Rotary wafer switch cleaner?

[SX-25]

I know this topic has been covered exhaustively on this forum but I
think I may have dozed off.
I am interested in opinions about cleaning rotary wafer switches? For
years my preferred method
has been to use a plain old pencil eraser which has always worked well.
However my current
project is a tube tester with a dozen multi-section wafer switches and
there is most likely no way
I can get into the middle sections with any sort of tool without
probably doing damage. CAIG Deoxit
D5 is my cleaner of late however I am interested in any suggestions you
may have for other cleaners
that are safe for wafer metals as well as the phenolic material they
are crimped on.

Thanks.

WA9VLK

[Scott Dorsey]

SX-25 <teleg...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I know this topic has been covered exhaustively on this forum but I
>think I may have dozed off.
> I am interested in opinions about cleaning rotary wafer switches? For
>years my preferred method
> has been to use a plain old pencil eraser which has always worked well.

This can work, but it can also remove plating, which is very bad.

>However my current
> project is a tube tester with a dozen multi-section wafer switches and
>there is most likely no way
> I can get into the middle sections with any sort of tool without
>probably doing damage. CAIG Deoxit
> D5 is my cleaner of late however I am interested in any suggestions you
>may have for other cleaners
> that are safe for wafer metals as well as the phenolic material they
>are crimped on.

DeOxit is a good choice. However, if the plating on the switches is damaged,
no amount of cleaning will help them.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[paul @removeppinyot.removecom Paul P]

"SX-25" <teleg...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ScCdnZrFFtk_66PX...@earthlink.com...

I have used CRC Contact Cleaner for years with success. You can buy it
from Home Depot or Lowes in the electrical isle.

If there is oil in/on the phenolic I have lightly scrubbed the switch with a
soft tooth brush and denatured alcohol. Then used a blow drier for 15 mins
to evaporate any alcohol or moisture before powering up.

Paul P.

[SX-25]

Thanks Paul and Scott for weighing in with your thoughts. I "sucked it up"
and blasted all the sections of all the tube tester rotary wafer switches
with Deoxit D5 last night. The tube checker works great now. I had been
having some anomalies on a box of new 6146s I got and couldn't believe all
of them were equally erratic. I also had been having a problem with the
needle hanging up. I tried the old Navy kitchen detergent trick and it still
hung up. While I was blasting away with Deoxit I removed and dismantled the
meter...did a treatment of kitchen detergent INSIDE the meter face....and
the problem went away. Not only to I have a nicely flowing and well damped
meter movement now but I also have a very, very clean meter case to look
through!

Paul...I am going to look for some of that CRC tomorrow. Deoxit is good but
I am always interested in trying something else.

My best,

WA9VLK

[paul @removeppinyot.removecom Paul P]

> Paul...I am going to look for some of that CRC tomorrow. Deoxit is good
> but
> I am always interested in trying something else.
>
> My best,
>
> WA9VLK

DO NOT purchase "Lectra-clean" in the larger taller can. It will eat and
melt plastics. They are side by side on the shelf. If you are degreasing
Bakelite or motors it is great stuff.
http://www.home-improvement-superstore.com/crc-industries-02018-19oz-lectra-clean.html

This is the stuff:
http://www.home-improvement-superstore.com/crc-industries-02130-11oz-qd-contact-cleaner.html

I think those prices are for a case of 12. Links for picture reference only.

Paul P.

[JP]

This link has the index and first chapter and where to get it since
Doberman has sold out for now...
http://www.valvewizard.co.uk/

[Dr. Barry L. Ornitz]

"Paul P" <REMOVE paul @ REMOVE ppinyot . REMOVEcom> wrote in message
news:8TY%l.740$NF6...@nwrddc02.gnilink.net...

>
> DO NOT purchase "Lectra-clean" in the larger taller can. It will eat
> and melt plastics. They are side by side on the shelf. If you are
> degreasing Bakelite or motors it is great stuff.

I hate it when manufacturers make entirely different materials over a
period of years, yet they continue to use the same name. I once did a
search for MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) information on Lectra-Clean.
I found at least six different mixtures with the same name. European
compositions were different than those in the USA, and those in
Australian and New Zealand were different still. Some of the
compositions were relatively benign to most plastics, while others were
quite aggressive in attacking most plastics. One formulation even
contained hydrochloric acid, but I am sure someone confused one cleaner
for another when adding it to their database.

Be sure and get the PROPER MSDS information before using any
solvent-based cleaner.

73, Dr. Barry L. Ornitz WA4VZQ BLOrn...@charter.net