How To Clean Aluminum Platter

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I have just polished the rim of the platter on the Thorens TD150 that I am using.
On Ebay there are some lovely thorens decks for sale that have been refurbished to a very high standard.
They always have a most striking appearance due to the whole lot being polished to the highest standards.
I always wondered how they achieved this. Well I have done just that!
You can see your face in it!
I used to use the paint shop fascilities in my last job.
They had a massive lambs wool wheel type machine. You used tallow on it. And it would make most metals shine.
But I am no longer there. But i remember cleaning and polishing brushed stainless steel.
The magic ingredient was Johnsons baby oil and s sponge.
My method?
I came across a product called Astonish Pro manufactured by the London oil refining co. Ltd.
its a mild abrasive powder.
I mixed this with the Johnsons Baby Oil. And went to town on my TD150. I spent 30 mins using just a rag. When I had buffed it to a lovely shine i finished off with Brasso.
It really shines let me tell you !
If someone could tell me how to uplift a photo from my phone i would show just how effective it is.
Cool, I use Mothers wheel Polish on the ole 166. Works good.
Also used it to polish the dust cover like new. Takes fine scratches off plastic after orbital sand with 3k grit paper.
I just got done polishing 35 years of fingerprints and oxidation off this Technics today, I just used "Barkeeper's Friend", followed by lots of polishing with Mother's gold class wax (waxes have very fine polishes in them).
You will find that you don't want to polish to a mirror finish in most cases, you want to restore original appearance (or just a bit better). That might mean preserving the grain and machining instead of causing "damage" by polishing away the original finish:

Here's an example of a td150 that has a natural finish:

If you want to really go crazy with polishing product:
Amazon.com: Simichrome Metal Polish: Automotive »

Last edited: May 25, 2016
I polish mine with Autosol and a rag.
I've used Flitz, Simichrome, Maas, and Griot's, but the best by far is Mother's Billet.
Amazon.com: Mothers 05106 Billet Metal Polish - 4 oz.: Automotive »
I'd have had the upper aluminum platter on my 124 Mk1 and steel (or aluminum?) platters on my 125 Mk1 and Mk2 tables polished by the "professionals". But I've seen how they do it using a machine, and knowing how soft those metals are and prone to warping, I've stepped back. If this method works for you, that's great. I'm longing to have that polished look. Does it remain as flat as it was?
If someone really wants to polish their platter to glassy chrome, you can sand it with micro abrasive products designed for just that:
Leading Edge Polishing - Aerospace Industry - Products By Application -MICRO-SURFACE FINISHING PRODUCTS, INC »
You don't have to get the $100+ machine kit, here's a small kit, and many hobby shops have packages with the grits in 2000-12000 all in one kit of small papers, and just require elbow grease.
I use Autosol a couple times a year to "touch" mine up. Five minutes at a chrome shop should be enough for a mirror like shine. It's not a Thorens thou.

jeff
That's a nice looking version of the LP12
Many thanks. Will check it out. These old decks really turn heads when they are polished.
That is absolutely amazing! Must look for chrome shop!
Ha
have placed an order. One cannot have enough of this kind of stuff! Especially as i,m told it restores dust covers! Many thanks.
M
Many thanks. Did not realise that there were so many buffs( no pun intended) out there. The members of this forum are amazing! Will check it out!
I think my AR Legend turntable has an aluminium platter..any tips for removing marks and signs of ageing...getting on for forty years old now and never had any tlc(platter that is)..
The astonish pro is s mild abrasive powder.there is probably something similiar near you. The combination of the baby oil means there are no abrasions. You could try it on the underside first as i treated the whole platter! You will need gloves as the cloth gets black!
There are some very good suggestions on this thread which I think are better than the product i use. The autosol and
Micro surface finishing products in particular.
It need not be expensive to be good, as the Astonish Pro cost £1.50.
Let me know how you get on.
By the way i finished my platter with Brasso ( metal polish )
N ext job on the list....I am pretty sure a clean blemish free platter will enhance the bi-amping I am about to undertake........
Most definitely. It will also turn heads.
Have you tried cleaning mains plug/ fuse with metal polish? I think you may be surprised! What amps are you using?
A n old school Arcam Delta 290 integrated, soon to be paired with an Arcam Delta 290P.
Interesting, did try it once. Sounded s bit sharper?
Here is a picture OP sent me of his td150 from an iphone, I gave it a digital restoration in photoshop to make it passable:
Glad you guys like it. I admit it's a bit of a hodge podge, but it sounds good.
jeff