Cleaning and oiling Klipsch gear...What should I use?

[fletcherkane]

Hey guys

My mom was in town for a visit, and mentioned that my Forte's and 4.2's look like they need to be oiled. I have always kept them dusted, but have never oiled them.

My mother reccomended a product called Old English. She's been a life long housekeeper by trade, and said in addition to reviving the look, it would fill in some of the tiny surface scratches. I told her thanks for the advice, but that I would check with the forum guys to see what they use. Give me some input, and then I'll post some pics of my cleaned up beauties.

What do you guys use? How often?

Thanks in advance for the input.

[jeffgeorge]

Hi,

I use Watco oil for mine. Cant remember the actual name, but it is along the lines of rejuvinating oil, or something like that. Watco also makes a lemon oil, which works well. I have used this since 1986, and it works perfect.

I oil mine about every six months.

[bhendrix]

Klipsch's own Steve Phillips recommended Watco Rejuvinating Oil. $7 or $8 bucks at Lowes.

[Frzninvt]

Scott's Liquid Gold in the spray can is nice and easy to apply and works great. Just make sure your speakers have an Oil finish though, the oil will ruin a Lacquer finish.

[PrestonTom]

Good Question.

The Watco products are great for the oil finishes (great for re-finishing also). The process is a bit involved to do it on frequent basis, but be sure to follow the instructions.

Regardless of what you end up using, please do NOT use any product that contains silicone (these are usually in the products that you would use on a weekly/monthly basis).

Good Luck,

-Tom

[WMcD]

I hesitate to disagree with anyone's mum. Bu t . ..

Old English and similar products, even those labeled lemon oil, are just mineral oil. That is to say a ligher form of motor oil. I use Old English to clean the "oiled" walnut with a cloth or Scotchbrite pad. It is possible to scrub out light stains and discoloration. These products do leave a shine and increased contrast until the residual oil evaporates. It never solitifies. You can't "finish" a piece of wood with just mineral oil.

Watco is linseed oil and solvents, i.e. a plant oil which has been processed. It will eventually solidify to build a finish.

This is the type of stuff which can cause oily rags to burst into flame when they're wadded up and not exposed to air as they dry. So be careful out there. When spread out and exposed to air, there is no heating. This is why the piece finished with linseed oil does not burst into flame. Naturally such an effect would discourage its use.

There are many other finishes which are thinned down varnish which can be wiped on. These are called "oils" probably because their cousins contained linseed or tung oils. I've used Homer Formby's and Minwax wipe ons with good results. The trick is to be prepared to put on one thin coat every night for a week with a scrub down with Scotchbrite in between.

Gil

[thxsubwoofers]

I use Lemon Pledge here on my RW-12 subwoofer box. It keeps it shinning for a while.