[AMRadio] noisy potentiometers

[rbethman]

This is always an interesting topic.

First - If it is a wiper type, cleaning is up in the air.  I've still 
got the Deoxit pen.  It will clean contacts but as everyone knows - USE 
IT SPARINGLY!  Best bet is to replace them - unless they can be 
reasonably cleaned.  Time is all that you are out.  At $10 a pop or 
more, I find that I have enough time and patience to clean them.

Second - for a lot of gold contacts, I have had absolute success with 
the squeeze bottle of DeOxit 100 fluid.  Have resurrected ALL slide 
switches in a TEK 5440 mainframe and plugins.

Third - There are a bunch of Hallicrafters pots that are NOT the 
rotating wiper type.  These are ones with a cabon resistance ring, and 
have an arrangement where there is an arm that presses a flexible strip 
against the outer carbon ring.  These are easily cleaned and brought 
back to life.

Everybody rolls their own.  I'd personally spend the time cleaning if 
reasonable, and going through the junque boxes for replacements that 
I've collected.

My $0.02 worth

Bob - N0DGN