What to use for cleaning switches, pots and rotary encoders? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: analogix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2017, 09:59:08 am
content: For servicing music synthesizers (basically old audio equipment), what should I use in order to clean switches (tactile pushbuttons which can be opened up revealing a round metal "disc" which presses against metal contact), scratchy potmeters and rotary encoders (I suppose you could call it a switch as well).I'm expecting a lot of replies saying Deoxit (which is not sold her and very expensive to order online because of the shipping restrictions) so I'm looking for alternatives -or better yet: what kind of chemical should it contain?I have however been lucky to get hold of a can of Deoxit F5 "Faderlube" which I believe is what i should use on faders and pots. Should I clean them with isopropy alcohol first, then apply Deoxit F5?How about switches that don't work reliably (due to dirt and oxydization I suppose)? Many people point towards Deoxit D5, but I've found another contact cleaner which I think might work: it contains naphtha. Is that what removes corrosion, oxydization etc?Can I use Deoxit F5 "Faderlube" on switches/rotary encoders, or is it only faders/pots that should be lubricated?

author: orbiter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2017, 10:26:51 am
content: I've used Servisol Super 10 for years and have had good results with it.

author: danadak
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2017, 10:54:27 am
content: Caig DeOxit -http://caig.com/Regards, Dana.

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2017, 12:22:17 pm
content: In Europe you should be able to get Cramolin Contaclean, which I believe is very similar to Caig Deoxit D5. The advantage over IPA is that it provides lubrication in addition to cleaning. This is especially important for switches with a thin layer of gold plating. Just removing all lubrication and operating the switch a dozen times to clean it may already damage those contacts.As for using Faderlube for switches, I imagine it might work, but it would provide no cleaning action (so not suitable for corroded contacts, only for contacts that were already cleaned or brand new). Caig specifies Faderlube as not being for metal on metal contacts, so it might be suboptimal in some way (not inhibit corrosion or not last as long).

author: ollihd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2017, 04:24:44 pm
content: I use Taerosol Kontakt PRF 6-68 for the same exact purpose. Works like a charm. You can probably get it in Norway also.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2017, 05:13:32 pm
content: Faderlube is good stuff, a bit spendy but it works well. Just follow the directions on the can, nothing else should be needed.There are other good products as well, that's just the one I'm familiar with and since you already have a can just use it.

author: oldway
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2017, 05:29:11 pm
content: The best I know is KF F2 special contacts....I use it for years.I buy it at Farnell 14http://be.farnell.com/fr-BE/kf/1001/nettoyant-f2-special-contact/dp/3916560

author: cvanc
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2017, 05:31:24 pm
content: Someone jump in and correct me if I'm wrong but aren't Caig and Cramolin the same company?

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2017, 06:18:37 pm
content: I believe the relation between Caig and Cramolin is somewhat complicated, and do not remember specifics, but I believe the end result is that Cramolin is only sold in Europe and Caig mostly in the US (not sure about other parts of the world).

author: cvanc
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2017, 06:53:56 pm
content: Quote from: alm on March 16, 2017, 06:18:37 pmI'm remembering something like this too. Exact same products from the exact same company, sold in different countries under different names (Marketing? Legal? Don't know why).Maybe I'm completely wrong, but way back when I think it was ALL called Cramolin - the Caig naming came later...

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 16, 2017, 08:51:36 pm
content: Can't find it now, but I'm also sure I've read somewhere about an acrimonious sale or parting of ways involving Caig and someone.

author: analogix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2017, 08:58:16 pm
content: Quote from: ollihd on March 16, 2017, 04:24:44 pmYes, I can buy it here!I checked its contents which says Naphtha and isopropyl alcohol, so this means no lubrication.I'm confused, becausealmsays it's very important with lubrication for switches, but does this only apply if it has gold contacts?The place I found the PRF 6-68 also sells other Taerosol products, but I don't know what they're suitable for:PRF IPA Kontakt(isopropyl alcohol, non-lubricative),PRF 7-78 Kontakt(Hydrocarbons C9-16 hydro-treated dearomatized, isopropyl alcohol, lubricative) andPRF TCC contact cleaner(naphtha, non-lubricative).I haven't had any success in finding Cramolin, KF F2 or Servisol here, and ordering from abroad is either very expensive or not possible (because of shipping restrictions for dangerous goods).

author: analogix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2017, 09:01:41 pm
content: Quote from: alm on March 16, 2017, 12:22:17 pmWhat's "IPA"?I can't find Cramolin here either unfortunately. Perhaps one of the Taeorosol products I just mentioned work in the same way as Cramolin and Deoxit D5?

