How I cleaned a black rubber turntable mat

[62vauxhall]

FWIW, I thought I'd post this in case anyone else has a thing for old turntables and changers. The Garrard Zero 100 I've had for a few weeks now has been working splendidly since I got all the old gunk out of the mechanism but the platter mat was an eyesore. The rubber is quite thin and was extremely well glued to the metal so I was concerned about tearing it while trying to take it off. Last night, using my (what has turned out to be an unbelievably useful tool for many things) Richard Roofing Knife, I worked it underneath the mat, gently prying it away and it came off without any damage.

I read quite a few posts on various forums looking for suggestions on how to restore black platter mats back to black. Mine was kind of 50 shades of grey. Several treatments were recommended including using a liquid which one would use to restore belts and things. One of the products named was MG Chemicals Rubber Renue and I just happened to have some. So once I had the mat off, washed in warm soapy water and dried, I gave it a go. The cloth I used to apply it was blackened very quickly by the presumably oxidized rubber that was coming off. After letting it sit overnight, it is now looking quite spiffy and all one shade of black. Wished I'd taken a "before" shot to illustrate the difference.

Side note: Although they're probably harmful, I thought the fumes smelled lovely.

 

[Lazarus Short]

Did those chemicals send you off into the Ozone​?

 

[Elite-ist]

Your Garrard Zero 100 is looking better each time, Gary. I have a bottle of Rubber Renue that I bought from Main Electronics, but I thought of using it for pinch rollers on my decks. I've gotten so used to using 99% IPA on the rollers, I haven't bothered using the Rubber Renue.

Nando.

 

[62vauxhall]

Got mine there too. Went in looking for idler tires for that Realistic SCT3000 I spent a billion hours working on. they had no new tires the right size so I thought I'd get the Rubber Renue to try on the old ones. It was swab on, wipe off and it definitely makes black stuff come away but it not improve the idlers. Someone on TH pointed me to a vendor that had the right sizes so I got new ones. Used it again a few weeks ago on another idler in a Pioneer CTF650 that I had no luck finding a replacement for. But instead of just leaving it on for 5 minutes, I let the tire soak in it for an hour. Took it out, wiped it off (insert suggestive remark here), re-installed it and the deck's been working like a hot damn ever since. Will be interesting to see for how long though. Same with the mat - might go back to it's old discolored self.

 

[Elite-ist]

So, the soaking of the idler tire was the most effective way to clean it. I will make note of that. You have a Pioneer CT-F650, too. That is one of the first decks that I bought through an advertisement in the Buy & Sell weekly about 9 years ago. I actually picked up two decks from the same owner, the CT-F650 and an Akai GX-F31, both for $80.

Nando.

 

[62vauxhall]

In this case it seems to have and I figured I had nothing to lose.

No wood sleeve on the CTF-650 I have which I also found at the North Van Sally Ann about 3 years ago - $10. Plugged it in there and the meters lit up, someone engraved their SIN across the top of the face plate as well on the painted metal housing. I learned when I got it home that the transport was "weak" so ordered a belt kit. In the meantime, I took the face plate to a machine shop and had them lathe out the SIN. I also used a wire wheel in an electric drill to strip all the original paint from the steel cover right down to the metal.
Primed it then sprayed it with textured black paint. Put the belts in but joy was not 100% so, shelved for a while. I guess going through that ordeal with the Realistic SCT3000 prompted me to finish the Pioneer.

Like I said, soaking the idler in Rubber Renue did make it supple enough to work again but I have no idea how long the treatment will last. But, even even if it dries out again, nothing lost but the time.

EDIT: That's a Sansui SE-9 sitting on top of yours, isn't it.

 

[Elite-ist]

The N. Van Salvation Army on 3rd and Londsdale has been one of my regular haunts. I picked up lots of great gear there - including my Pioneer CT-F9191. The wood case on my CT-F650 was custom-built by the previous owner as he was hobby woodworker.

Yes, it is a Sansui SE-9 CompuEqualizer. Fun component to use.

Check out this video by Hugo of The Walkman Archive:

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/at9SZqIHNWY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Nando.