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Remedy to remove tobacco smoke stench?


jheis

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I just picked up a B&K PT 3 series II pre-amp for my office system,

bumping my Carver CT-17 to the garage system, bumping my Optonica Tuner

to ... the floor.

Anyway, the B&K arrived yesterday and it is in superb, brand new

condition, except for one thing - in a previous life it must have been

an

ashtray. The stench is so bad I could smell it as soon as I cut

the tape on the shipping box. I usually recycle the shipping

peanuts,

but these reeked so bad they went straight into the trash.

Does anyone have a remedy for getting rid of the tobacco smoke

stench?

The remote is particularly offensive, because it sits on my desk about

2' from my face (so that I can hit mute on those rare occasions when

the phone rings). I tried holding it upside down (to try to keep

liquid out of the insides) and scrubbing it with an old tooth

brush dipped in rubbing alcohol, but it still stinks.

James

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There is a product called "Erase", sold in a 2 oz. pump spray bottle.

"Wipes out all smoke odors permanently".

Made by Burning Solutions, Inc., Marietta, Georgia.

That--or something similar--can be found at your local Tobacconist/Cigar/Pipe shop.

But I have no idea if it does what it says.....

Mark

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I just picked up a B&K PT 3 series II pre-amp for my office system, bumping my Carver CT-17 to the garage system, bumping my Optonica Tuner to the floor.

Anyway, the B&K arrived yesterday and it is in superb, brand new condition, except for one thing - in a previous life it must have been an ashtray. The stench is so bad I could smell it as soon as I cut the tape on the shipping box. I usually recycle the shipping peanuts, but these reeked so bad they went straight into the trash.

Does anyone have a remedy for getting rid of the tobacco smoke stench? The remote is particularly offensive, because it sits on my desk about 2' from my face (so that I can hit mute on those rare occasions when the phone rings). I tried holding it upside down (to try to keep liquid out of the insides) and scrubbing it with an old tooth brush dipped in rubbing alcohol, but it still stinks.

James

Dear Bloodhound,

Nuke the whole thing. Burn your home. If you touched tobacco contaminated items, ......Chop off your hands. Were your children exposed? Place them in burlap bags, and drop them over a bridge.

Yours,

Clark Gable

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I have a used Rotel amplifier that also stunk of cigarette smoke. Had it sitting outside for several hours. Still stunk. Used a tire pump and gently blew air through it. Still stunk. Put a solid air freshener next to it in an enclosed stereo rack. Still has an odor, not offensive. Doesn't smell clean...after 1.5 months. Amplifier works great. Maybe with time it will smell better. I suspect it has a thin layer of tar on everything.

I had a patient whose walker was a gold color (normally they are made of aluminum). Wiped off the tar and had the aluminum color back. Heavy smoker.

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I have a used Rotel amplifier that also stunk of cigarette smoke. Had it sitting outside for several hours. Still stunk. Used a tire pump and gently blew air through it. Still stunk. Put a solid air freshener next to it in an enclosed stereo rack. Still has an odor, not offensive. Doesn't smell clean...after 1.5 months. Amplifier works great. Maybe with time it will smell better. I suspect it has a thin layer of tar on everything.

I had a patient whose walker was a gold color (normally they are made of aluminum). Wiped off the tar and had the aluminum color back. Heavy smoker.

STONE THEM!!!![A]

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Thanks all.

Surprised to get so many responses so fast. I figured others had

probably gone through the same thing since we don't seem to be shy

about buying used gear. I assume the smell will dissipate over

time, but I'm hoping for a quick fix. I had my last cigarette

in 1972 and, except for a few girlfriends who occasionally lit up,

have been smoke free since then (I've also become much less tolerant

of women who smoke - in spite of their many other fine qualities [A]).

The pre-amp doesn't bother me too much, cause its not right in my face

like the remote. With all those soft rubber nubbins, the remote

has probably soaked up a lot of stink.

Al: I like that idea, except I've never seen a shoe rack for a

dryer. I can picture a pre-amp tumbling around - do you think I

should throw in a tennis ball to keep it fluffed up like you do with a down

sleeping bag?

Pat: yeah the B&K was a score. It was listed for $300

and I offered $200 and the seller countered at $225. Deal!

Except for the smell it could be brand new. I love B&K

stuff. It works (and keeps working) and sounds great.

Terry: you wouldn't, by any chance, be a smoker would you?

James

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I've taken apart so many remotes in my day to get the junk that always seems to get stuck in the rubber buttons especially when they get real old. I have one remote for a TV that has to be ten years old. I simply wash it all with Windex and let it dry before I reassemble. The electrical components on them are not exposed. Just let it all dry out before you reassemble it.

Craig

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Graig:

I've done that many times as well, especially mobile phone hand sets - yuck!

This particular remote, however doesn't seem to have any accessible

screws ( that I can find) and I'm a little reluctant to try and pry it

apart - without knowing how it goes together. This one is not as

complex, but I know that a replacement remote for my B&K Ref 50 is

about $400, so I'd prefer not to screw it up.

James

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Graig:

I've done that many times as well, especially mobile phone hand sets - yuck!

This particular remote, however doesn't seem to have any accessible screws ( that I can find) and I'm a little reluctant to try and pry it apart - without knowing how it goes together. This one is not as complex, but I know that a replacement remote for my B&K Ref 50 is about $400, so I'd prefer not to screw it up.

James

$400 you got to be kidding me. I think I'd put up with the smell[;)]

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Interesting problem. You've got to get the tobacco gunk off of there. I don't think any amount of airing or deodorizing will dissipate the funk. My Mom died of emphysema, and her furniture stunk to high heaven. I had to use Murphey's oil soap like 4 times to get the gunk off the piano.

I'd take the cover off and wipe with any paint friendy cleaner. Perhaps one of the orange/citrus based ones might be good on erasing gunk and odor.

Use a dust off gun and soft brush on the insides.

You think your pre-amp stinks? My first set of Cornwalls survived a house fire (sellers, not mine). They stunk like a bonfire for years.

Good luck,

Michael

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