Cleaning the wafer switches, etc. Best methods .

[Randy Kaeding]

WARNING

Be very careful when you use spray cleaners. Some of them will eat plastic
like it's dessert.

Randy, K8TMK
"one of the Hams (still) at Heathkit"


-----Original Message-----
From: Heathkit Owners and Collectors List
[mailto:HEATH at LISTSERV.TEMPE.GOV]On Behalf Of jcrens at earthlink.net
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 10:26 AM
To: HEATH at LISTSERV.TEMPE.GOV
Subject: Re: [HEATH-TEMPE] Cleaning the wafer switches, etc. Best
methods.


Back in the good old days of mechanical TV tuners, the common cleaning
method was to use something called StaticClean, or some such.  It did a
very nice job.  Of course, it probably had flourides and carbon tet and all
manner of other pollutants, so it's long since disappeared from the market.

However, Radio Shack still sells some stuff that's the functional
equivalent. I have no idea what's in it, but I've used it to clean up both
wafer switches and pots. It works very nicely -- almost as well as the old
stuff.

Jack

Original Message:
-----------------
From: Robert Myers rsmyers at ROGERS.COM
Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2005 00:44:45 -0400
To: HEATH at LISTSERV.TEMPE.GOV
Subject: [HEATH-TEMPE] Cleaning the wafer switches, etc.  Best methods.


I have an SB-401, and an SB-303.  Both need an especially good cleaning of
the wafer switch contacts  --- but anything with sliding, or push-in
contacts needs cleaning too.  In fact, circuit board connectors ---
anything.  The SB-401's Potter-Brumfield multiple relay contacts also need
the same.

CAIG Labs sells a spray called "DeoxIT" (5% concentration) --- in fact they
have an extensive line of cleaners/ deoxidizers/ lubricants for carbon
pots, and have always been very big with the professional audio folks. 
CAIG Labs also have 100 % concentration solution of DeoxIT available with
special syringes, or brushes, for direct application to the problem area.

Which would be best to use for cleaning the oxides off my SB-401/303 wafer
switches?  I will be able to access each switch precisely, so I won't have
to spray into a 'general area' just trying to hit the problem switch wafer
as close as possible (like you have to do in some cases).

Does anyone know why I should NOT use the DeoxIT 100% concentration
solution directly applied to the wafer switch metal, as opposed to the
DeoxIT 5% concentration solution sprayed *at* these things to clean them? 
If it is a matter of displacing the oxides after breaking them up, I could
always use the spray DeoxIT AFTER letting the 100 % direct concentration
DeoxIT do its more powerful job first for a while.  Any ideas from people
who do this sort of thing a lot?

Finally, does anyone have any of their favorite methods, or brands that
they have found for cleaning up Heathkit rigs (that have been in storage)
so that the wafer switches are as like new as possible.  And what about the
SB-401 relay?  Any special tricks there?

Thanks!
73 Rob VE3 JQL

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