[Milsurplus] contact cleaners

Todd Bigelow - PS [email protected]
Thu, 02 Oct 2003 10:43:43 -0400


aGEnuine Ham wrote:
<snip>

>Another note.  This is likely unnecessary, but after cleaning contacts 
>with Deoxit, I usually bathe them in lots of alcohol or Freon to wash all
>the corrosion and cleaner residue away before applying the enhancer.  I
>would be more concerned about residue from the contaminants being
>conductive than the enhancer.
>

One thing I would add (from my experience as well as that of others) is 
to use DeOxit *sparingly* , especially around phenolic wafer switches as 
they can swell from absorbing the stuff, and then cease to work or be 
difficult to move. Had this happen on an old SX-28A, others have related 
the same thing over the years. If you can get access to the contacts, 
it's better to use a swab or small pen-type applicator (Caig sells these 
as well) to be sure you only get the contact itself. This actually gives 
you a better end result. If you do end up with a swelled switch, the 
tips George mentions will also work well for removing the excess 
material from the wafer.

IIRC correctly too, Caig didn't recommend using D5 on pots, but instead 
CaiLube which is made for moving controls. D5 was apparently meant more 
for contacts like relays, swtiches, etc. I've used it for both and it 
works great, but if used on a stubborn pot, I follow up afterwards with 
a shot of Cai Lube. Works great.

de Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