Hi everyone,

Surfing around the forum looking for info on the BM3500 glass panel, I found a post (http://forum.beoworld.org/forums/p/11846/88033.aspx#88033) in which two members shared their experiences/method of removing the grey paint on the lids of the machines of this era, revealing nothing less than the polished lid used on the expensive BM4500 and its likes.

Wow! I bought my BM3500 thinking it would be brushed aluminium like the rest of the BM1900 family, and was dissapointed when I got it only to see it was painted in flat dark grey (looked kinda dull to me, now why would B&O, makers of the most beautiful brushed aluminium, have done that?)

I love the shinyness of BM4500, but being a student it is way out of my wallets league. This makes the paint stripping a serious option, so I'd like to ask:

Who has experience with this? Good experiences, or bad experiences? Or is it, in your opinion, a completely bad idea?

Any comments are most welcome! (And, maybe a picture of the shiny result of your paint stripping enterprises?)

CJ

Never put a BM4500 out of reach just because you're in school, as I myself am a student as well and my beomaster 4500 was given to me by a neighbor!

Best of luck in getting a BM4500 for yourself.

Evan

Given!? Wow, that is quite a spot of luck! Unfortunately, I don't think it's very often that people give BM4500's away Keeping my fingers crossed though, I know it is possible now

Hi CJ

I also saw this post with the removing of the grey paint but never tried it. I changed the 3500 lids to the polished 4500 lids. To do this i had to collect quite a lot of pieces (BG4500,BG3500,BG3500CD,BG4500CD,BC3500,BC4500,BM3500,2xBM4500). But as all the parts had some problems, they where not very high priced.

Why not give it a try? Worst case is you have to repaint it grey (or in a nicer color). I can't do the experiment because my wife is not shure whether she likes the grey panels better than the polished ones...

I made good experiences concerning the reglueing of the glass-panels (reglued all the 3 glass-panels of the bm3500/bm4500). The first experience with a plastic-glue wasn't successful. So i glued all the 3 panels with a two-sided thin tape from 3M. I removed the old tape just with water and my fingers. All other instruments i tried (also credit-card) removed the black layer, which is not very nice looking and can destroy the function of the switches.

Best Regards

David 

I quite like the grey of my Bm3500, I think its better than the mirror effect of the Bm4500 which damages so easily. Also I would think that a Bm3500 with the original panel intact would be worth more than an altered one? I think it would be very difficult to get a good finish by stripping the paint off. Sounds rather risky.

So beowild, where did you get your 4500 panels? Because I could sure use them.

And did you end up repainting your glass panels? If so, with what? Because I have a few blemishes I would certainly like to fix.

Thanks -E

Hi evman140

Got the panels on ebay or on ricardo (more used in switzerland). Took me about a year to find the four pairs (one part from the 3500 system working but bad optical shape and one part from the 4500 system with good optical shape but not working).

Good luck

David

Premiumverum:

revealing nothing less than the polished lid used on the expensive BM4500 and its likes.

I have read your linked thread. I believe that the "polished" panels of the 4500 and similar, are not exactly what lies under the 3500's painted lids. If I am not mistaken, the "polished" lids were polished and then clear anodized. I can't see B&o going thru the anodizing procedure to then just cover it over with paint. My guess is that the lids are identical, but simply went thru a different finish process. The closest you likely would come would be to clearcoat the newly revealed surface, or leave it alone and keep it polished. This is something you can't do with the original 4500, and may be to your advantage! Of course, if things go bad, you could always respray the panels. My only advice (and mentioned previously) is to be very careful with the use of any stripping agents near any plastic surfaces! Take your time.

burantek:

I can't see B&o going thru the anodizing procedure to then just cover it over with paint.

Well I guess you are right there, I thought it was just polished stainless steel (never knew you could anodize other things then aluminium!)

Being incredibly impatient to fiddle with B&O things (my second big hobby) I have already tried the stripping, and wow, it works! Underneath is a very nice shiny and spotless mirror-like surface. I have never seen an actual BM4500 but it looks like what I see on pictures everywhere!

Burantek, you suggest I should clearcoat the new surface, this means apply a clear colorless layer of laquer, right? Seems a good idea, scratches would scratch in the laquer, not the metal, and laquer is of course renewable (as I have just proven, I guess) Do you have any advice on what kind of/brand of lacquer I should use?

burantek:

be very careful with the use of any stripping agents near any plastic surfaces! Take your time.

You bet, I saw that in the linked thread, so I'm very careful! Thanks for the advice!

Premiumverum:

I thought it was just polished stainless steel (never knew you could anodize other things then aluminium!)

The panels are aluminum

You can anodize other materials, but it is not as prevalent for lots of reasons -B&o also powdercoats. The question now is: was it anodized, pcoated, or something else? I have never tried to remove the coating on any of my "polished" or "mirrored" pieces... Anyone know?

Premiumverum:

you suggest I should clearcoat the new surface, this means apply a clear colorless layer of laquer

Only if you want, and now, be EXTREMELY careful: Laquer any where near plastic is not a good idea!!!

Frankly, I think I would just leave it alone.

Stripping is complete, results are beautiful!

It's a great match with my white S45-2 speakers on their stands.

Oooooh, I think I'm in love!

Premiumverum:

Stripping is complete, results are beautiful!

Can you guess what we would like you to do next?

Haha If only I had a camera, I'd have already taken a pic.

I'll ask a good B&O-minded friend of mine take his along, when he comes over to take a look at my new BM.

Sorry for bumping this back up, another post here reminded me I promised to post a picture of the result for this so here it goes, for future reference!

Wow - this looks really good, what type of paint stripper did you use?

I have a Beogram TX turntable (american model) with what looks like the same type of grey paint as the BM3500 - does anyone know if stripping back that panel would result in it looking more like BG6000 range, which I think looks much better with the stainless steel top, but i like the grey side and front panels on the TX.