Help Cleaning Walker-Turner Drill Press Badge

[7th Kahuna]

So what is the final word? Does the vintage / style matter? I have read a number of threads with different suggestions and different results. Ordinarily I would have attacked this with Simple Green (thanks Outlaw) but I also read that Simple Green may damage the Walker-Turner badges. This one is already in pretty rough shape. As I understand it, it came out of an auto supply that also did some repair work. Still, I have no idea how the machine got so thoroughly covered in oil and grime.

I picked this machine up 10 days ago. Went to look at a Craftsman model 100 floor press and the guy says, "I have another one in back, want to see?" Turned out to be this Walker-Turner model 1200. It is a basic bench model. It looks bad, the belt is the worst I have ever seen, but I think it's all there. I've got the belt cover, motor, chuck key. It has suffered a notable, but not terminal, 'arc of shame'. I haven't plugged it in yet.

In the end I came home with both. The Craftsman had the Vari-Slo adapter. It doesn't work but appears repairable. The Walker-Turner, yet to be seen. $90 for the pair.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I would start with WD-40 and a toothbrush.

Some might say 0000 steel wool if the grime is caked on there.

Remember, be gentle!

 

[Outlawmws]

for grime, WD-40 with the tooth brush is a good start point. That may be all you need.

I'm not a fan of steel wool or other abrasives on badges, except maybe rubbing compound.

 

[7th Kahuna]

Ok two votes for WD-40. (Tooth brush, no steel wool.)

Thanks.

Worked pretty good but as I suspected there wasn't much left to save. It has a very 'beach cottage' look to it. Vintage denim.

I wiped it down with Windex afterward and even that took blue paint with it. I suspect it must have sat outdoors for a while.

The dealer tag was a pleasant surprise though. It looked so flaky I didn't think it had a chance. Instead, all the paint from the last 'restoration' came off clean and it looks great. Maybe a little more scrubbing.

I'm thinking a little polish for the dealer tag, but what about the main badge? How do I protect it while working on the surrounding surfaces? I wonder about spraying it with clear satin polyurethane to stabilize what's left. I worry it won't stick and will make the situation worse. Thoughts?

 

[d.mcfarland]

Is that green original?

 

[454ragtop]

Might want to ask the experts at OWWM.org. They eat and drink this stuff.
Good luck, Jim

 

[7th Kahuna]

Is that green original?

It might be similar, I'm not certain. The paint you see however is newer. It appears it may have been black before that. Under the black is still a mystery.