BossAreaForum

I have purchased a PH-1 lately. This one has a smell that I don't like too much. My vintage BF-2 has an even more intensive stench, just like the two other MIJ BF-2's that I have had in the past. I think it's really awful.

I tried using soda to reduce it (I put the BF-2 with lots of soda in a paper bag for several weeks), but that didn't have a noticeable effect.

Do you know any tricks? My nose thanks in advance!

My approach is to completely dismantle the pedal then scrub the metal housing and plastic parts with an old toothbrush in soapy water:
- Main body
- Treadle
- Knobs
- Baseplate
- Plastic shield

And replace the glide bushing.

That usually does the trick.

Well, it does not in the case of the BF-2. I've already tried that. If you have an old BF-2, just take a smell at it. It has a distinctive odour.

Is it the circuit board perhaps?
I can't imagine a metal enclosure smelling...

You could leave it outside for a while, preferably without the bottom, but make sure to put it inside again when it rains

Unless you're going for the "bottom of the ocean" look like somebody's CE-3 here many years ago. Remember that?

It is the metal enclosure, I'm very sure. The circuit board itself does smell a bit as well, but mainly it's the enclosure. I have clened them very thoroughly already, but the smell remains.

I wonder if naphtha would help? Assuming it's safe for Boss pedal finishes?

I wouldn't touch the bottom sticker label with the stuff though!

Naphtha doesn't sound too safe for me. I don't really want to use petroleum-based stuff.

I used vinegar-based cleaner to scrub the enclosures. Normally that helps to reduce bad odours to a certain extent. I mainly used it on the outer side, but these still have a distinct stench.

fernieite wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 11, 2023 5:38 pm

I wonder if naphtha would help? Assuming it's safe for Boss pedal finishes?

I can verify that naptha is fine on Boss finishes. It is my go to for removing stubborn stickers off of the cases and/or sticker/tape residue that Goo Gone can't solve. It evaporates pretty quickly as well, but isn't great for your health to use extensively.

The second try with sodium carbonate was more successful! This time I have put the PH-1 and BF-2 (each wrapped in a sheet of a newspaper) in a box with two big bags of soda (natron) and I completely closed the box with packing tape to ensure that it was airproof.

After several weeks I opened the box. The pedals were a bit covered by the fine soda - annoyingly the newspaper sheets did only prevent them from being completely coated by it - so I had to give the pedals a second proper cleaning.

I would say that the smell has been reduced by 75% or more. I can live with that. It's not perfect, but way better than before.

I've had some pedals that had a very bad cigarette smells to them. I've used glass cleaner and a scrub brush sucessfully everytime. And it good just for a general cleaning too.