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The Idiot's Guide to Using DeOxit (revisited)

hugues tr4 said:
To P.M.SUMMER.
Thank you for the instant reaction!
Have you heard of CRC Contact cleaner which is supposed to spray-clean all electronic componants, but don't seem to give any answer when it comes to the lubricating part afterwards? Is that enough for a thorough cleaning of a pot?
Cheers,
Hugh.
Click to expand...

Pop into Maplins and see what contact cleaners they sell, i think they do the Servisol range of sprays.
 
Hugh, I have no experience with CRC, although I've heard positive things. De-Oxit is based on the Cramolin product formula (which is no longer available in the USA).
 
To Cogsinister and P.M.Summer,
Had a little search on the net: De-Oxit seems to be distributed in Holland, France and UK, but not Belgium.
Will try and look a bit further. Thanks a lot for your contribution anyway,
Cheers,
Hugh.
 
hugues tr4 said:
To Cogsinister and P.M.Summer,
Had a little search on the net: De-Oxit seems to be distributed in Holland, France and UK, but not Belgium.
Will try and look a bit further. Thanks a lot for your contribution anyway,
Cheers,
Hugh.
Click to expand...

Oops, i thought you were in the UK.....forgot all about Belgium....
 
mpw777 said:
I haven't seen any response to the issue of DeoxIt leaving a residue. As far as I know alcohol would not remove oxidation, it would only be a degreaser. So would it be best to use DeoxIt then use something like the alcohol spray discussed to clean out the DeoxIt? If so what should be done next? Gold and then lube, either one only or neither?
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Just be sure there is a reason that you need to use it in the first place. I, after reading all the Deoxit posts all over AK felt left out because I never sprayed the hell out of my tuner like everyone else appears to do every other day;) So I went out, got a twin pack, and started following the advice. WARNING! The little red straw can shoot off while spraying the product. Unfortunately this resulted in a detuned Kenwood KT-7500, that still is having tuning and reception issues, for over a month now. Honestly, I wish I never read about the stuff... So unless there is a clear problem with the unit, leave it alone.
 
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hugues tr4 said:
To P.M.SUMMER.
Thank you for the instant reaction!
Have you heard of CRC Contact cleaner which is supposed to spray-clean all electronic componants, but don't seem to give any answer when it comes to the lubricating part afterwards? Is that enough for a thorough cleaning of a pot?
Cheers,
Hugh.
Click to expand...

CRC is widely available here in Hong Kong, and I've used it for years. In fact, it was what I used the most before DeOxit became available here. It's pretty good, overall, but DeOxit does a noticeably better job. The CRC product cleans well enough, but not quite as thoroughly, and it does not chemically reverse oxidation the way DeOxit does. I'll still sometimes use CRC for less-important things or things that I'm donating, etc... where I don't want to use the more-expensive DeOxit, or don't need as good a job done. If you use the CRC stuff, make sure you use it in a well-ventilated place, with the airflow moving away from you. I don't think it is good to breathe in too much of those fumes! IF you have the choice and you want the best results, though, stick to the DeOxit.
 
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Thanks a lot everybody for your advice.
Thought about using Deoxit to clean the contacts of the erase head of my Marantz 2050 which does not erase completely anymore. Got this tip on a forum from a guy who cleared the same problem that way on his.
In the meantime, I used a bulk eraser bought on E-Bay, which had solved the problem.
Will nevertheless go on searching for Deoxit on the net.
Thanks again and cheers,
Hugh.
 
Robinhawaii said:
.... I, after reading all the Deoxit posts all over AK felt left out because I never sprayed the hell out of my tuner like everyone else appears to do every other day;) So I went out, got a twin pack, and started following the advice. WARNING! The little red straw can shoot off while spraying the product. Unfortunately this resulted in a detuned Kenwood KT-7500, that still is having tuning and reception issues, for over a month now. Honestly, I wish I never read about the stuff... So unless there is a clear problem with the unit, leave it alone.
Click to expand...

That's unfortunate.

Anyone, correct me if I am wrong, but perhaps some non-residue contact cleaner used on the fins at this point would flush-away the Deoxit residue and, if nothing else, speed up the tuner's recovery?

For those who are looking to clean-up a tuner, check here: http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=144163 The recommendation is to spray only the brass shaft contacts with non-residue cleaner and then use Deoxit 100% Fader Lube, preferably in a needle appllicator (as you can get it from Deoxit or in a syringe) to place a drop on the brass contacts to remove oxidation.

Going near a tuner with spray deoxit products (D5 / F5 / etc.) is not a good plan!

I had another idea - since I only have F100 spray. If you some single-ended longer swaps (some electronics supply outlets or medical supply) and then spray the swab with the Faderlube and then push the swab iniside the straw and push that between the fins .... Deoxit should not then come in contact with the fins. I guess it would depend on availabe spacing between the fins.

BTW, the cheapest non-residue / safe for plastics contact cleaner I have seen was at a NAPA auto parts store.
 
Van_Isle said:
That's unfortunate.

Anyone, correct me if I am wrong, but perhaps some non-residue contact cleaner used on the fins at this point would flush-away the Deoxit residue and, if nothing else, speed up the tuner's recovery?

