[Boatanchors] Miniature tube socket contact brushes

[Carl]

The type I have here are miniature wire brushes. One doesnt want a 
reamer in a brass welding tip, a couple of passes and the tip size has 
changed.

It they are fine on brass they are fine in a tube socket of essentially 
the same material with a tin plate.

Ive yet to find any Caig product that has a benefit in vintage gear.

For bandswitches I use Tarn-X on a Q-Tip and then wipe down thoroughly 
with solvent and more Q tips. Its worked where De Oxit has repeatedly 
failed to restore the performance.

Carl
KM1H



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "rbethman" <rbethman at comcast.net>
To: <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Cc: "Carl" <km1h at jeremy.mv.com>; "Bill Cotter" <n4lg at qx.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2009 6:31 PM
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Miniature tube socket contact brushes


> The problem with welding tip cleaners that I know of, is that they are 
> essentially reamers that remove metal.  DeOxit products, (Csig) depend 
> upon WHICH of them.  They are NOT even remotely the same.
>
> Burnishing tools are the better tools for cleaning contacts.  They 
> have been in use in the Electrical Industry for decades.  They have 
> flat thin strip ones for relay contacts, and very thin, round ones for 
> pins/sockets.
>
> Bob - N0DGN
>
> Carl wrote:
>> Welding tip cleaners also work well and DeOxit isnt required. Im not 
>> a fan of Caig products for boatanchor work.
>>
>> Carl
>> KM1H
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Bill Cotter" <n4lg at qx.net>
>> To: <collins at listserve.com>; <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
>> Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2009 1:52 PM
>> Subject: [Boatanchors] Miniature tube socket contact brushes
>>
>>
>>
>>> Several years ago I had my Hickok-6000 calibrated by one of the
>>> last of the tube-tester technicians, I have since forgotten his
>>> name. Anyway, he sold a selection of tube socket contact-cleaning
>>> brushes for a lot of dollars, so much so I never purchased any.
>>>
>>> Over the years I've tried a number of methods for cleaning the
>>> contacts with mixed results. Whatever tool I used was in
>>> conjunction with ethyl-alcohol, DeOxit or a Caig product.
>>> Generally, the best device was a series of small pipe cleaners
>>> designed for art work and sold in a local hobby shop.
>>>
>>> This weekend I found the best tool so far and it was right under my
>>> nose in the grocery store. While looking for a stiff floss for my
>>> wife, I found some very tiny, tapered, nylon-bristled interdental
>>> brushes. These are sold in the floss section under the GUM brand,
>>> stock number 3614, in a green blister pack for $2.50 (seven brushes
>>> and holder).
>>>
>>> A drop of DeOxit on the tip of the brush easily cleans the tube
>>> socket contact. And, they can be washed gently and reused.
>>>
>>> 73 Bill N4LG
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>
> -- 
> Bob - NØDGN
>
>