I've had a light with an aluminium base sitting on a loudspeaker with a
waxed beech box. Having just moved it I've discovered the aluminium has
stained the speaker box. It's not just dirt as I've tried cleaning it.
What can I do to remove the stain?

--
Si

Si wrote:

I've had a light with an aluminium base sitting on a loudspeaker with a
waxed beech box. Having just moved it I've discovered the aluminium has
stained the speaker box. It's not just dirt as I've tried cleaning it.
What can I do to remove the stain?

Not a lot I suspect. strip sand and repolish

In message , The Natural
Philosopher writes
Si wrote:
I've had a light with an aluminium base sitting on a loudspeaker
with a waxed beech box. Having just moved it I've discovered the
aluminium has stained the speaker box. It's not just dirt as I've
tried cleaning it. What can I do to remove the stain?

Not a lot I suspect. strip sand and repolish

Ok, ta. SS&R would be overkill so I think I'll just cover it up with the
light again. (SWMBO isn't bothered. I was just hoping someone might
know of a solvent I hadn't tried.

--
Si

On 6 Feb, 19:47, Si $3o&m wrote:
I've had a light with an aluminium base sitting on a loudspeaker with a
waxed beech box.

What can I do to remove the stain?

Not much. Aluminium is such a nuisance for this that many
cabinetmakers don't even use it for saw fences and the like,
preferring cast iron. Aluminium-bodied planes were infamous.

If it really is waxed, then you _might_ lighten it by using a wax
solvent (acetone is easiest, cyclohexane better, isopropyl alcohol not
too good) and plenty of clean kitchen paper towels to scrub the wax
off, hopefully lifting the aluminium oxides with it. Then re-wax.

You shouldn't need to re-sand, it only being a surface contamination.
It's a pigment, not a dye, so doesn't soak in. Something like a
plastic Webrax / 3M pad ought to be powerful enough to lift it
mechanically, without creating too much restorative work to the
surface afterwards.