[Elecraft] Boatanchor chassis corosion...

[Steve Banks]

Hi Everyone-

I have a question for the Elecraft experts which is off the usual K1/K2
thread topics.

I'm curious to know if any of you who restore or maintain older rigs, such
as the Heath                        or Swan series of transceivers, have
ever found an effective way to remove the corrosion-
like "crud" that frequently shows up on the tops of metal chassis surfaces
after years of
exposure to damp climates (or other causes).  I've seen this stuff show up
on both steel and aluminum chassis as well as on IF transformer cans and
other components.

I usually see it just on horizontal chassis surfaces; the undersides and
vertical surfaces are usually free of it.  At first glance, it often looks
to be just dirt that would clean up fairly easily, but frequently it takes a
LOT of polishing to make even just a modest dent in it without tearing up
the chassis surface.  I've heard that its source may be cigarette smoke,
but I don't know if that's the case.

In any case if anyone has ever found an effective way to get rid of such
corrosion, I'd
appreciate hearing from you.  I've got lots of time to work on these older
rigs;
however, short of a complete teardown and gutting to etch or replate a
chassis, what
secrets have you all learned from your experiences?

Thanks for your suggestions.

73.

Steve Banks
K0PQ
K2 S/N 1599