What's the best method for pin cleaning?

[martin martin]

Hi all,

I had a few Burroughs B5092s sitting around and thought I would build a little 6 shooter from PV Electronics.  I like this model since you can create your clock using any tubes.  You just have to wire them up multiplexed.

Anyway, I used NOS ceramic sockets but the pins on the Nix's are very dirty and corroded.

How can I safely clean them?

Thanks!

martin

[Nicholas Stock]

Martin, i'd use some emory board (nail files) to lightly sand the rust off of them.....done that with a few tubes myself with no issues.

Cheers,

Nick

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 12, 2021, at 19:47, martin martin <mcve...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi all,

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to neonixie-l+...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/308da5ab-3f88-447d-a9f6-b9d52d324cb8n%40googlegroups.com.

<IMG_1620.JPG>

[alb.001 alb.001]

I use a 3M diamond abrasive plastic film which you can get in finess down to 1 micron.  I use a 10 Micron one for very fine gentle sanding of things like nixie pins.  It is slow but effective.   Coarser versions would work faster. 

Pharma Phil

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/F408C9D4-AAD1-4720-9171-6B6A77E1EDB2%40gmail.com.

 

[gregebert]

Martin - Have you tried measuring the resistance of the pin's corrosion ? Scrape-away the corrosion at one and of the pin, and try measuring at the opposite end with minimum pressure. Might need an analog meter, or at least disable autoranging on a DMM.

I've only seen corrosion on IN-18's and it wasn't enough to affect the tube.

[Adrian Godwin]

There's a type of nail file - actually a buffer, I think - which has a similar very fine abrasive. There are no visible grains of abrasive and the file appears to be a smooth pink or white (according to the grade) material. They're sometimes used by model rail enthusiasts to clean the track without creating deep scratches. Other track cleaning products might also be good.

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/758554033.2275758.1618359751066.JavaMail.open-xchange%40torgui02.

[martin martin]

To all and thanks!   I used a fine grain paper just a bit to rid the corrosion and gentle scraping with a fine blade.  All tubes light well and look good. Soon to be enclosed in a hardwood box.  

[Max DN]

I've been wondering whether the good old Coca Cola can actually work too or perhaps too corrosive...

[Andrzej Lewandowski]

I use Fosol (generally phosphoric acid). 

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/3645842e-fae0-48f0-a323-80529f90ba81n%40googlegroups.com.