Marquee Cleaning

[mlynn]

Things are going well with my Outrun restoration. I'll update my web page with pictures when it is finished. It brings me to the question of cleaning the marquee. I opened the top, removed the fluorescent lamp (Sylvania, cool, 40cm - replacing it with an LED) and the glass. The marquee seems to be printed on some sort of vinyl.

The thing is the first 1/4 inch is clean but the rest is discoloured but the back is clean. I don't know if this is dirt, or something to diffuse the light. Seems like a silly question but I don't want to use any harsh chemicals that could do further damage. I tried to take a photo but it doesn't show the dirt. I guess hot soapy water with Fairy liquid would be OK but I don't know if I should use something stronger like Mr Muscle Window Cleaner. Any ideas?

 

[UnclearHermit]

Hi. Have you found a suitable LED replacement? I've done this in the past but I'm looking at the moment and not finding much suitable. I could go with LED light strips but then I'd still need some kind of diffuser, so a simple LED tube was always ideal. Thanks.

 

[mlynn]

Hi, I used one of these:

KNIGHTSBRIDGE LED LINKABLE UNDER CABINET STRIPLIGHTS WARM COOL WHITE 3000K 4000K | eBay

Below is a list of specifications to suit all of these LED Linkable Cabinet Lights;. Colours: Warm White/Cool White. Bulb/Lamp Type; LED Fitting. Average Life: 20,000 hours. Width: 28 mm.

www.ebay.co.uk

This is a Knightsbridge LED Linkable Under Cabinet Striplight. This seller has a 7W/395mm version but tlc-direct.co.uk doesn't have that size. I got the Cool White version. The supplied C7 power cable is 2 metres long but probably a 3 metre long cable would be better for a full size cab.

 

[UnclearHermit]

Thanks, my eBay search wasn't finding that one. That's pretty similar to what I've used previously. Cheers.

 

[mlynn]

I've added notes about how I replaced my marquee light with an LED:

Outrun Restoration

The glass is nice and clean but I couldn't remove the slight discolouration.
I read that Chris used cleaning wipes. I tried that but it didn't work for me.
I wonder if they were treated with bromide as a fire retardant like they did with ABS plastic in those days?

 

[Bods]

I thought Outrun Marquee was printed onto glass or acrylic? or was it just my Unidesa one that is

You can't clean them up that I've found anyway, sometimes it can be just a layer of grime on back but usually it has discoloured permanent from the tube heat

 

[mlynn]

Hi Bods, Yes It's printed on to acrylic. You could be right about tube heat.
There was grime on the inside surface of the glass but that cleaned up nicely with Mr Muscle Glass Cleaner.

 

[Bods]

Thought you meant it was thin vinyl like Electrocoin marquees

Even with plastics that discolour it seems to be the heat and not sunlight like many thought previously, so you get some marquees in better condition than others, which is probably because they didn't bother replacing tube when it stopped working so hasn't been exposed to the heat like others

My flippin bath has gone yellow from the heat of water, what clowns make a bath like that