Aug 23, 2007 12:58 am They sell contact cleaner at most any electronics store, usually around ten bucks a can (unless it's on sale).
DIRTY POTS
Posted on Aug 22, 2007 11:31 pm
fren hie29
http://www.mpaudiovisual.com
Member Since: Jul 13, 2007
What do you guys use for contact cleaner? I have some dirty pots on my PE-15 (hopefully that's all it is).
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Aug 23, 2007 12:58 am They sell contact cleaner at most any electronics store, usually around ten bucks a can (unless it's on sale).
Aug 23, 2007 05:22 am GET AIR FIRST!!!
i screwed my keyboard up by spraying liquid contact cleaner DEEPER into the guts.....get a can of air and spray that first....then use the contact cleaner....any electronics/computer store will have both. GET BOTH!
Aug 23, 2007 07:41 am Yes, blow it out then clean it. Spray the cleaner in there, turn the pot back and forth a few times, from min to max...rinse and repeat.
Aug 23, 2007 08:02 am Any good brands? I know I messed up some gear before, lots of them leave residue which collect dust and dirt after a while.
I tried the air, but still crackling I'm gonna go get a can of cleaner I just wanted to know if you guys can recommand a good brand.
Aug 23, 2007 08:10 am Can't say much in terms of a brand...but be sure it's metal pots...cheaper brand gear, like Alesis for example, use material that contact cleaner can actually "melt"...or, they used to anyway...
When you get it cleaned out, blow it out again to get rid extra crap...tho it evaporates pretty quickly...
Aug 23, 2007 08:18 am Yes fren hie, that's the rub. It's lubricant that is left behind and yes it collects matter 10x. I haven't bought any in a very long time, so I have no recomendations other than find some electronics supplier other than the the 'marts' e.g. radio shack, getfiddle center, comp-usa, etc. You're looking for a non-lubricating flushing agent. If you're smoking around the equipment try to get the smoke away from it. Tar from smoke is just ugly to try to get out of pots.
Aug 23, 2007 08:29 am that is simple to fix, stop friggin smokin...every control room should be a no smoking zone...
Aug 23, 2007 10:20 am Quote:
cheaper brand gear, like Alesis for example, use material that contact cleaner can actually "melt"...or, they used to anyway...
Gee, thanks for the heads up on that. Is this why the RA-100 comes with dirty pots?
Aug 23, 2007 10:23 am hehehe, no, oh, and that should arrive today or tomorrow...
The amp you got is basically a Samson knock-off. The really bad Alesis stuff in regards to cleaning products was their first mixers and EQ's...they operated on some sort of plasticy ribbon contacts of some sort or something like that (the exacts escape me)...the dirty pot on the RA100 is just laziness...and since I almost never even turn those pots it never affected me...I am actually surprised I even know it was dirty. I set it at about 1/2 power and use the mixer volume to control it from there...
This P.O.S. mixer for example:
I had that model years back...ARGH! it's like all plastic, cheap jacks, pots and faders that you can't clean without destroying it...ARGH!
Aug 23, 2007 10:42 am 10-4. I have a can of contact cleaner under my kitchen sink. I forget what brand it is.
And since no one's mentioned it yet.... NEVER USE WD-40.
Aug 23, 2007 02:34 pm What happened is I bought 2 Rane PE-15 I rarely buy used gear but I got those 2 "dirt" cheap (play on words) so 1 band won't go back after I push the bypass button so I have to wiggle it in and out fast, and I can hear the crackling while doing it, so I assume it's a dirty connector, then on another band the frequency knob crackles when I sweep, so I assumed it's the same thing, I used compressed air and no changes.
Aug 23, 2007 05:15 pm I work for an electric utility company, and we use a cleaner called CO Contact Cleaner by (CRC) listed as electrical grade. States that its safe for most plastics and paper tapes and sensitive electronics. Also no residue, and it evaporates extremely fast. We use it on very low currents, and up to 13,000 volts.
What is the difference between NF Contact Cleaner and CO Contact Cleaner?
Both of these products are Precision Electronic Cleaners. CO Contact Cleaner is a Plastic Safe formula, however it is FLAMMABLE and equipment must be deactivated. NF Contact Cleaner can be aggressive on some plastics, however it is Non Flammable.
Aug 23, 2007 05:41 pm This is the best product on the market for this type of thing. www.deoxit.com/
I have used their stuff for years and years and love it.
And dB is right about that mixer. I owned one for awhile, not sure exactly why either. But it was the crappiest piece of junk on the planet.
Aug 23, 2007 06:10 pm Man, that deoxit sounds like one to try. I'm pulling old equipment (amps, processors etc) out thats been sitting for a few years I think I'll give it a try.
Aug 23, 2007 06:56 pm I bought a can of Nortek cleaner with lube, the guy at the electronic store told me that for switches it's better to use a cleaner with lube do to the friction but ,has to be fast drying, so far so good those EQ's are like brand new now.
Too bad I didn't read about that deoxit stuff, would of been worth it to try it, but so far so good now I feel like spraying all my gear :O
Aug 24, 2007 04:40 am Cleaners with lubricant should not be used on slider type pots and switches such as faders or slide switches or rotary selector switches. The sliders and rotors are essentially open to the world and have almost nothing to seal them from dirt, smoke etc. Lubricant only makes it worse because it collects dust.
Lubricant containing cleaners are useful on rotary pots, push buttons, and rocker type switches as these are usually well sealed from the environment and the lubricant only gets to the mechanical part, not the contacts.
Also, these cleaners come out of the can very cold. This low temp can cause thermal shock to IC chips. Use caution to direct spray away from any chips.
Aug 24, 2007 01:28 pm I could see being a problem using cleaner with lubricant on sliders, the knobs that I applied it to are kind of sticky but turns smoothly like butter in a hot pan.
Aug 24, 2007 09:16 pm Thats why I used the DeOxit stuff. There is no moist residue left over. And they have several different types for different purposes.
Aug 25, 2007 09:26 am What kind of store or where do you get it from?
Aug 26, 2007 03:57 am I think most good music stores that sell hardware and so on will have it. Otherwise ou can order it right online.
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