Help! Melted Caramel!

[classiccaprice]

So I bought a new console stereo the other day, but apparently the previous owner liked.... No loved... Werther's Original. There were about 50 of them in the console. 2/3 were wrapped and most of the unwrapped weren't melted much, thank goodness. However, there is a lovely 3 inch by 2 inch spot of melted caramel. What is the best way to clean melted caramel off wood? It is on the inside, so I'm not super worried about the finish. Help!

 

[jeffg]

When you say "in the console", do you mean literally? If so, it's more likely the stash was accumlated by mice or other pests, not the owner.

First thing I'd try is a heat source (heatgun or hair dryer etc) along with a putty knife. Heat the entire spot before starting to pry, enough to soften it up but not liquify it. Then focus the heat on the leading edge of the knife. That should get most of it up. You might want to wear a facemask considering the info above. Then use wood soap to clean what's left.

 

[classiccaprice]

Yes literally in

There was no other evidence of pests (I.e. No small brown pellets). She removed the record player to "upgrade it" with a CD player. Thankfully it is quite obvious she didn't know what she was doing as it appears that they just put a small cd stereo Inside the cabinet and none of the original components including the record player connections and the 45 spindle were harmed. The caramels appear to have fallen in through there and just never cleaned up by the elderly owner. I was thinking heat too, but another friend suggested cold to get it to harden and flake up. I'll play around with it tonight. Hopefully it won't be too difficult.[this post was last edited: 10/25/2014-18:55]

 

[firedome]

Let's see...

the new console... console lovers everywhere want to know all about it!

 

[rp2813]

I was thinking cold instead of hot.   That tends to work best with gummy substances.  If you can get it brittle enough, it might break up and off the wood.

 

[classiccaprice]

I'm trying cold first, but if that doesn't work I

Funny you should mention that Roger. I picked up 2 this past week for a song (will need to thin the collection by the spring). I'll start with what I picked up first.

Last week at the car club meeting Bobby (whirlaway) mentioned that he'd seen a virtually brand new Zenith across town. I of course had to go investigate. It wound up being a lovely 1961 model. The only thing missing is the back. Upon discovering it didn't work, the thrift store owner gave it to me for half price. Turns out it was just a blown fuse. My guess is someone took the back off checked everything other than the not so obvious fuse and donated it. I will have to figure out something to put back there eventually, but for now it's awesome. The only issue I've had with it is that after a few times of working perfectly, the record doesn't register as dropped and the turntable will shut off. It works fine manually. Any ideas? [this post was last edited: 10/25/2014-21:26]

 

[classiccaprice]

the console in question

One day this week I stopped in to another local thrift shop and noticed this lovely 1962 or 1963 RCA. The Danish lines caught my eye and the fact that it didn't scream console. Unfortunately, the previous owner had taken out the record player and placed a c.d. player in its place, as mentioned above. Thankfully the player is all that is missing, so keep an eye out for one for me, please. I didn't need the console, but I know this shop has people come to it who raid consoles for the amps and it was just too pretty to see destroyed. The am radio works perfectly, but something in the fm circuit is messed up as it is only about 1/4 of proper volume. Yuck.[this post was last edited: 10/25/2014-22:30]

 

[travis]

I agree with Ralph about using cold. We have cans of chewing gun remover spray at work. It's great to remove anything from upholstery, getting rid of a random bug in the office or to get the heat to run more when you're cold.

 

[jeffg]

Will, let us know how it goes.

 

[classiccaprice]

The good and the bad.

Yay! I tried some adhesive remover I had around and it got up most of the caramel.

Boo! I cleaned the tubes with a little rubbing alcohol and now the fm radio and indicator light that helps you know you are on station aren't working at all. I'll have to get some electronic contact cleaner tomorrow and try again. [this post was last edited: 10/25/2014-22:44]

 

[whirlcool]

What could be happening to the record player is that the old grease may have dried up and solidified and is now gumming up the works. I would remove the changer, using Isopropyl and Q-tips clean off all the old grease from turntable parts and supply new lubrication. It's a very boring tedious job, but it will have your turntable performing like new again. And only grease the areas that were previously greased/lubed. Some turntable parts rely on friction to work. Lube the wrong thing and you could cause more harm than damage.

Good lubrications to use are automotive oil 10W-30W, and white lithium grease, that comes in a tube. Use the lithium on the speed control rods and the 10w-30W on the other parts.

 

[retro-man]

I had a console doing the same thing. Its a zenith. I took it apart cleaned and lubed everything and it still would not register 1 record or the last record in a stack. Not one to accept defeat, I just added an extra record on the top or when wanting to play one just added the extra one. Plays great and in the end it releases the last one not played and shuts off. Hey where there is will there is a way.
Jon

 

[artcurus]

@ retroman and classicaprice,

The changer is a Voice of Music, and very easy to service. Your problem is still dried lubricant. You have to go through it completly and totally, then relubricate it.

Gary at thevoiceofmusic.com can help with any questions.

On the FM radio not working, verify that the tubes were put back in the right spot, then clean the pins with electronic cleaner.

The amp on that unit uses more than likely a single end 6BQ5, good for about six watts.

 

[classiccaprice]

I cleaned the fm circuit tubes again with cleaner. It's back to where it was originally at about 1/4 volume. I'm going to go to a friend of mine's next weekend and see if I can get replacements to try out since my tube checker is down. If that doesn't work I guess it's a capacitor or resistor.