Clean The Grill Cloth or Not ?

Greg_M · #1 08-28-2010, 04:10 PM

Going through my '66 Super Reverb today. Replacing pots and recapping. Working on electronics today but will be working on the cabinet soon. Thought I would ask now so I could think about it.

The grill cloth has thousands of years of tobacco smoke and beer on it from playing in bars and the like. I have read that it can be cleaned but do I want to try that? I'd have to remove the board that it and the speakers are mounted on (no big deal). I'd pull the speakers off of course.

To clean or not to clean, that is the question.

Question 2.....
How to clean it? What type of solution?

Munjibunga · #2 08-28-2010, 04:25 PM

Clean. Lye and a wire brush, I think.

JimmyM · #3 08-28-2010, 04:33 PM

lye? what is this? the 1800's?

if the grill isn't ripped, i'd try to clean it. but those fender grilles are a pita. i still can't figure out how to get the one on my 73 super reverb off. but if you can get it off, some spray on fabric cleaner and a soft bristle brush will get it looking prettier. might have to do it a few times if it's old and stuck on really badly.

interstatejoe · #4 08-28-2010, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Clean. Lye and a wire brush, I think.

Wire brush to 44 year old grill cloth? That there sounds like a bad idea...

JimmyM · #5 08-28-2010, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by interstatejoe

Wire brush to 44 year old grill cloth? That there sounds like a bad idea...

almost as bad as using lye

Greg_M · #6 08-28-2010, 05:35 PM

I remember seeing a commercial for one of those "amazing cleaners" that had a woman dipping these dingy curtains in the pail of cleaner and when she pulled it out it was sparkling white. Wish I could remember the name. It was like Kaboom or something.

I figure the best bet would be to pull the baffle board and pull the cloth off and let it soak and hose it and repeat until it got to the point of being "clean enough". More work but safer than having something stain something else.

MysticMichael · #7 08-28-2010, 05:46 PM

If you think it's going to hold up to a thorough cleaning after exposure to decades of smoke and dirt and beer, then sure: go for it.

But all that gunk may be just about the only thing that's still holding it together. So don't be surprised if it starts to disintegrate in your hands. Be prepared to replace it...

MM

interstatejoe · #8 08-28-2010, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg_M

I remember seeing a commercial for one of those "amazing cleaners" that had a woman dipping these dingy curtains in the pail of cleaner and when she pulled it out it was sparkling white. Wish I could remember the name. It was like Kaboom or something.

Bleach?

lbwdog · #9 08-28-2010, 07:51 PM

Leave it alone. I have personally damaged old items in order to "clean 'em up". The fabric may disintegrate if anything more than a mild soapy solution is applied.

You can't just remove the grill on that amp. It's attached to the baffle board which is attached to the front of the amp from the back side, so you would have to remove all four speakers and the amp chassis to get it out.
(edit; i reread the post and realize you'll already have the amp out)
If you must clean it, soak a washcloth in a mild solution of dish detergent and warm water. Wring all the water out that you can. Gently start rubbing on the grill front, covering a small area at a time. Repeat this whole process till you've done the whole grill. It should remove some of the stains and dirt from the last forty four years.

woody357 · #10 08-28-2010, 08:15 PM

Rubbing on one of those old cloth grills is not a good idea. Try taking it to the do it yourself car wash and spray it down with soap water then rinse it with clear water. That will knock off a lot of that old grit without hurting the fabric. It wont be as clean as it would if you had scrubbed it, but it will be a lot better than it is now.

Greg_M · #11 08-28-2010, 09:12 PM

I wonder about dry cleaning it?

sloasdaylight · #12 08-28-2010, 09:26 PM

USE SOME OXYCLEAN! THAT GETS THE STAIN RIGHT OUT OF ANYTHING.
GRASS STAINS ON UNIFORMS?! GONE!!
WINE STAINS ON WHITE SHIRTS?! GONE!!
TOBACCO AND BEER STAINS ON OLD GRILL CLOTHS!! GONE!!

Greg_M · #13 08-28-2010, 09:50 PM

Yah Oxyclean, dats da ticket

Quote:

Originally Posted by lbwdog

Leave it alone. I have personally damaged old items in order to "clean 'em up". The fabric may disintegrate if anything more than a mild soapy solution is applied.

You can't just remove the grill on that amp. It's attached to the baffle board which is attached to the front of the amp from the back side, so you would have to remove all four speakers and the amp chassis to get it out.
(edit; i reread the post and realize you'll already have the amp out)
If you must clean it, soak a washcloth in a mild solution of dish detergent and warm water. Wring all the water out that you can. Gently start rubbing on the grill front, covering a small area at a time. Repeat this whole process till you've done the whole grill. It should remove some of the stains and dirt from the last forty four years.

Here's the thing. I don't to much care about my labor. It's getting this thing fixed up that matters to me. It belonged to my step dad. He passed away a few years back and I got his/this amp and his L5. He bought both new. So getting it back to as close to new shape is something I really want to do.

Know what I mean?

MysticMichael · #14 08-28-2010, 10:33 PM

There's got to be some sort of special spray solvent you can use. Something that's super gentle, designed to dissolve away the gunk, then evaporate - so you don't have to rub anything over the surface of the cloth.

Any repair shop that has experience in restoring old and/or vintage amps should have something to suggest...

MM

newbold · #15 08-29-2010, 12:21 AM

Here's what works on furniture, so it *should* work for you.

1. Mix a quart/litre of water with a capful of ammonia.
2. toss in white cleaning rag
3. wring out leaving it damp...nearly dry.

4. wipe item
5. wring out leaving it damp...nearly dry.
6. wait a few seconds, repeat 4/5 until your grille is clean.

you shouldn't have to be afraid of wiping the grillecloth if you're relatively gentle with it.

johnk_10 · #16 08-29-2010, 01:03 AM

i have used spot shot (home depot or the supermarket has it) or simple green with very good results on fender grill cloth. i wouldn't recommend using ANY type of brush on it (and especially NOT a wire one).

you can soak it with simple green, and then blot it with a clean terry towel after it emulsifies the dirt to remove most of it and repeat the process as necessary. or you can use a compressor and blow the excess off.

fender's grill cloth is actually very durable (it's mostly made of thick nylon fiber) and will not disintergrate or fall apart. the thing you have to be careful with is saturating the wood baffle as it can warp or expand and ruin it.

JimmyM · #17 08-29-2010, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnk_10

i have used spot shot (home depot or the supermarket has it) or simple green with very good results on fender grill cloth. i wouldn't recommend using ANY type of brush on it (and especially NOT a wire one).

i stand corrected. i thought maybe it would do well with something like a soft toothbrush, but you are the expert. plus now that i understand that the grill is attached to the baffle itself, sounds like a brush would cause it to splash all around and lead to bad things.

i did, however, suspect that lye would be bad for it

Sartori · #18 08-29-2010, 02:15 AM

I'm interested to know what one would use for Sunn grill cloth. Same things?

johnk_10 · #19 08-29-2010, 03:04 AM

sedan_dad · #20 08-29-2010, 06:25 AM

When I picked up my BT-15 someone had spray painted the cloth black. Knowing that it's a plastic materail I pulled out the baffel board (PITA) and took it to a car wash where I soaked it with paint stripper and let it sit for 2 minutes than I blasted it with the power washer. I repeated as nessary untill I was happy with the results.Attachment 179114
It's the one on the left.