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Post new topic Polish for my Zum?
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Author Topic:  Polish for my Zum?
Jack Ritter

 

From:
Enid, Oklahoma, USA
Post  Posted 17 Dec 2017 2:37 pm    
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What is a good brand easy polish for my Black Zum are y,all using now days and is it a spray on? Not a lacquer finish on mine. Jack
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Douglas Schuch


From:
Valencia, Philippines
Post  Posted 17 Dec 2017 2:58 pm    
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For the aluminum, I use California Custom Aluminum De-oxidizer and their purple polish. For laminate, whatever you would use on your kitchen counters, since it's the same material - any mild spray-on cleaner should work.
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Jack Ritter

 

From:
Enid, Oklahoma, USA
Post  Posted 17 Dec 2017 3:16 pm    
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Thanx Doug.
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Roger Crawford


From:
Griffin, GA USA
Post  Posted 17 Dec 2017 4:11 pm    
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Mothers Mag and Wheel cleaner on the aluminum, Pledge furniture polish on the mica.
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Lane Gray


From:
Topeka, KS
Post  Posted 17 Dec 2017 4:52 pm    
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I also use the Mother's.
Any soap and water or non-ammoniac cleaners will do the mica (windex or similar would work on the mica, but it's not nice to the aluminum trim).
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Paddy Long


From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
Post  Posted 17 Dec 2017 7:25 pm    
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Also a little hint from Bruce himself when it comes to cleaning the textured finish on top of the ali necks -- window cleaner does the best job !
Very Happy
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Per Berner


From:
Skövde, Sweden
Post  Posted 17 Dec 2017 11:01 pm    
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Please note: Window cleaner often contains some ammonia, which is very aggressive to aluminum. Check the label of contents before spraying!
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Bobby D. Jones

 

From:
West Virginia, USA
Post  Posted 18 Dec 2017 12:02 am     Polish for my Zum
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Dunlop Formula 65 Guitar Cleaner and Polish has worked great on a Driftwood White MSA and a Black GFI. Cleans and polishes all in one spray bottle.
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Douglas Schuch


From:
Valencia, Philippines
Post  Posted 18 Dec 2017 4:31 am    
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I thought the ammonia in aluminum was corrosive, as others say here, but I researched it yesterday and found it really is not. Info:

Quote:
Thanks to the protective properties of the natural oxide layer, aluminium shows good resistance to many chemicals. However, low or high pH values (less than 4 and more than 9) lead to the oxide layer dissolving and, consequently, rapid corrosion of the aluminium. Inorganic acids and strong alkaline solutions are thus very corrosive for aluminium.

Exceptions to the above are concentrated nitric acid and solutions of ammonia. These do not attack aluminium.


Source: http://www.aluminiumdesign.net/design-support/aluminium-corrosion-resistance/

Scroll down to the section titled "Aluminum and Chemicals."

So I think window cleaner is ok.

I know chlorine bleach is bad for stainless steel, and possibly for aluminum as well, so don't use anything that has bleach.
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Jack Ritter

 

From:
Enid, Oklahoma, USA
Post  Posted 18 Dec 2017 7:57 am    
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Thanx to you all for your help and have a Merry Christmas! Jack
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Zum D10 8x5,rev pre-amp, TC M300, Split 12, n-112, IZZY, Hilton vp, Geo L, BJS Hughey, Live Steel
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Jim Sliff


From:
Lawndale California, USA
Post  Posted 18 Dec 2017 3:16 pm    
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Sorry, but I spent 37 years in the coatings and chemicals business. That site is misleading

Ammonia will not attack properly coated or electroplated aluminum - but it *will* discolor and possibly pit bare aluminum.

FWIW a "natural oxide layer" is not "natural" - at least for normal use. It's also known as "white rust" - i.e. "aluminum corrosion". If it's oxidizing it's corroding at some level or another.

When ammonia removes aluminum oxide it discolors the aluminum and can also cause pitting.

That is the only site I've ever seen that states ammoniated cleaners are fine to use. There are hundreds - some of which include test information - disputing that claim.

The silly part is that they warn against using alkaline or acidic cleaners.

But the ph of Windex is roughly 10.7. making it very alkaline. Essentially they are saying "ammoniated cleaners are fine - but don't use ammoniated cleaners."

Err - WHAT?

Laughing Laughing Laughing
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Douglas Schuch


From:
Valencia, Philippines
Post  Posted 19 Dec 2017 3:24 pm    
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Jim, thanks for the clarification.
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Gary Lee Gimble


From:
Fredericksburg, VA.
Post  Posted 20 Dec 2017 10:17 am    
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Lemon scent Pledge for the body
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John Billings


From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 20 Dec 2017 2:07 pm    
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Mother's is fine if you don't mind wasting time rubbing and rubbing!
Cal Custom Purple Polish takes about 5 minutes for an endplate, and most of that is waiting for the polish to dry.
Before;



After about 5minutes drying and one rub;


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