I have treated it twice with MGC Zero Residue Cleaner. Now, the stations are .2 off from where they should be and the strength of the signal dropped by four. I will let everything rest and treat it again in a few days.

Take care,

Rob

Just a follow up: I used MG Chemicals Electrosolve Contact Cleaner, specifically because they state on their website will not de-tune. After I used one 12 oz. can, constantly turning the tuning knob, I let it dry and used silver conductive grease to lube the ground contacts on the shaft. Now my KT 7500 is displaying signal strengths at the same level as my 600T and 90.3 is at 90.3!Thanks for all the help.
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Robinhawaii said:
Van_Isle said:
That's unfortunate.

Anyone, correct me if I am wrong, but perhaps some non-residue contact cleaner used on the fins at this point would flush-away the Deoxit residue and, if nothing else, speed up the tuner's recovery?
Click to expand...

I have treated it twice with MGC Zero Residue Cleaner. Now, the stations are .2 off from where they should be and the strength of the signal dropped by four. I will let everything rest and treat it again in a few days.

Take care,

Rob
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Good idea to wait a few days to let the tuner try and recover on its own or at least stabilize.

If you read the How to clean a tuner thread in the Tuners forum, it recommends Faderlube or non-residual cleaner sprayed at specific points on the brass shaft. And only air blowing the fins. But before you start using any other liquids to clean the fins, give it a rest so you are not compounding one thing after another and affecting it by spraying something new. Each time you spray, it can affect it again.

If you sprayed the screws, surrounding coils or fins, you can affect the signal strength, lose the stereo indicator light, and maybe lose sound and affect calibration and adjustments. You need to let it dry out to see if it will recover on it's own. It can take several days and hopefully you will see the stations drift back to where they were before or close as you try to tune in stations and don't forget to attach the antenna.

If you can get close to what it was before or the signal strength improves that may be the best you can do without having it taken in for a professional realignment. But wait and give it a rest. It can take 3 days or more if you have been spraying it quite a bit.
 
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I should be clearer, the readings I gave are the improvment. It was playing 90.3 FM at 107 FM and almost no signal meter reading from the Deoxit accident.

Thanks,

Rob
 
Robinhawaii said:
I should be clearer, the readings I gave are the improvment. It was playing 90.3 FM at 107 FM and almost no signal meter reading from the Deoxit accident.

Thanks,

Rob
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I was explaining what can happen when you spray with Deoxit. Or any cleaner. And if it was playing 90.3 FM at 107 on the dial, that is exactly what I meant as far as consequences affecting calibration. Even if you did not use MGC you could have possibly seen some "recovery" from the Deoxit spraying after a few days on its own as it dries out.

That's why I agreed it's a good thing to wait to see where your tuner is at after a few days before reapplying any more cleaner. See if it changes during those few days before cleaning again or you may be cleaning it over and over again not realizing you may be contributing to variances each time you apply more cleaner. You said it was off only by about .2 now and I assume you are seeing a stronger signal strength on the meter now? And you are getting clean sound?

At a certain point you may find it is as good as it gets and something you can live with. And any further tweaking may require a tech to align and adjust.
 
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If you don't have a Guitar Center, like I don't, try Music go round or other instrument sellers. Music go round carries it in the larger 5oz cans for reasonable price compared to RSs grab your ankles and say Aaah! price.:D
 
This was covered a few posts back, but not sure of the answer.

Are the Radio Shack Lubricant Spray and Electronic Cleaner the same as their Deoxit counterparts?
 
The RS brand is different and IMHO not as good as the Deoxit but will do in a pinch .





Barney
 
A late addition: Caig also offers a fluid called D100L in different forms including a highly functional 20ml squeeze bottle with a 2" needle applicator. It instantly enhances mechanical connections like RCA and 1/4" connectors. It creeps over metal surfaces. With the needle it can be applied exactly where needed......no aerosol overspray. ...TIM
 
I had a really annoying problem with intermittent channel drop-out on my Thorens. Suffered with it for six months, and then finally got some Deoxit and FaderLube from Guitar Center for $30 total. (Avoid the small combo pack at RatShack. Half the price but about one-tenth the quantity, if that.)

I had my doubts that this would fix the problem, but I was wrong. It works perfectly now!

Then, yesterday, I noticed that our portable multi-region DVD player, which we are using as our main DVD player now, was on the fritz. All of a sudden, massive hum coming out of the TV, plus super-distorted picture. (The sound and the picture on the small portable player's screen was fine, though.) Hmm...I thought--could Caig come to the rescue again? A spraying down of DVD output jacks and TV RCA inputs and she works perfectly. My wife was annoyed when she saw that charge on our credit card bill originally. Now she's happy--since either one of us would have stopped using the DVD player immediately before I knew about Deoxit--and so am I!

Thanks, AK--I learned about it here!
 
DeoxIT 99.9999% Effective

I have used DeoxIT for years professionally with amazing results. But be aware there are times it may not work. I have two cases, one most recently with my Heath Oscilloscope, where a vertical input pot was dirty until I applied DeoxIT, then the pot failed completely.:pity: That Heath scope I built in the 70's, probably time for a new pot.
 
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