I know this is an old video but I just had my 1960s Okeefe and Merritt restored and this stove has a lot of chrome that I want to keep polished. I really want to make sure that my griddle in the middle does not rust or wear out for years. Your video is so very helpful to me and I thank you kindly for posting it.
I am glad. I have an O'Keefe and Merritt as well. It was my only stove from 1994 until 2004. It is in storage, all original, never restored. My son is looking for an Aristocrat! He has great taste as well. You should post a picture of your stove somewhere, I would love to see it.
@@ToyKingWonder Thanks for replying to me. I literally just got the restored stove returned to me yesterday and I will try to find a way to post a photo. I am not on social media but stay tuned! And good luck to your son in his stove search. He might want to try Antique Stove Heaven in LA. They did a wonderful job on my restoration and they have several vintage brands for sale.
@@glw5166 They are great! Now hold onto your hat. My son MAY have found an Aristocrat. Major excitement here. At the same time, I may have found a 1965 GE Americana which I have been looking for. I will keep you posted.
Out here in Los Angeles I use a place called Astro Chrome to get my collector sports car parts re-chromed when cleaning will not work. It's a pain to take the parts off but when finished it looks like brand new. I bet they do stove parts too.
I'm going to clean up my vintage O'Keefe & Merritt today. I just touched up the chipped enamel last night and it looks great. Thanks for the tips! I already have chrome cleaner at home and am excited to make it look ALMOST as nice as your stove. :::::running off to scrub:::::
Thanks for the tips. Not much on YT about cleaning up these beautiful pieces of history. Any pointers about removing scratches in these finishes? (simple green 50/50 is my current go to)
I hadn't thought about using that on my burner pans. I'll have to try that! I got a old Tappan Deluxe for $75 delivered and it's in pretty good shape but it needed quite a bit of cleaning on the inside and such.. And I bet the polish will really make that chrome shine! =)
I would start on one and see how it works, try a small area. Now are you talking about the actual burner part or what I am working on, the drip part? ON mine the burner is sort of a brushed stainless. so not wanting to mess that up I use a plastic brush and a lot of patience!
You say here "you always have the option to have a piece re-chromed." Have you ever had that done? If so, where did you send the piece? Thanks for any help you could provide!
That one wasn't too bad. If it is more burnt on I use and oven cleaner on it first and then Bar Keepers Friend ( metal polish for chrome, steel, brass, nickel and other hard metals.) The powder is easier to work with and you use it with water and small pieces can be rinsed in the sink.
+Jennifer Gutierrez Jennifer, I have an original, unrestored O'Keefe & Merritt with the center griddle. On mine, the chrome area is not really chrome but kind of a brushed finish. I don't know if that is due to wear, and I have seen ones where they are chromed when restored. The griddle area gets super hot, so it may just naturally wear off. But to answer your question, you can certainly try....start with a corner and see what kind of result you get. I have a really wonderful Sears tabletop oven from the 1950s that I do roasts in, and it gets dingy. It is all chrome and gets very hot, and cleans up wonderfully with the same techniques here. Just don't do the painted surfaces with this kind of cleaner.
Another technique I recently discovered was using my fireplace ash to clean the baked grease off the chrome without scratching, same technique I learned on how to clean the fireplace glass. I didn’t have all the brushes and cleaners you show here, so I tried the ash..and it worked. I use it on my 1958 Wedgwood stove chrome top like this th-cam.com/video/R01yPBdJK5A/w-d-xo.html
Lazy people use liquids not knowing the levels of acidity nor the long term effects on finishes. If you take a look at the finishes I do, the items are like brand new, there is no "doing it better" and when restoring or renovating something, cheap shortcuts are rarely a good idea.
I know this is an old video but I just had my 1960s Okeefe and Merritt restored and this stove has a lot of chrome that I want to keep polished. I really want to make sure that my griddle in the middle does not rust or wear out for years. Your video is so very helpful to me and I thank you kindly for posting it.
I am glad. I have an O'Keefe and Merritt as well. It was my only stove from 1994 until 2004. It is in storage, all original, never restored. My son is looking for an Aristocrat! He has great taste as well. You should post a picture of your stove somewhere, I would love to see it.
@@ToyKingWonder Thanks for replying to me. I literally just got the restored stove returned to me yesterday and I will try to find a way to post a photo. I am not on social media but stay tuned! And good luck to your son in his stove search. He might want to try Antique Stove Heaven in LA. They did a wonderful job on my restoration and they have several vintage brands for sale.