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2017, 09:07:06 pm
content: Quote from: analogix on March 16, 2017, 09:01:41 pmIPA = isopropyl alcohol

author: Sredni
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2017, 09:11:30 pm
content: Perhaps this is the reason Cramolin is hard to find?Cramolin Replacement Inquiryhttp://store.caig.com/s.nl/ctype.KB/it.I/id.1411/KB.215/.fYears ago I had this spray product for use on the electrical switching devices of a Schober Organ. It contained 47% trichlorotrifluoroethane.I don't see this listed in your current products. Is it now under a different name? I still have the organ and am in need of a spray product to clean the switching devices. Please advise which of your products you recommend.Thanks,P. StoughAnswerWhat you're referencing is the old Cramolin R5 with TF solvent, and it's now banned by the EPA. The replacement is the DeoxIT® (D5S-6), with petroleum naphtha as the carrier solvent or the new DeoxIT® DN5 (DN5S-6N), which is non-flammable, non-drip and safe on plastics.Also, see thishttp://www.pitt.edu/~szekeres/caigcram.htm

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2017, 09:19:37 pm
content: IPA = Isopropyl Alcohol, the same stuff that is in 'PRF IPA Kontakt'.The problem of stripping the plating applies to thin gold plating, as found in some switches designed for low power signals. I wouldn't be as worried about contacts with harder, thicker plating like those designed to switch several amps, although they should still be lubricated somehow.I believe Conrad sells Cramolin, but I am not sure about shipping to Norway. Farnell at some point used to sell it, but I can not find it there at the moment.Are the Kontakt Chemie products available? I believeKontakt Gold 2000is somewhat similar to Deoxit G5 (protects and lubricates plated contacts). They also have a bunch of other sprays for both cleaning and lubrication. I believe Tuner 600 is supposed to be a decent cleaner, but I have never used it myself.I am not familiar with the Taerosol products. The description of 7-78 Kontakt seems to only mention mechanical applications (fine mechanics, VCRs, copy machines).

author: analogix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 17, 2017, 09:21:08 am
content: Quote from: alm on March 16, 2017, 09:19:37 pmYes, Conrad electronics appears to sell Cramolin. Contrary to my understanding, Cramolin is actually a brand, not a specific product, sohere's all the Cramolin products that came up at Conrad's site. Which one is it? I checked, and they do send to Norway, but with a minimum shipping cost of 45 Euros! That's 45 Euros plus whatever the cleaning agent costs plus import duties on top of that. I might as well have a service center do the cleaning for me!So if I understand correctly you can basically use the same cleaning product for both pots, switches and rotary encoders -which would be isopropyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol/naphtha, but you also need to lubricate moving parts, and that's where Deoxit F5 "Faderlube" comes in.So while isopropyl alcohol/naphtha cleaning products are no problem (I actually have a can of CRC "electronic cleaner" (contains naphtha) which I'm guessing is suitable for this, I also have a bottle of isopropyl alcohol which I could apply with Q-tips), finding something that lubricates is apparently very difficult to obtain here. Maybe it's just that it's mostly available for the industry and not as a consumer product...I did locatea local online store selling Kontakt Chemie products, but nobody has theKontakt Gold 2000(which, according to the specs, isn't a cleaner but a lubricant -so I assume I'd have to use isopropyl alcohol and/or naphtha first, then apply this after -to switches and rotary encoders).Here's a few of photos of the switches I'm trying to clean (tactile switches with a convex metal disc which appears to bring contact to the switch when pressed), the pots and rotary encoder.

