Question about cabinet cleaning

I have read in several posts about cleaning radio cabinets with GoJo and 0000 steel wool. What is the proper way to do this? I am wondering how do you remove the residue when finished, is this something you do only when the cabinet does not need refinished, when is it advisable to do it or not do it? I have a old cabinet to experiment on and any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Ed.

I have used Go-Jo and a rag.  On a good cabinet, I'm not brave enough to use 4-aught steel wool.  That stuff is fairly aggressive.  I personally prefer to use an old washcloth or tee shirt first, along with GO-JO.  Go-Jo is the secret, and it does a good job of removing the gunge and dirt from a cabinet.  I have saved a couple cabinets using this method.  I have also determined that certain cabinet finishes are not salvageable and need to be refinished.  I have used Go-Jo and a terry cloth rag on my Magnavox cabinets and it worked out well.  I'd advise to go easy with the steel wool until you become accustomed to the process.

I wipe the Go-Jo on fairly liberally and wipe with the grain.  Be careful around grille cloth and that.  Wipe off the residue, then use a damp clean rag to give it a final go over. Let the cabinet dry well.  Then I use Johnson's paste wax to shine it up.  Go easy with that stuff, too.  Use light coats unless you enjoy doing lots of rubbing.  Good luck.

Thanks WC, you answered what I needed to know. Thanks again, Ed.

I forgot to mention that you only use Go-Jo with no pumice. I wonder why a person could not use cheese cloth instead of steel wool. Good luck, Ed.

I use go jo   as Widlcat explained and it works very well.
I also give the cabinet a coat of Trade Secret after it is dry.. This stuff fills in the small scratch marks.
Then I buff up the cabinet
 I get Trade secret at home depot. After I use it I buff the cabinet.

Are you referring to Trade Secret polish? The Home Depot in my area doesn't have it "in store" and they are out of stock on line. Is there a similar product I could try? Thanks, Ed.

   
   I also did find Trade Secret in Walmart in the paint department, but sometimes they don't have it.

I am going to Walmart later today and will look for that product. The picture shows scratch remover, is that what you apply after cleaning or is it the polish or both? Thanks for bearing with me, regards-Ed.

I usually clean the cabinet with gojo first and then wipe it with a damp rag.. After it is dry [a couple of minutes]
I put on the rubber gloves and use a small rag and cover the cabinet with Trade secret.. Just rub it on the whole cabinet. BE CARUFULL NOT TO GET ANY ON THE GRILL CLOTH. [you can't get it off the grill cloth] If the grill cloth had been removed you have no problem..
Let it sit for a hour or so and then wipe the cabinet removing any excess..
I suppose you can apply a coat of wax at a later date but I would not apply wax until the cabinet is completely dry.
Wait a day or so.
I find that it really makes a difference in how the cabinet looks. it adds a nice sheen to a dull looking cabinet.
Sure it's not the same as a complete strip and lacquer but the radio only has it's original finish on it ONCE.

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 This is one cabinet I did.

I use gojo with no pumace on just about any radio I don't want to redo the finish. It has brought out the look of the case. I use furniture wax on the wooden cases and I have a buffer I made that is slower speed than most buffers/grinders. I will buff a plastic or bakelite case with this and it works great.

Hello guys, the GoJo cleaning went well. I was surprised to see how much dirt came off so we did it a second time and it came really clean. Now I need advice on the next steps, the top, and the bottom four inches of the cabinet. It would be nice not to have to refinish the top as it is in acceptable condition except for a deep { approx. 3/32" } gouge about one inch long right in the middle, and some fine cracks in the finish like it shrunk. On the bottom there are places where the finish is wore down to bare wood and some rather deep marks and scratches. The rest of the cabinet responded nicely to the application of Trade Secret scratch remover and polish. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Regards, Ed.

I have heard of using a walnut to fix a finish. I have never tried it but may the next cabinet that looks good enough to not refinish but needs fixing. Here is a link explaining it.
http://www.wikihow.com/Seal-Wood-Scratches-With-a-Walnut

They also make a kit to touch up as well using something like crayons.

Thanks for the tip but I'm afraid this is through the veneer and too deep for even the crayons. I think I am going to have to use some kind of wood filler which I have never attempted. If there is something like the crayon that would harden that would be great, but at the present time I know of no such product. Thanks again, Ed.

My friend uses a type of clear epoxy on gun stocks that have gouges in them. It works like clear wood filler. I don't see why that would not work on a cabinet. If it is thru the veneer, about the only choice I can see is to replace the veneer on the top.

I'm sorry, but, I am a purist, and, staples though anything is a cheap way of doing something. Try using a good glue.

Could you take a damp wash rag and put it flat over the scratches then run a electric iron over it? I seem to think that is a way to get scratches or dents out of the wood. The heated steam made makes the wood swell out and make it smooth IIRC.

I've heard of that technique used on both furniture and gun stocks.

By the by, I spent about 3 hours going from store to store trying to find GoJo or even Goop. Neither can be had at the minimum, without pumice.

Did you try at Walmart.  Our store has it in the automotive department by the chemicals, like brake cleaner and such.

Using steam to pull out a dent works well. I believe the OP is talking about a gouge down thru the veneer, if I read right.

Yes. only pumice. The other walmart had no idea what it was. neither did Lowe's nor Home Depot.

75X11 wrote:By the by, I spent about 3 hours going from store to store trying to find GoJo or even Goop.  Neither can be had at the minimum, without pumice.

Come up here to Tennessee to get it. I don't have any trouble finding it. I think Walmart close to me has it and I think Dollar Store does as well. I think the last time I looked the pumice kind was harder to find. Maybe we send it further down south.

Wonder if one could send Goop or GoJo in the mail?  If possible, I could get a can and ship it to you.  Maybe you guys have dirtier dirt, so you need stouter hand cleaner.  

I checked on Walmart.com and found that they do not have the small containers in stock online.  The big ones are available.  Perhaps this is why you are having trouble finding it.  If you want to order from Walmart online, they will send it to your local store (your choice of store) and you can pick it up there.  Just a thought.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Goop-Multi-Purpose-Hand-Cleaner/19864108

Although the text does not specify, I believe this to be the smooth kind, as they are talking about using it on furniture and stainless steel. Good luck.

There is always Amazon, I just thought it would be a novel approach to face to face it. And I appreciate the offer.

We were typing at the same time. Sorry.