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Old 9th Sep 2013, 1:38 pm   #21
jamesperrett
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Default Re: DeoxIT - Overrated?

As I understand it, the standard practice should be to use a lubricant after using De-oxit as De-oxit removes any lubrication that may be present. Caig would probably recommend their Cailube product after De-oxit.

Personally I use Servisol as it supposedly cleans AND lubricates.

James.
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Old 9th Sep 2013, 3:32 pm   #22
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Default Re: DeoxIT - Overrated?

Agreed Bill!
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Old 9th Sep 2013, 4:08 pm   #23
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Default Re: DeoxIT - Overrated?

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Originally Posted by paulsherwin View Post
All contact cleaners only do one thing, which is to remove oxidation and other crud from the contacts. There may be other faults present, particularly weak contact springs and corrosion, and contact cleaner won't help much with this.

Personally I use WD40 as a 'when all else fails' contact cleaner.
I find the only thing contact cleaners do is to loosen the crud and then by the action of moving the pot back and forth deposit the crud elsewhere!

In decent hifi's the only way IMO is to strip the pot and carefully clean the carbon tracks and use a glass pen on the contact track. I previously posted photo results on de-oxit after a small experiment I will dig it back up..
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Old 9th Sep 2013, 4:43 pm   #24
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Default Re: DeoxIT - Overrated?

Here are the results I posted after a quick experiment I did a while ago..

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...0&postcount=28

Tandy use to sell two types of switch cleaner in small cans. One with, and one without lubricant. I thought the one with lubricant gave very good results!
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Old 9th Sep 2013, 4:45 pm   #25
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Default Re: DeoxIT - Overrated?

Very impressive pics. As you say, a manual clean is always best, but sometimes it just can't be done (or risks damaging fragile lugs etc.)

N
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Old 11th Sep 2013, 10:43 pm   #26
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Default Re: DeoxIT - Overrated?

I think De-Oxit, while it may be good, is overpriced.

A while back I was given a Telequipmet V3 plug in. I do not know where it had been stored but every wiper and contact on the range switch were completely black and non conductive. I used this

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/contact-cleaners/0554282/

Some ranges started to work straight away and after a few days all were working properly. I even measured the contact resistance of the various connections. All were back to fractions of an ohm. Very effective and a fraction of the price of De-Oxit.

Al
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Old 12th Sep 2013, 4:53 pm   #27
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Default Re: DeoxIT - Overrated?

Several posters have mentioned WD40. Of course the first thing that will spring to most people's minds is the WD40 that is in every DIY and ironmongery store.
There is another WD40 product called (wait for it) WD40 Switch Cleaner. Have used it several times, don't know a lot about it, but it does seem to work. In my local old style ironmongery store it is about £8.50 for 400ml.
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Old 12th Sep 2013, 5:11 pm   #28
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Default Re: DeoxIT - Overrated?

The RS pen looks like the old ElectroLube one.That stuff was good but dear back in the 60s.
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Old 12th Sep 2013, 5:33 pm   #29
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Default Re: DeoxIT - Overrated?

But it lasted a long time as you could put a tiny drop exactly where you wanted it- not spread everywhere.
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Old 12th Sep 2013, 5:39 pm   #30
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Default Re: DeoxIT - Overrated?

Quote:
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Several posters have mentioned WD40. Of course the first thing that will spring to most people's minds is the WD40 that is in every DIY and ironmongery store.
There is another WD40 product called (wait for it) WD40 Switch Cleaner. Have used it several times, don't know a lot about it, but it does seem to work.

I think the WD40 Switch Cleaner is part of the newish "WD40 Specialist" range of products which does not really seem to have taken off that well in the UK. While the original WD40 is still around as the universal jack-of-all-trades, the Specialist Range includes about 6 different specialist products. Not many places seem to stock the Specialist range, but I note that Screwfix do. I do very much like the Specialist penetrating/releasing fluid, but have yet to try the switch cleaner.

Freon 113: there was a cleaning agent!
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Old 12th Sep 2013, 6:41 pm   #31
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Default Re: DeoxIT - Overrated?

Ordinary WD40 is just white spirit with a bit of mineral oil in it. This is actually quite a good combination for contact cleaning - the white spirit dissolves the dirt which is moved to one side by the contact action, and it then evaporates leaving a thin protective and lubricating film of oil. WD40's bad reputation derives from abuse by the clueless, who spray huge amounts of it everywhere. I last bought a can several years ago and still have lots left.

