[Elecraft] DeoxIT contact cleaner

[Tom Hammond]

One of the important points Caig Laboratories (the manufacturer) makes in 
their directions is to USE LESS THEN you think you need. This stuff goes a 
LONG way, and a SINGLE DROP is generally MORE THAN YOU NEED.

The $5.95 2 mL tube might last a lifetime at that rate.

They also sell Q-tip-type applicators, which help to limit the amount of 
DeoxIT you take from the bottle and how much apply to the job. I've found 
that using a regular Q-tip with about 90% of the cotton pulled off (to 
leave just a small covering) seems to work pretty well. I've also used a 
toothpick tip as an applicator with excellent results as well. The 
watchword is use SPARINGLY.

Though I've not tried using it specifically, they offer an applicator 
PEN  (7 mL) which appears to have a hard-felt-tipped applicator, which I'd 
think would help the overexuberant user to mete out smaller amounts to such 
applications as we might want to use it for.

NOTE: Caig offers much of the DeoxIT line in both 100% (100D) and 5% (5D) 
dilutions. The 5% solution is supposedly for lightly oxidized contacts, 
while the 100% is mentioned for more heavily 'grunged' contacts. The 5% 
costs less, but might not be as widely available nor as widely usable for 
the various applications we hams might want to make of it. I think I'd 
still invest in the 100% solution (more is better, right?).. <G>

I bought the 25 mL squeeze bottle with needle applicator because I wanted 
the pinpoint application ability. Having now used DeoxIT a couple times 
(with good results by the way) I can see that I'd probably have been able 
to save myself some $$ if I would have bought the 2 mL tube, or the 7 mL pen.

One final note - I'd NOT recommend investing in the spray can version of 
DeoxIT... WAY too much opportunity for wasting this precious (price-wise) 
stuff, when so little of it is really needed.

73,

Tom Hammond   N0SS

At 10:32 PM 6/9/04, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
>I had a similar experience with a 50-year old Speed-X semi-automatic key
>(bug), Bill. It has brass contacts. I was always "burnishing" the contacts 
>every couple of days, especially the dot contacts, or they'd get 
>intermittent. I put some DeOxit on them several months ago and they've 
>worked perfectly ever since! Clearly the stuff leaves a coating that 
>resists a film buildup.
>
>Ron AC7AC
>
>-----Original Message-----
>I have the "Norcal Paddles" and I really enjoy them but seem to have a
>problem with lack of continuity occasionally when the contacts are closed.
>Use some Deoxit D100 on the contacts. ...After using
>Deoxit, the paddles have gone a year without the need for cleaning. The
>small $5
>tube is probably a lifetime supply.
>I'd try the Deoxit before fooling with the silver contacts.
>
>Bill  K3UJ
>
>
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