deskthority

I've got this AT-101 here and it's rusted to oblivion. I've managed to scrape off all the bad spots with a flat screw driver but it's still badly pitted. What are some of the better ways to clean these plates without desoldering all the switches?

That's like trying to paint a car without removing the windows and trim. Do yourself a favor and unsolder the switches so you can properly clean and paint the plate.