[ARC5] Contact cleaner query

[Richard Knoppow]

    The problem is that the active ingredient in Deoxit is proprietary.  
While there are some who think they know what it is its all guesswork.  
The stuff does work and I have proven to my personal satisfaction that 
it does not affect the insulating properties of switch decks.  You can 
reduce the amount you use by getting the liquid form and applying it 
with something like a wooden toothpick or even a bit of wire. That also 
keeps it from going all over the place.
    I've seen many "house brands" of cleaners at various supply stores 
like Fry's and Radio Shack, they very well be as good. There is also a 
brand made by CRC which has a good reputation. FWIW, Caig recommends 
using Deoxit Gold after cleaning with Deoxit D-5 to provide long term 
protection even where the contacts are not gold plated.  I've tried this 
and it seems to work but so does a very small amount of petroleum jelly 
(Vaseline).

On 12/15/2015 11:37 AM, DSP3 wrote:
>
> This post is crossed with others, but.......
>
> Gentlemen,
>
> I use De-Oxit D5 as my standard contact cleaner.  Its getting rather 
> expensive, of late, and I looked around for a suitable substitute.  
> Also, I wonder if De-Oxit is part of the audiophile and 
> curator/purist's conspiracy for pricing?  Not being either a chemist 
> or metallurgist, and only a smattering of corrosion control 
> engineering, I ask anyone here if the over-the-counter industrial 
> contact and switch cleaner Ideal #40-610 product might be an 
> acceptable substitute product?  I got two BIG spray cans w/ nozzle 
> (like De-Oxit) from an electrical supply house for $7 each.   Lowe's 
> has it, too.  Most older MIL gear doesn't have exotic plastics, etc. 
> so maybe OK for older stuff, at least?
>
> Alphatic hydrocarbon-based solvent.
>
> Contains alphatic petroleum solvent 64742-89-7, isopropol alchohol 
> 67-63-0 1,1 diflouroethane propellant 75-37-6.
>
> certified for circuit breakers, electronic relays, switches, 
> terminals, sensors, printed circuit boards, motor controls.
>
> Hmmmm,   De-Oxit D5 has same alphatic hydrocarbon but spec # is 
> 8052-41-3, also exact same diflouroethane propellant.
>
> Looks like the difference is the presence of isoprop alcohol in the 
> Ideal product.
>
> Jeep - K3HVG
>
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-- 
Richard Knoppow
1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
WB6KBL