Cleaning a sticky, gooey lighting desk?
Discussion
Hi all! - for my sins I have been tasked with helping backstage for a village hall panto. The lighting desk is a Strand 200 - 48 channel thing, however it has not been used since Covid - in this time the rubber sliders, buttons and the outer edges is all just sticky. Like when you pull your finger off the sliders it feels like the rubber has broken down and is covered in a contact adhesive.
I do add that so far I have found all the electrics work nicely, so I don't need to go into that side of things.
Right next to the lighting desk is a 24 channel sound desk, this feels fine, albeit with every alternate channel not working but thats yet another issue for me to look into.
Has anyone encountered this before, and if so, may I ask what cleaning product you used that did not break down the desk even more?
I do add that so far I have found all the electrics work nicely, so I don't need to go into that side of things.
Right next to the lighting desk is a 24 channel sound desk, this feels fine, albeit with every alternate channel not working but thats yet another issue for me to look into.
Has anyone encountered this before, and if so, may I ask what cleaning product you used that did not break down the desk even more?
From my research there isn't anything that will just de-sticky the rubber as it's actually started to break down. Several people have suggested isopropyl alcohol but that's just removing the rubber & while that might be ok for some items it's unlikley to be acceptable for the pushbuttons.
You can get new fader knobs easily enough ( they just prise off) but the push buttons are going to be a bigger problem. You might be able to wipe off enough for them to be useable.
You can get new fader knobs easily enough ( they just prise off) but the push buttons are going to be a bigger problem. You might be able to wipe off enough for them to be useable.
Edited by Mr Pointy on Monday 6th November 16:31
Thank you Mr Pointy! - the sliders do indeed prise off a lot easier than I expected - I will take them all off and dunk them in a bucket of hot soapy water - seemed to work ok for the one or 2 sliders I took off last night and cleaned with a bit of dishwasher soap.
Thank you LuS1fer! - the black painted surround to the machine will def get an attack of white spirits, good thought!
Thank you smokey mow! - good call on the clear lacquer, will keep in mind if I get approval! - (which would be easier to get, approval prior to doing it, or acceptance for having done it..)
Thank you goldieandblackie! - I dragged some goo gone from the back of the shelf and it did help!
I may take the drastic approach and strip the board, take the buttons off, take the sliders off, and then can really attack it - it leaves the stickyness over your fingers and leaves everything else you touch sticky.
Thank you LuS1fer! - the black painted surround to the machine will def get an attack of white spirits, good thought!
Thank you smokey mow! - good call on the clear lacquer, will keep in mind if I get approval! - (which would be easier to get, approval prior to doing it, or acceptance for having done it..)
Thank you goldieandblackie! - I dragged some goo gone from the back of the shelf and it did help!
I may take the drastic approach and strip the board, take the buttons off, take the sliders off, and then can really attack it - it leaves the stickyness over your fingers and leaves everything else you touch sticky.
Peanut Gallery said:
Right next to the lighting desk is a 24 channel sound desk, this feels fine, albeit with every alternate channel not working but thats yet another issue for me to look into.
Nothing to add on cleaning the sticky lighting desk, but this sounds like an interesting problem. Digital or analog desk? The alternate channels not working, no input or showing input signal but getting no output?
Could be something to do with stereo-paired channels.
Mr Pointy said:
From my research there isn't anything that will just de-sticky the rubber as it's actually started to break down. Several people have suggested isopropyl alcohol but that's just removing the rubber & while that might be ok for some items it's unlikley to be acceptable for the pushbuttons.
You can get new fader knobs easily enough ( they just prise off) but the push buttons are going to be a bigger problem. You might be able to wipe off enough for them to be useable.
You can get new fader knobs easily enough ( they just prise off) but the push buttons are going to be a bigger problem. You might be able to wipe off enough for them to be useable.
IPA is the best without going into more exotic solvents that will give you funny looking kids or melt the plastic underneath, I've found that scraping as much of the goo off mechanically reduces the amount of IPA and wiping needed.The only thing I've ever found that actually works is concentrated orange oil cleaner.
It's not very nice stuff to use neat though, but it will strip away all of the sticky mess. I had to clean some photography flash heads that had been left lying around for an extended period, 99% IPA and a magic eraser (the internet's favourite suggestion when I was looking) didn't touch it, the orange oil cleaner and a cloth took it all off first time.
Something like this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Almawin-Orange-Oil-Cleane...
Although that isn't the exact one I'm using - I'd had one under the kitchen sink for many years.
It's not very nice stuff to use neat though, but it will strip away all of the sticky mess. I had to clean some photography flash heads that had been left lying around for an extended period, 99% IPA and a magic eraser (the internet's favourite suggestion when I was looking) didn't touch it, the orange oil cleaner and a cloth took it all off first time.
Something like this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Almawin-Orange-Oil-Cleane...
Although that isn't the exact one I'm using - I'd had one under the kitchen sink for many years.
GravelBen said:
Peanut Gallery said:
Right next to the lighting desk is a 24 channel sound desk, this feels fine, albeit with every alternate channel not working but thats yet another issue for me to look into.
Nothing to add on cleaning the sticky lighting desk, but this sounds like an interesting problem. Digital or analog desk? The alternate channels not working, no input or showing input signal but getting no output?
Could be something to do with stereo-paired channels.