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 17, 2017, 09:53:32 am
content: The Cramolin product that is very similar to Deoxit D5 isContaclean. But €45 shipping sounds ridiculous. Funny how there Conrad is in Sweden and Denmark, but not in Norway. And obviously Conrad Sweden and Denmark will not ship to Norway.Cleaning with IPA may not be effective if the contacts are corroded. That's where the Deoxit name came from. I believe the naptha in Deoxit D5 is only a solvent to flush out contaminants. The active ingredient is [trade secret]. Cleaning pots with IPA shouldn't hurt anything, however, as long as you apply Faderlube afterwards. I would not recommend a contact cleaner containing a somewhat aggressive acid like Kontakt 60 (very effective at removing corrosion) for carbon or plastic pots, or even those tiny buttons / encoders, since it is very hard to flush it out completely. Tuner 600 (also by CRC) would be a milder cleaner (probably mostly naphta). Maybe you could ask the store selling the Kontakt products if they can order the other CRC products for a reasonable price?I am sure that there are products available locally at electronic distributors that might be suitable, but you would need someone to be familiar with them. Apparently none of the brands common in the US and other parts of Europe are easily available in Norway.

author: analogix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 17, 2017, 11:05:32 am
content: I just downloaded and read the datasheet forDeoxit F5 "Faderlube"that I already have, where it says:QuoteThis cleaning business sure is confusingThe switches contain both metal and plastic (see photo).Here's what it says about the use for Deoxit F5 "Faderlube (or rather "Fader" as I see it says on the can):QuoteThere doesn't appear to be any lubricant inside the switch mechanism, and to be honest I've never come across any switches/buttons that have any "greasy" feel to it (except the mechanical metal parts of a slide switch or shaft of a potmeter -not the actual electrical contact parts).Would it be a problem to just clean my switches, pots and rotary encoder with an isopropyl (IPA) based spray (or just clean it with Q-tips dabbed in IPA, then apply Deoxit F5 "Fader" to the carbon tracks of the pots, and leave the other stuff alone? Well, perhaps the rotary encoder needs a dab of Deoxit F5 Fader...Getting hold of Deoxit D5 appears to be very difficult, expensive and will take time to get here, so I'm looking for a solution where I can use what I already have, or buy something which is readily available here (like the Taerosol products). Just as long as it won't cause damage to the components.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 17, 2017, 11:31:26 am
content: I got good experience with Teslanol Tuner Spray (all-in-one solution, not aggressive). And it's not expensive.

author: analogix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2017, 03:07:12 pm
content: Quote from: madires on March 17, 2017, 11:31:26 amToday I found a local computer shop sellingTeslanol Oszillin T6which, according to its description appeared to be something similar to Deoxit D5, so I bought it!Is this the one you mean? It appeared to do more than just clean, which is what I've understood I need (lubricate as well as clean the contacts, so as not to cause excessive wear and damage when used).Here'salso some more info where it says:QuoteBut I founda comment where someone said that he prefers Deoxit instead of Oszillin because Deoxit is less aggressive(edit:text madeBOLDby me):QuoteDo I need to worry?Actually I found a local company which imports Hosa/Caig products, but they wouldn't/couldn't import Deoxit because of the air-freight restrictions of such chemicals (which I find strange considering there are lots of other chemicals from abroad which are easy to get hold of). Oh well.....Thesafety datasheet is available here(German, and scroll down in the document to page 19 for English) along withmore info (scroll down and click on "Download and support"). I'm no chemist and can't make much sense of it

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2017, 03:46:18 pm
content: Yes, Oszillin T6 is the tuner spray. I'm using it for pots, switches and contacts for years and haven't noticed any aggressive reaction yet. If I need something more aggressive, like for heavy duty connectors with some corrosion, I use Kontakt 60 first to clean the contacts and then Oszillin T6 for lubrication and protection. Another option is Vaseline (Kontakt 701) which is great for poles of car batteries and other stuff exposed to the elements.

author: analogix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2017, 07:59:25 pm
content: You say you've been using Oszillin T6 for pots.Well, I might have done something stupid in my attempt to clean up an old synthesizer...I sprayed Oszillin T6 into all its pushbutton switches and also a rotary encoder. I haven't tried it yet but expect it to help the contact problems.And for the potmeters I sprayed a little bit of Deoxit F5 "Fader" into one of them, only to experience that the original smooth and slow action had gone and instead the potmeter was "scratchy" and feeling "cheap" to turn!Having read so many good things about Deoxit and paying good money to buy it from the U.S. I expected the totally opposite.Maybe I should have used some sort of thick grease instead? If so, what should I look for?How does Oszillin T6 work with potmeters? Does it also remove the smooth feeling action? At least it appears to be a very thin liquid.And is it safe with plastics? I sprayed it into some tactile pushbutton switches (since I couldn't open them all) and read thatServisol (which was recommended earlier in this thread) isn't plastic safe at all. Hopefully Oszillin is different.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2017, 10:18:58 pm
content: For lubrication with grease I'd use vaseline. And so far I haven't had any issues with potentiometers treated with Oszillin T6, but I haven't used it for slide potentiometers yet.

