DIY Contact Cleaner

[Peter S]

Hi Folks, I have been using contact cleaners since the 70's. Back then there seemed to be some effective sprays available. Seems they have become less effective over the years, I suspect health regulations may be the reason. Reluctant to try Deoxit because the price seems out of line with the competition, I had to 'cave in' because there have been so many cases where nothing got a switch to behave but one shot of Deoxit made it work like new.
Before this turns into an ad for Deoxit, I would like to mention besides the incredibly high price, the last can leaked so badly at the valve, almost 75% of the product escaped at the top of the can and made a big mess.
I have made an adaptor out of some hose and then used the red straws from other contact cleaners. I have used heat to bend straws for various applications. A tight right angle on the last 3/16" of a red straw is great for getting into pcb mounted pots. I used insulation from12 ga NMD90 house wire for straw couplers.
I am waiting for some Oleic acid to arrive and will pick up some petroleum naptha to try some experimenting on a DIY contact cleaner. Looking for advice and opinions. I will keep you posted.
Happy New Year!

 

[J!m]

 

[Peter S]

Hey Jim, I am the danger.....
Happy New Year!

 

[marcok]

Another method is the straw inside a needle of syringe .
Happy New Year !
Marco

 

[sweatybetty]

Junk the nozzle that comes on the deoxit can. They are garbage. Ive found a couple nozzles from different spray cans that fit and work great with minimal loss.

 

[calman46]

Don't buy the Deoxit with the "smart straw" They went back (finally ) to making the original spray can with the red straw . Parts Express has it. I would be careful making DYI contact cleaner especially for pots as you don't want to ruin those carbon tracks.

 

[Peter S]

Thanks calman. I try to avoid even using Deoxit on pots unless all else fails. I had a powered sub come in with a volume pot that was previously treated with something, and there was nothing left of the resistive track.
I have just now read the fine print on the D5 can, it says "apply to metal surfaces". Still waiting for my oleic acid coming from Poland! My biggest concern seems to be switches rather than pots anyway and have a big pile of my own gear for experimenting.

 

[J!m]

DeOxit "F" is safe for carbon comp pots. NOT the regular stuff!