Anvil case Cleanup-EPA Compliant

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 19 Nov 2007 3:13 am

What's a neat, safe and efficient way of cleaning out the deteriorated toxic foam spongecake lining from an Anvil case? I found a small keyboard case that I'd like to reline (satin or velvet over foam this time) to fit for a mandolin and possibly a soprano uke or three.

Solvents? Abrasives?

Steve Alcott · Post by **Steve Alcott** » 19 Nov 2007 9:21 am

If it's deteriorated into powder, or is just really crumbly, try using a scraper of some sort, following closely with a vacuum cleaner. A shopvac type would be best. I don't think the foam itself is toxic, just messy. It's probably best done outside and you can wear a simple dust mask as a precaution. The adhesive residue is probably OK to leave in place if you get all the foam scraped off. You can use a spray adhesive to attach the new padding, and the lining will help hold it in place as well.

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 20 Nov 2007 10:57 pm

Ben, if you want to really scrub it clean, here's what I found works:

A couple of small Peavey PA speakers that live inside the subwoofer in my Peavey TriFlex PA had been in contact with the interior foam padding for years, in a hot storage unit. Pulled them out, they were very icky.

Just like the wife says, fingernail polish remover (acetone) took that gummy residue right off with very little elbow grease.

I took my Webb amp case, bought in 1979, to Anvil a few years ago to replace the badly decaying foam. They did a great job, tightened up hinges, even re-stenciled my names on the sides (John McClung on the front, Mr. Twang on the back!), for about $85 bucks. Very nice folks, right here in SoCal.

You still doing the KPFK radio show? I'm never up that early anymore, sorry!

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 26 Nov 2007 1:32 am

Thanks, John. Retired from the radio 11/10--first Saturday past my 20th anniversary. More time and attention for back-porch projects like gummy Anvil cases, replacing crumbling tuner buttons on a Ric bakelite, getting the sawed-in-half Console Grande strung-up and playable as an S-8. While my sweetie is out of state making movies, I have the ZB in my "Scary Guitar Room" and a Sho-Bud temporarily set up in the living room. In '08, I'll be looking at the second go-round of your group classes and/or private lessons. (Subject to gas prices.)