[HBR] Oxidized socket terminals

[Bill Higgs]

Got a question perhaps someone on the list can help with...

I have in the past purchased "new old stock" tube sockets from several suppliers. While the sockets were as advertised, the terminals  were rather dull (oxidation?) and would not take solder. So far, the solution has been to file the sockets down to the unplated metal (beryllium copper?), but this is not the most satisfactory idea - it is tedious with the XYL's nail file and does not clean the inside of the terminal hole, causing the solder to bead up and resulting in a joint I'm not happy with.

Anybody got any ideas on this? Perhaps someone has tried the stuff "as seen on TV"? I'm at the point where I'd rather try to desolder and salvage old used sockets instead of using the new ones.

Bill Higgs, NT4C