[AMRadio] Best product for noisy potentiometers?

[james.liles at comcast.net]

Hi Don:

I use them as well.  You can go to any pharmacy and acquire them for next to 
nothing.  I pay .25 cents each for any length or diameter.  I believe they 
are subsidized by none other.

Work great for Deoxit or the thick needles to disburse copper butter 
(Penetrox).  I use copper butter between aluminum chassis components to 
prevent chassis loops.  Solves a myriad of intermittent and squirrely 
behavior.

Kindest regards Jim K9AXN

-----Original Message----- 
From: Donald Chester
Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 12:39 PM
To: amradio at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [AMRadio] Best product for noisy potentiometers?

Something I have found very useful for injecting lubricant or contact
cleaner inside hard-to-reach places like the interior of a potentiometer, or
a single tab on a small rotary switch, is a medical needle/syringe assembly.
My wife is a nurse, and she used to be able to bring home as many (unused!!)
ones as I wanted.  But then the place where she worked decided to start
treating them almost like a controlled substance, and she would have got in
trouble for taking one out of the  building.  I think they can be ordered
on-line but I found a readily available local source, for a syringe and
package of 5 needles, all for about $3 at the local farmer's supply,  in the
animal care section. The ones sold for veterinary use  are identical to
human ones at probably a  tiny fraction of the price, and come in different
sizes.  They smallest size is 22 gauge, and the largest, 16 gauge, close to
corresponding wire gauge sizes.

The smallest size is ideal for stuff like WD-40 and de-oxit, because you can
inject a tiny drop just where you want it to go.  I have even used the
larger size for epoxy. I have a can of epoxy thinner and this works best
when it is thinned down to a fairly runny liquid, although I have succeeded
with the stuff at honey consistency. I think they make even larger  sizes,
but the local store only carries up to #16.

Depending on the job, the needle sometimes works best if you file off the
bevel tip, but you will probably need a small object that will go inside the
needle tube to de-burr it, since the burr will inevitably stop up the tube
at the end where you filed it.  Of course, when using it for epoxy, the
needle and syringe become a one-use item.  Also, be careful with certain
solvents.  I one had a plastic syringe to dissolve right in my hand while I
was attempting to use it.

Don k4kyv

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