[Drake] Cleaning Equipment

[Thomas Beltran]

> There is a considerable difference
> in color bwteen the front of the receiver and the transmitter. Also the
> FS-4 shows considerable smode residue on it. What would the best cleaner
> be? I have used 'Fantastik' with good results on other equipment but how
> would that affect the plastic on the front of the FS-4.


I took the front panels off my Drakes, and cleaned them with windex, but
they did not seem that clean.  I then rubbed them out with a very very fine
rubbing compound, and then waxed them - came out like new.  I did the same
treatment with a PM2B I bought off ebay - it also came out like new.  Don't
use the white rubbing compound sold in auto stores, which is much to
aggressive.  Instead, use the green or light brown, very fine compound sold
in auto paint shops.  There is also a line of sandpaper-like material called
Micro-mesh, that is a rubber back abrasive, sold in various grades, going up
to 12,000 grit.  This product is used in the airline industry to clean and
polish plastic windows - it works great in taking out scratches or other
corrosion.

On my MS-4, I use Windex, but it is like new.

>
> I think it might be a good move to clean all the wafer switches in the RX
> and FS-4 as it has been used in a smoky environment and has been stored
for
> some years without being used at all. Any suggestions would be
appreciated.
>
>
I use de-oxit, but unlike other people, I have never experienced the
swelling of wafers.  But still, you might want to keep that in mind and
apply sparingly.  Tom W6EIJ