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This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022

 

How to clean/ polish rosewood finished speaker cabinets.

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NickNike
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NickNike Posted: Sat, Sep 12 2015 9:56 PM

Can some kind person advise me what polish/ cleaning agent to use on rosewood veneer?

 

cheers

Nick

Dave Farr
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Dave Farr replied on Sun, Sep 13 2015 8:07 AM
Nick,

This may depend on what has been done with them in the past. Have they been waxed, had silicone based furniture polish used, varnished or lacquered? People do all sorts of things with them.

You can wipe them down with IPA (Iso-propyl alcohol, not Indian Pale Ale) to clean them. You can also give them a very gentle rub with a very fine sanding block or sponge. Work with the grain, not in circles and not across the grain. The finer grit the better. It will break the surface of the wax or polish and then clean again with IPA. They will look pale and washed out a bit but don't worry.

When you are happy that they are clean with no discoloration on the cleaning cloth, you can use something like a good quality oil such as Liberon Danish Oil. Leave it to soak in for a short while and then remove the excess or it will go sticky. Buff up with a clean, lint free cloth. They should look good for years after that. If they start to look 'dry' in the future, just wipe over with IPA and refinish with Danish Oil again. The colors will really appear again.

Dave.
NickNike
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NickNike replied on Sun, Sep 13 2015 2:48 PM

Many thanks Dave.

I was advised to use Palisander oil, but cannot find any, so I will go with your suggestion instead. Would your method be OK for Teak finishes as well? I could then buy a bigger can of oil and do more of my speakers. Would Liberon ultra fine steel wool (0000) do instead of the sanding block?

 

Nick

Søren Mexico
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I start cleaning with Isopropyl alcohol, depending on how dirty (layers of Pledge, wax or lacquered with something) at times I use acetone for the first cleaning, careful acetone may damage plastics and loosen glues.

Then sand the wood with 200 grain sand paper or this (these hand pads I find better than sandpaper, they dont run full, and you can use them over and over again) I sand until small scratches and marks disappear and the surfaces has the same color over all, deep damages can be repaired with a mix of wood glue and sanding dust.

Mix the dust with glue until you have a heavy paste, clean the damage with a cutter and acetone, press the paste into the scratch/hole, level off wit a knife or spatula. This only for smaller deep scratches, if bigger, you will have to cut out the damaged veneer and glue in a new piece of veneer fitting the grain and cut out.

When the repaired areas are dry, sand again with 200 grain or hand pad, if you want a finer finish, sand with 400 grain, Clean off dust with a brush and then with Iso alcohol or a rag moistened with water, let dry. Now soak the wood with Boiled linseed oil (also known as Danish Oil), after half an hour, wipe off excess, let dry for 12 hours, sand lightly with hand pad or 400 grain, clean off dust, soak with oil, 1/2 hour, wipe off excess, let dry 12 hours, polish with lint free rag, done. After a couple of years, sand light, clean, soak, wipe off excess, let dry, polish, and it looks like new again.

The Linseed oil stinks, so do this outside or in the garage.

For sanding, use a sanding block or a piece of wood that fits in your hand, wrapped with sanding paper or hand pad. Do NOT use machine, the veneer is very thin on some some items.

Always sand until all darker areas are gone, and an even light brown color is reached, the wood will turn darker and the grain be more accented after oiling.

Daily (weekly) cleaning with rag moistened with soapy water. Use no furniture sprays or cleaners.

Collecting Vintage B&O is not a hobby, its a lifestyle.

Dave Farr
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Dave Farr replied on Sun, Sep 13 2015 5:20 PM
I would not use steel wool. It can leave small fragments that you cannot see in the grain. These can then oxidize and stain the wood. This is especially important on Oak as the tannins cause havoc on steel wool finings.

My, or Soren's method work fine on all of the veneer B&O used on speakers. Be gentle as the veneer is thin.

Dave.
NickNike
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NickNike replied on Sun, Sep 13 2015 5:35 PM

Many thanks guys.

 

You've given me all I need to know.

 

cheers

 

Nick

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