@@glw5166 They are great! Now hold onto your hat. My son MAY have found an Aristocrat. Major excitement here. At the same time, I may have found a 1965 GE Americana which I have been looking for. I will keep you posted.
@@ToyKingWonder Wow! That's great news and thanks for the uipdate! I hope you both land those stoves. You must keep me posted!
Thank you i work like a dog. So your advice really helps make my life easier. God bless.
Thank you for a great tip…..I have my moms (rip) O’keefe and Merritt from the 50’s….off to clean I go…..thank you ,,,,,thank you
Out here in Los Angeles I use a place called Astro Chrome to get my collector sports car parts re-chromed when cleaning will not work. It's a pain to take the parts off but when finished it looks like brand new. I bet they do stove parts too.
I'm going to clean up my vintage O'Keefe & Merritt today. I just touched up the chipped enamel last night and it looks great. Thanks for the tips! I already have chrome cleaner at home and am excited to make it look ALMOST as nice as your stove.
:::::running off to scrub:::::
Nice, I have an original one that is in fair condition in my back house. I cooked on that awesome machine for 10 years!
Thanks for the tips. Not much on YT about cleaning up these beautiful pieces of history. Any pointers about removing scratches in these finishes? (simple green 50/50 is my current go to)
Follow up note. I am having good luck so far. Thank You. I would have put a picture up, but it wont let me.
I hadn't thought about using that on my burner pans. I'll have to try that! I got a old Tappan Deluxe for $75 delivered and it's in pretty good shape but it needed quite a bit of cleaning on the inside and such.. And I bet the polish will really make that chrome shine! =)
I need to restore the chrome on my gas burner for my stove. Is it safe to use there (and will it stand up for the heat)? Thanks for the video
I would start on one and see how it works, try a small area. Now are you talking about the actual burner part or what I am working on, the drip part? ON mine the burner is sort of a brushed stainless. so not wanting to mess that up I use a plastic brush and a lot of patience!
The actual burner part, but not the part where the flames come out literally, the round part above
You say here "you always have the option to have a piece re-chromed." Have you ever had that done? If so, where did you send the piece? Thanks for any help you could provide!
That one wasn't too bad. If it is more burnt on I use and oven cleaner on it first and then Bar Keepers Friend ( metal polish for chrome, steel, brass, nickel and other hard metals.) The powder is easier to work with and you use it with water and small pieces can be rinsed in the sink.
Would you recommend this for the griddle area too?
+Jennifer Gutierrez Jennifer, I have an original, unrestored O'Keefe & Merritt with the center griddle. On mine, the chrome area is not really chrome but kind of a brushed finish. I don't know if that is due to wear, and I have seen ones where they are chromed when restored. The griddle area gets super hot, so it may just naturally wear off. But to answer your question, you can certainly try....start with a corner and see what kind of result you get. I have a really wonderful Sears tabletop oven from the 1950s that I do roasts in, and it gets dingy. It is all chrome and gets very hot, and cleans up wonderfully with the same techniques here. Just don't do the painted surfaces with this kind of cleaner.
Quikie! Maybe tomorrow! Lol
Very good info and nicley done!
Thanks Jeff!
Another technique I recently discovered was using my fireplace ash to clean the baked grease off the chrome without scratching, same technique I learned on how to clean the fireplace glass. I didn’t have all the brushes and cleaners you show here, so I tried the ash..and it worked. I use it on my 1958 Wedgwood stove chrome top like this th-cam.com/video/R01yPBdJK5A/w-d-xo.html
not too shabby
Thank you.
Super Clean liquid will do that better.. Just dilute it 1:5 and it is cheap even
Lazy people use liquids not knowing the levels of acidity nor the long term effects on finishes. If you take a look at the finishes I do, the items are like brand new, there is no "doing it better" and when restoring or renovating something, cheap shortcuts are rarely a good idea.
This makes me so hot...pun intended!
Awesome!!!
Good informative video. Your voice is so soothing and lovely to listen to... until you yelled at us at the end.
That was awful! Just why?
Existential reasons.
Has anyone ever told you that you sound like the narrator from the movie The Sandlot?
No, but as long as I don't sound like Earl Hamner I think I am ahead of the game...
I think you sound a lot like Mike Rowe.
listen seriously you sound like him facebook.com/TheRealMikeRowe/videos/vl.1135523079895118/1772907646052704/?type=1
@@DebraOT2Go Mike Rowe is a cool guy, so if I sound like him, I have no issue with that!
Cool thanks!
Thank you.
You are welcome, best of luck on your restorations.