[Fwd: Re: [Boatanchors] Tarnish on APC Var. Caps.]

[Larry Taft]

Leave them alone!!!

The use of things like "Tarn-X" causes more trouble than its worth.
Most of the Removers are a mild acid and any residue left behind will
cause the component to fail.  As a matter of fact Tarn-X acids are close
cousins to urea, so you are pissing in the rig when using the stuff.

I have a couple of Drake TR-4s in the junk pile that have shorted,
arced, ruined bandswitches because of cleaning with Tarn-X.

If the rig is full of nicotine gunk then clean with a mild dishwasher
solution, thoroughly flush with distilled water (pure so there aren't
any mineral deposits left behind) and dry with low heat for a couple of
days to get rid of ALL the moisture.  Dry again for another day to be sure!

73, Larry Taft  K2LT
Professional Engineer
drakerepair.com

Bill Stewart wrote:
> While the discussion is on cleaning copper, let me ask about removing tarnish. 
> I have a number of APC type var. caps. in the front end of a superhet I'm rebuilding. The plates are black with tarnish. Anyone know of a commercial or homebrew solution I could dip them in to remove the tarnish. I can't use a brush or do any rubbing and also I don't want to loose the settings. I also don't want to damage the porcelin/ceramic insulator material. Any suggestions will be appreciated...thanks, Bill K4JYS 
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