Suggestions for cleaning

[Guest]

I recently bought this chopped M3 for cheap, as a b-day gift to myself.</p>

[img]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Owner/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg[/img]http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/msg/795503308.html</p>

( Sorry if you don't see anything. I don't have any other pics yet.)</p>

It works pretty damn well, only thing is this is my first real organ (I play piano and own cheap keyboards, nothing really with a name) so I don't know ANYTHING when it comes to the innards, or in this case, how to clean it. It's a bit messy - the wood looks worn and the keys recall a time when they camouflaged an egg (sorry for the poetry). I was suggested to use some higher class wood cleaner for the wood, but I didn't really have a clue for the keys or console or anything. Can anyone suggest anything, or any tips to cleaning it?Note: I'd rather not have to order a $35 bottle of Hammond cleaner or whatever you guys strongly suggest. Something that I can find fairly easily and won't cost another M3.
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Thanks in advance!
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[Guest]

Re: Suggestions for cleaning

lemon oil or almond oil for the wood. If the keys smell like smoke, use windex to remove the grime on the plastic parts. (endblocks, keys)

[OrgansR4Me]

Re: Suggestions for cleaning



I came across a suggestion a few years ago for cleaning plastic keys with a solution of Oxyclean. Be careful that your cloth is only damp -- you don't want any liquid to run down under the keys.</P>


It should do a great job with smoke and yellowing.</P>

[Guest]

Re: Suggestions for cleaning

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Well.... since you spent $400 on an M3 for yourself on your birthday *Mr. Selfish.. jk :p* :))) The cost of the organ is about what my local master antique monkey charges for a a total restoration *between $400-$600*... when I get the cash I'm going to take all the guts out of my Leslie and have him do his worst.... so consider professional help with the WOOD... as for the keys..... screw lemon oil and other expensive rememdies..... do you smoke? Do you use a zippo? Tell you what.... viddy me this... use JUST a drop of Ronsonol lighter fluid at the edge of one key and see what you get.... I used it on Q-Tips to clean my keys... a very sparing moist ammount on the cotton of a Q-Tip works great....</P></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Guest]

Re: Suggestions for cleaning

<BLOCKQUOTE>


Erm... couldn't figure out how to delete a redundant post.... so it looks like I have to give you more advice on Hammond cleaning.. haha :))) Yeah.. don't be afraid to buy a couple of 300 count boxes of generic Q-Tips. And if you decide to take apart you organ for further cleaning.... be sure to document the location of every screw and keep them in little apple sauce cups.... with labels... believe me... you'll lose those little boogers if you don't keep them CLOSE.. and ORGANIZED... hehe..... good luck :)</P></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Guest]

Re: Suggestions for cleaning

To anyone who cares, I got it for $350. And sorry, I don't see the regular post button, only "Reply."

[bluetantra]

Re: Suggestions for cleaning



Don't mind Noah; he's good at pushing buttons, but relatively harmless. Congratulations on your first REAL Hammond and welcome to the madness! If you're like many of us, you'll own a second before long. I boughtanother organ as an early BD gift to myself that I'm going to pick up next weekend - a 1969 H-182 and Leslie 222, living room fresh. Don't even ask what number this makes - my OAD went chronic and I started placing them in the homes of friends and relatives so that I can go visit and play.</P>


I will have to admit, though, that $350 seems a bit pricey. Now that you're paying attention to organs and prices, you'll see. There are some wonderful instruments available often for less. Prior to the above mentioned purchase at $400, (Who? Me? Gloat? Never!!) the most I'd paid for a Hammond was $10 and the 14 hour drive to pick it up. Many folks just want something they unfortunately can't play out of the way. Granted, I've been very fortunate in finding mine for so little, but they're out there.</P>


Now... about cleaning and polishing, I like to use dish detergent dilluted in water, wiping the entire unplugged organ with a damp cloth inside and out. 409, Windex, whatever's on hand on the keys. Brown shoe polish or Old English Scratch Cover (the dark stuff) for nicks in the finish. After cleaning, WAX. I use Johnson's Paste Wax on the wood and car wax on the keys and end blocks. I buff the wood with a car buffer, everything else carefully by hand. Our grandmothers were right - Johnson's is the bomb for making wood shine. It's worth the effort.</P>

[RegisWhite]

Re: Suggestions for cleaning



Welcome to Hammond Ownership, C33!</p>

You got a lot of good suggestions for the keys; the Old English suggestion for the wood was a great one, too--I used plenty of that when I used to work at music stores, polishing pianos!</p>

But if you have any deeper issues with the wood, might I recommend a product called Howard's Restor-A-Finish. I had an old M-3 that I resurrected--my old posts are somewhere on here--and I had some pretty serious wood damage. For the really bad parts, I used Formby's Furniture Refinisher--not a "finish stripper" like some things, but more of a... a "finish-blender-outer;" made the bad damage much better. But on the parts where it was just age, and dullness and what have you, the Restor-A-Finish, followed by some of the Howard's beeswax/orange oil (looks like a glopped up Orangesicle in a bottle...), and I was really happy with the results.</p>

This forum is full of great people with answers to almost any question you'd have. Welcome again!</p>

RW
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