[Elecraft] Deoxit and or ProGold Usage

[John-Nu at att.net]

I'm not speaking for Elecraft,  but I've had a little experience with
contact lubricants. Like most other things in engineering,  there are tradeoffs
involved.  The manufacturer will tell you that they are a must,  but for  
properly designed contact interfaces, as in Elecraft equipment,  they shouldn't 
be required.  
They can help in situations such as tin to tin contacts with insufficient
normal force applied by the contact.  100 Grams is considered minimum for 
most tin/tin interfaces.   Tin/Gold interfaces may also be an appropriate application
for lube.  They are also used to increase the number of insertion/ withdrawal cycles
on a connector.  This was our application.
 
On the flip side. 
Lubricants may actually accelerate corrosion, since they can give mobility to ions.   
If there vibration present, a contact may move microsopically causing
it to "hydroplane" and cause brief loss of contact.  (Mostly related to card edge,
I believe..)

Before I considered using it,  I would want to do some serious testing. 

John
KB1NO
K2 #157