[Elecraft] Brush or Blow Dust?

[NG3V]

Actually, Don,

A breath from your mouth is really good advice.  It would contain a lot of
water vapor which will help remove the electrostatic charge on the plastic -
at least in the short run.  The canned air and the nylon brush will both
likely exacerbate it.

Tom

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 11:48 AM
To: Dan Nixon
Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Brush or Blow Dust?

Dan,

The original question has already 'morphed' to one of general use of air 
or products for cleaning circuit boards.

Let us think about one of the reasons for that statement in the manual.  
The VFO A encoder has a plastic plate under it.  We all know that 
plastic can often build a static charge which will attract dust and 
other small particles.  If the area under where the plastic will be 
mounted has lint or dust, it can show up badly when the plastic is 
attached..  That could include gently wiping the area with a slightly 
dampened lint-free soft cloth, or even using a cloth one would normally 
use to clean eyeglasses.  The use of a dry brush may not work if used on 
the plastic because some type brushes may actually increase the static 
charge and make matters worse (but then, the manual states to clean the 
area *under* where the plastic will mount and does not refer to the 
plastic itself).  Use whatever works and is sufficiently kind so that no 
damage occurs.  A quick 'breath of air' from your mouth may be all that 
is required.

73,
Don W3FPR

Dan Nixon wrote:
> I'm an old ham who has built a lot of kits over the years. I am really
> excited though to become an Elecraft user having just received my K3 kit.
My
> question has to do with instructions to "either brush or blow away any
dust
> or lint from the front panel area around the encoder shaft".
>
>  
>
> I have a good old standby fine bristle brush I use for my radio front
> panels. I also have a fairly new can of the "Cleaning Duster: which states
> that it is for removing dust and dirt from audio, video and other such
> equipment. It contains "Difluoroethane" ???
>
>  
>
> Question is: What would you recommend to use "safely"....Dan,  W4EA
>
>  
>   
>
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