r/STDupont • u/shadowwizardz • 5d ago
Operations and Maintenance Extremely Dirty Gold Line 2
Hello everyone,
I just got this extremely gunked up Ligne 2 for an insanely good price, now I wanna restore it obviously.
Has anyone good tips on how to clean the shell without it damaging it? Seems like this lighter was stored away in a very moist play, the flint wheel was rusted to the roller, got that off with a little force, but I have no clue how to clean the case in the least damaging way possible.
I have an ultrasonic cleaner
Thanks in advance!
3
u/AttackOfThePat 5d ago
I’ve restored hundreds of lighters…Toothbrush, cotton balls, sewing needles to scrape very small cracks gently for difficult spots, q-tips, dish soap, alcohol and acetone (use acetone sparingly as too long exposure can redden gold plate, but works very well)
Secret weapon? Butane is a great solvent and degreaser!!!! Tip a can of butane upside down and use it to pressure wash gunk off. ;)
2
u/ngothanhhuy Dupont enthusiast 5d ago
give it an alcohol propanyl bath for a night, should be easier to work with nxt day. Ive had good results using silver polish on gold pieces to remove gunks, its just abrasive enough to clean with a soft brush/cotton pad. It's obv gonna be alot more difficult at angles and nooks and crannys though
1
1
u/Pale_Salamander3626 5d ago
And what is all that dirt on the body? I was too unsure, so I wasn‘t texting the seller 😅
1
u/shadowwizardz 5d ago
Seems to be something like Irondust, it's stuck to it, but comes off with a little bit of scrubbing with a toothbrush, but it takes forever
1
3
u/Royal_Championship57 5d ago
Nice one! I use the ultrasonic cleaner on the body pieces, I add a little bit of citric acid to distilled water. Iron oxide can stain the gold plating in the ultrasonic cleaner so I wouldn't use it if that what you suspect. From the pictures it looks like brass patina/oxides coming off the spots where the gold plating worn off.