Poundland sell (small) cans of it.
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Old 12th Sep 2013, 8:58 pm   #32
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Default Re: DeoxIT - Overrated?

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Originally Posted by paulsherwin View Post
Ordinary WD40 is just white spirit with a bit of mineral oil in it. This is actually quite a good combination for contact cleaning - the white spirit dissolves the dirt which is moved to one side by the contact action, and it then evaporates leaving a thin protective and lubricating film of oil.
WD40's exact composition is debatable. I think it is also true to say that the composition has changed over the years (as have so many products) to stay in line with Health and Safety. The current mixture exists as two separate phases in a can which has been at rest on the shelf and becomes an emulsified mixture only when shaken hard. It may be that people who say that it doesn't work well for them either forget to shake it, or don't shake it enough. The popular alternative PlusGas is just a single phase liquid.
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Old 12th Sep 2013, 11:18 pm   #33
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Default Re: DeoxIT - Overrated?

I know a lot of people advise against using WD40 in pots, but it seems to last longer than Deoxit, I find Servisol to be a bit longer lasting too.

I agree that there are people who think nothing of giving things a good soaking, but just a little works well without soaking the whole chassis!
WD40 can dissolve the tracks in a pot if applied too generously, so be warned

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Old 13th Sep 2013, 11:33 am   #34
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Default Re: DeoxIT - Overrated?

It's very difficult to avoid overspray with any aerosol product in many situations. Packing the area around the pot and covering adjacent circuitry and mechanisms with some kitchen paper or similar can help.

Maybe this is the answer to our prayers? http://www.djstore.com/item/cailubemcl.htm

Confusingly, Caig have re-named almost all their lubricants "DeoxIT", even things like precision oil for clocks.

N.

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Old 14th Sep 2013, 7:32 am   #35
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Default Re: DeoxIT - Overrated?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nickthedentist View Post
Maybe this is the answer to our prayers? http://www.djstore.com/item/cailubemcl.htm
Maybe it would be if it wasn't discontinued and "no longer available for purchase." As Homer might say "Doh....."
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Old 14th Sep 2013, 8:29 am   #36
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Default Re: DeoxIT - Overrated?

When servicing professionally for well over 40 years I have tried just about every type of switch cleaner. As soon as a new brand came on the market I would give it a try. I have not tried De-oxit but for me the best by far was Philips own brand. It came in a red and white aerosol and sported a rather odd distinctive, not unpleasant smell, rather like a cross between Ether and burnt caramel. It was very long term and proved completely satisfactory. I think my stock is exhausted and probably not replaceable. J.
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Old 14th Sep 2013, 8:31 am   #37
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Default Re: DeoxIT - Overrated?

WD40 is much cheaper if you buy a litre at a time. I have used it occasionally as a switch cleaner applied in small quantities with a small brush.
When I was on field service, fizzing final anode caps on TVs in damp houses could be sorted with a WD40 cloth on the inside of the cap and surrounding CRT glass.

One of the best switch cleaners I came across was one that's been discontinued years ago - Murphy Switch Cleaner. Was in a metal can with an aluminium spout in the lid and smelt like WD40.

As for pots, as others say, the only real cure is to strip them, clean the track and silver wiper contact ring. If you're doing that you might as well grease the spindle so you end up with a pot that feels like new and doesn't crackle.
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Old 14th Sep 2013, 9:03 am   #38
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Default Re: DeoxIT - Overrated?

I use "lubec" made by Crown Johnson. THe company is long gone & I suspect that this stuff would have been banned anyway thanks to current legislation but it was cheap ( last case off ebay) and is really effective on all contacts.

I use it to clean & lubricate switches as well as cleaning contacts and
4mm sockets. I get a few instruments through my workshop that fail calibration due to high resistance contacts & this has never failed to solve the problem. No idea what I will use when I finish off the case..........

The efficiency has been proved when the instrument is resubmitted for calibration and passes.

Phil
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Old 14th Sep 2013, 4:01 pm   #39
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Default Re: DeoxIT - Overrated?

It's a wonder our fingers are still attached to our hands...J.
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Old 14th Sep 2013, 5:23 pm   #40
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Default Re: DeoxIT - Overrated?

Please keep on topic, H&S is abused at one's own risk and has been done to death already.
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