Sorry, I have not really looked into it much, however from climbing around under the stage there is are mics, attached to home-made xlr cables, attached to a home made snake, attached to a home made snake. - Whilst I have no problem with home made cables I do question them a bit more than shop made ones until I have opened them up and checked them.
I hope to get more time than just a 2 hour rehearsal slot once a week, where you get funny looks if you bump the lights, step onto the stage, or make any more noise than a doormouse.
But in other news - digital desk, (I have turned off all the sound effects part) but one that has been abused lots - make, model etc will all be revealed next week when I can get back there!
hidetheelephants said:
Mr Pointy said:
From my research there isn't anything that will just de-sticky the rubber as it's actually started to break down. Several people have suggested isopropyl alcohol but that's just removing the rubber & while that might be ok for some items it's unlikley to be acceptable for the pushbuttons.
You can get new fader knobs easily enough ( they just prise off) but the push buttons are going to be a bigger problem. You might be able to wipe off enough for them to be useable.
You can get new fader knobs easily enough ( they just prise off) but the push buttons are going to be a bigger problem. You might be able to wipe off enough for them to be useable.
IPA is the best without going into more exotic solvents that will give you funny looking kids or melt the plastic underneath, I've found that scraping as much of the goo off mechanically reduces the amount of IPA and wiping needed.(OK, OK, amazon can deliver some IPA that would behave better...)
Fingers crossed Mr Pointy!
Thank you megaphone! - that does sound like a good shout, off to find a supplier with it in stock!
Thank you Motorman74! - I have heard of stories of orange cleaner stripping away everything in its path, so will keep that in mind!
(Bloke found some fancy orange cleaner and used that to clean his windscreen - he then needed to get the rubber windscreen seal replaced and a new set of wipers - I should add this was a stronger than normal version he found..)
Try this stuff
Used it for years on audio mixers and pcs
https://cpc.farnell.com/ambersil/190012000/label-r...
Used it for years on audio mixers and pcs
https://cpc.farnell.com/ambersil/190012000/label-r...
Update / possible thread closure (ish)...
Thanks to all, I took the idea that forgiveness is easier to get than permission, and stripped the desk (ish) - edges off, sliders off, pulled one circuit board off the back and took some of the black buttons off.
Goo-gone and dish soap did not touch the stickyness, but then sprayed a bleach spray on the wet buttons and the result was instant - but my fingers still got a workout trying to get into all the small corners.
The surrounding edges did not fare so well with that, and had a white residue - methelated spirits eventually got this off, but not without a fight.
The buttons that I have not removed are getting a light dusting of talcum powder, with care not to get the powder into the sliders, this has been done on one or two buttons and works really well - and wont take the writing off the buttons.
Note to Mercdriver - the desk is brilliant - simple enough for me to understand it, has the facility to be programmed in for longer performance runs / more extreme scene changes - and stands up well to having novices bash it around trying to get the lights to work.
I fear I may be the village lighting guy for the next x years.
Regarding the sound desk - analogue (not digital) Soundcraft MFX - desk works well, from what I have seen people have been using the wires to pull the cables out of the junctions so lots of soldering of cables is needed.
Interesting just how much and how far our radio mics mess with other radios - I think we have one that just transmits on all frequencies at max power.
Thanks to all, I took the idea that forgiveness is easier to get than permission, and stripped the desk (ish) - edges off, sliders off, pulled one circuit board off the back and took some of the black buttons off.
Goo-gone and dish soap did not touch the stickyness, but then sprayed a bleach spray on the wet buttons and the result was instant - but my fingers still got a workout trying to get into all the small corners.
The surrounding edges did not fare so well with that, and had a white residue - methelated spirits eventually got this off, but not without a fight.
The buttons that I have not removed are getting a light dusting of talcum powder, with care not to get the powder into the sliders, this has been done on one or two buttons and works really well - and wont take the writing off the buttons.
Note to Mercdriver - the desk is brilliant - simple enough for me to understand it, has the facility to be programmed in for longer performance runs / more extreme scene changes - and stands up well to having novices bash it around trying to get the lights to work.
I fear I may be the village lighting guy for the next x years.
Regarding the sound desk - analogue (not digital) Soundcraft MFX - desk works well, from what I have seen people have been using the wires to pull the cables out of the junctions so lots of soldering of cables is needed.
Interesting just how much and how far our radio mics mess with other radios - I think we have one that just transmits on all frequencies at max power.
megaphone said:
Your radio mics are likely on Channel 70 (863-865 mhz), this is the open band that anyone can use. Problem is only 3 or at a push 4 frequencies can be used at the same time. What make are the mics?
Hi megaphone!They are HW international, made by Trantec Systems Ltd. Freq 173-800 mhz is OK, but the one 174-400 mhz was giving other systems problems..
2 days of rehearsals so might try narrow down what lights they want!
Peanut Gallery said:
megaphone said:
Your radio mics are likely on Channel 70 (863-865 mhz), this is the open band that anyone can use. Problem is only 3 or at a push 4 frequencies can be used at the same time. What make are the mics?
Hi megaphone!They are HW international, made by Trantec Systems Ltd. Freq 173-800 mhz is OK, but the one 174-400 mhz was giving other systems problems..
2 days of rehearsals so might try narrow down what lights they want!
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