author: joseph nicholas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2017, 10:26:06 pm
content: Vasaline works great for the range switch on your DMM. Been using it for years.

author: analogix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2017, 10:16:46 am
content: Vaseline -the same kind as some people use as a skin moisturizer?Won't this act as an electrical insulator on the pot's carbon track? I assume that's where the vaseline is applied in order to make it glide easily?Well, if this works at least it will be absolutely no problem to get hold of!

author: joseph nicholas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2017, 10:25:00 am
content: I can say this is for the ball bearings, if your multimeter uses these, in the range switch outer tracks. This is how some manufactures ship their products.

author: analogix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2017, 10:27:26 am
content: So the vaseline is used only for themechanicalparts of the multimeter range switch and the shaft in the potmeter, not on the actualelectricalconnection?This probably means I have to open up the pot to make sure the vaseline only goes to the metal shaft, and the Deoxit F5 or Oszillin T6 only goes to the carbon track?UPDATE: another thing: won't vaseline "melt" and become more like a liquid when it heats up, and thereby flowing all over the place?

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2017, 11:06:43 am
content: There are different grades of petroleum jelly, of different viscosities, so some are pretty liquid at room temp while others are nearly solid waxes.

author: analogix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2017, 04:19:40 pm
content: Which brand/type is known not to melt at room temperatures?Some good news about my "scratchy" (as in feeling like it scratches when moving aound) -the Deoxit F5 seems to have "settled" a bit, so the pot is a little smoother now. But still not as smooth as before. I might have to desolder and open it up to be able to lubricate the pot spindle with some kind of grease.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2017, 05:26:51 pm
content: Well, the brand name Vaseline is pretty runny at room temperature, and getting liquid at body temperature, but I bought some locally made generic that is almost a wax at room temperature, which was perfect for the use I wanted it for, as a hotfoot bird deterrent. Worked well there, and lasts a long time even in the heat.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2017, 09:03:25 pm
content: Just be sure you use acid free vaseline!

author: Stuggi
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 01, 2018, 05:33:30 pm
content: Quote from: analogix on March 16, 2017, 08:58:16 pmSorry to revive an old thread, but as I saw people talking about PRF sprays here I'd add a couple of cents;PRF sprays are quite highly regarded within the electronics industry here in Finland. PRF IPA Kontakt is just isopropyl alcohol in a spray can. PRF 6-68 is a non-lubricating contact cleaner, while 7-78 is the lubricating kind. Both are non-conductive and people generally recommend 7-78 for scratchy potentiometers. There's also TCC, which is a speciality cleaner for sensitive electronic equipment, as well as HFE, a non-flamable variant, which is 30-40% tetrafluoroethane, aka. R-134a refrigerant, but it's almost 3 times as expensive as the others. Personally I've used IPA Contact and 6-68 at work for cleaning RF connectors in the field, and both have worked well for that.I've emailed the manufacturer, and will post back when I get their opinions for the different uses of these cleaners.

author: IconicPCB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2018, 06:56:28 am
content: WD have a contact cleaning spary.and NO .. dont abuse me it is different to wd40 water displacement concoction.I am talking of fast drying contact cleaner.

author: Stuggi
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 29, 2018, 10:04:51 am
content: Quote from: Stuggi on October 01, 2018, 05:33:30 pmAfter talking to the manufacturer I got the following;6-68 Kontakt - General "Dry" Contact Cleaner - Non-conductive7-78 Kontakt - Lubricating Contact Cleaner - Non-conductive, specifically intended for cleaning potentiometersTCC Contact Cleaner- Speciality Contact Cleaner - Evaporates quickly, "dry", intended for precision components and contactsHFE Precision Cleaner - Non-flammable Speciality Contact Cleaner - Especially pure, non-flammable, evaporates completely - removes flux, light oils, fingerprints and other impurities.My take on TCC and HFE are that they are intended for more high end applications, such as cleaning circuit boards in metrology equipment, especially HFE since the main solvent is R-134a (tetrafluoroethane) which is a bit exotic to say the least.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2018, 11:17:34 am
content: Before buying Kontakt spray cans make sure you look at the manufacturing date and use them within one or two years or you can clean your cupboards as I had to do last year, what a mess, it leaked the stuff all over. Google it and you can find more victims.