gritty will remove the patina along with the dirt....
Thank YOU! You actually pronounce it CORRECTLY. I get SO tired of hearing "people" say Bake-A Lite!!!! It's NOT Bake-A-Lite, it IS Bakelite.
Excellent video man! (And kudos to you for pronouncing Bakelite correctly)
The inventor’s last name was pronounced bake-a-lin so that could be the original pronunciation. Either way people know what it is.
Sure. I've never actually had a chance to use the old Brasso in the metal can, but I've heard it was good stuff. The only time I've used the newer stuff is on really dull rough bakelite as a first step to clean it.
thanks for all info knobs on vintage craftsman tools are bakelite cleanings tips great $
That's what I was thinking. I will repaint it probably then. Thank you for your help.
No, I haven't. A quick web search seems to show it's only available in Australia.
I find if you let the brasso dry and rub it off it also gives it a sheen. Believe it or not, i use plain old vaseline to shine up my bakelite. I just apply it and rub in.
Mothers aluminum polish works great, too
What about using white polishing compound on black bakelite with a buffing wheel mounted on a drill?
have you heard of Gumption ??? is like this pasty thick stuff . not sure if you can get it everywhere though. i use it to get most scratches out of a watch crystal works good.
Thanks for posting. Great information. Subscribed.
Interesting that you mentioned the Citrus products. I’m an Auto Detailer ( for 23 years).
I use a citrus solvent ([ D-Limoline]) for cleaning interiors on vehicles.
I’m just getting into the radio collecting hobby.
Can’t work on them yet, but I’m learning. I was actually looking for something on Catalin .
I bought a ‘54 Airline, and the case is filthy and lots of scratches on top. Plastic, I can deal with just fine, but outside of the basic definition, I’ve no idea what it is.
📻🙂
It's the abrasive grit in the soft-scrub that does the work. The lemon scent doesn't have any effect on the bakelite or plastic. I've never polished up Catalin so can't offer any advice other than be very careful. Congratulations on owning one though. Way outside my price range :)
Hi.I live in Norway so i dont have access to these products.Can someone please tell me what kind of products these are?And what they contain?
Im restoring an old radio my grandfather built and i want to build a pc inside,and give it to my mother.
Thanks.
They are polishing compounds that contain very fine abrasives. Automotive polishing products work well on bakelite. Good luck with your project.
@@bandersentv Thanks.
Good advice! I just picked up a nice old Simpson 263 bakelite multimeter I'd like to polish up, but I don't want to harm the original NASA calibration sticker...
what is the flaking or chipping of the bakelite mean? I tried soft scrub but it didnt come off.
You are awesome! Brasso works to polish bakelite?
Thank you for the helpful video!
You've got it backwards. It's white paint on a black bakelite cabinet. I'm not sure it's even possible to make white bakelite. Unpainted white radios are made out of Plaskon or some other early plastic I think.
That is true. Bakelite can only be made in dark colors. (brown, black etc.)
Bob, is this that white Philco that was on your shelf and looks great in many of your other vids?? Seems you recorded this around 2009 so maybe thats why I ask? When you scraped the black paint I see white... and it looks like the classic 46-420??
FYI. The new reformulated Brasso is not nearly as good as the stuff you're used to. It actually makes the surface worse. Will have to look for an alternative.
Apparently, the formulation for non US distribution is the same stuff. I'm trying to verify. It did give great results!
Yea I know its the 420, but darn!! nice job! Good find a restore!!
Hello there. I have an expensive piece of baklite and wanted to ask your experience and gain some of your wisdom on how to fix something. Is there any way we can speak over email. I will pay for your services if you can help me. Cheers
Oh... I really did not know that.. I thought it was part of the Bakelite mix and covering. Hmmm I think me better check out how bakelite is made.. assuming I can understand why they use formaldihde and pulp... yikes!!