It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:08 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 18 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Do you use contact cleaner in pots?
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 4:08 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2012 6:38 am
Posts: 593
I ask this question for a good reason. A friend of mine who gave me a SS amp had a tech repair his amp by spraying something into the pot which helped for awhile but eventually it went to crackling again. I don't know what the tech used but I was wondering if you guys have used a product that works or if you simply replace a scratchy pot.

Arc

_________________
...I for one, sure would appreciate the return of intelligent conversation, spirit of assistance and the simple yet effective ignoring of those who can't seem to hang with that...
Best regards,
rob


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Do you use contact cleaner in pots?
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 10:52 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
Spray contact cleaner is a perfectly legitimate method for cleaning dirty, scratchy pots or other electro-mechanical components like switches, input and output jacks, tube sockets, etc. Use with adequate ventilation to prevent pulmonary issues.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Do you use contact cleaner in pots?
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 12:19 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2012 6:38 am
Posts: 593
I don't know the product that the repair guy used but it didn't clean the contacts very much. The first pic shows another scratchy pot in the near future. The second picture is after being cleaned with a cotton swab with alcohol. It worked again but there were well worn tracks in the resistive coating. Since this pot gets used a lot it really just had to go. So what brand would you recommend and have you had recurring scratchy pots with any brand you have tried?

Arc


Image

Image

_________________
...I for one, sure would appreciate the return of intelligent conversation, spirit of assistance and the simple yet effective ignoring of those who can't seem to hang with that...
Best regards,
rob


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Do you use contact cleaner in pots?
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 4:24 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
Arc,

You know, I've had more issues with very hi-end (sold by Stereophile stores) contact cleaner and appliques than good old Caig Products. Both ruined pots and gunked up sockets.

The best stuff on the on the market, now, for pots is this. IMHO:

http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.293/.f


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Do you use contact cleaner in pots?
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:06 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 3:10 pm
Posts: 5646
Location: Gateway to the West
BMW2002Ti wrote:
Arc,

You know, I've had more issues with very hi-end (sold by Stereophile stores) contact cleaner and appliques than good old Caig Products. Both ruined pots and gunked up sockets.

The best stuff on the on the market, now, for pots is this. IMHO:

http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.293/.f



+1 On the Deoxit! I used that on the pots on my Bantam and not a single return of scratchy pots!

T2

_________________
-----------------------------------------------------------
What time is it? It's Fender Time.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Do you use contact cleaner in pots?
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:14 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
T2Stratman wrote:
BMW2002Ti wrote:
Arc,

You know, I've had more issues with very hi-end (sold by Stereophile stores) contact cleaner and appliques than good old Caig Products. Both ruined pots and gunked up sockets.

The best stuff on the on the market, now, for pots is this. IMHO:

http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.293/.f



+1 On the Deoxit! I used that on the pots on my Bantam and not a single return of scratchy pots!

T2


+2

De-Oxit or death!

:mrgreen:

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Do you use contact cleaner in pots?
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:41 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 6:53 pm
Posts: 2252
Location: Harvard IL
Hey Arc, were asking about the pot brand ? Art

_________________
None of Us are free, if One of Us is chained !


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Do you use contact cleaner in pots?
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 6:27 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2012 6:38 am
Posts: 593
I was asking for the contact cleaner brand. Glad to hear many like the Deoxit. I guess I'll pick up a can and try it out on the next pot that misbehaves. Thanks for the feedback.

Arc

_________________
...I for one, sure would appreciate the return of intelligent conversation, spirit of assistance and the simple yet effective ignoring of those who can't seem to hang with that...
Best regards,
rob


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Do you use contact cleaner in pots?
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 6:29 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2012 6:38 am
Posts: 593
Maybe I should take the pot apart and get a pic before deoxit and after use.

Arc

_________________
...I for one, sure would appreciate the return of intelligent conversation, spirit of assistance and the simple yet effective ignoring of those who can't seem to hang with that...
Best regards,
rob


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Do you use contact cleaner in pots?
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 7:23 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 6:53 pm
Posts: 2252
Location: Harvard IL
Arc, wasn't sure, should have reread the subject title. If the carbon path is still good, then you're set with the Deoxit. An old remedy on quality pots, is to clean and slightly bend the wipers over to a new path. You probably already knew that, though. BTW nice photos, talk about deposit build up! Art

_________________
None of Us are free, if One of Us is chained !


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Do you use contact cleaner in pots?
Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 6:56 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2012 6:38 am
Posts: 593
I am a little nervous about bending the wipers over but it's worth a try if the pot is still scratchy after this internal manual cleaning. One can only bend the tabs that hold the pot together just so many times before they break. Do the cleaners like Deoxit melt that thick grease in the bottom of the pot that gives the pot that smooth feel when you turn it and keeps it from turning with vibration?

Arc

_________________
...I for one, sure would appreciate the return of intelligent conversation, spirit of assistance and the simple yet effective ignoring of those who can't seem to hang with that...
Best regards,
rob


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Do you use contact cleaner in pots?
Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 7:22 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
Dexoit doesn't dissolve built-in lubricants like a lot of other cheaper contact cleaners. But, like any contact cleaner on any surface, use only as much as needed. Don't spray the heck outta the pot. You prolly already knew this.

Of all pot cleaners, I find that Deoxit D5, GN5, etc does less damage onto contact surfaces---compared to others.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Do you use contact cleaner in pots?
Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 6:12 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2012 6:38 am
Posts: 593
Caig has a facebook page so I "liked" them and asked which product they recommend for cleaning scratchy pots. This was their reply.

CAIG Laboratories, Inc. We recommend DeoxIT 100% Spray, part no. D100S-2, it will clean the pot and also will provide lubrication. Here is the link to the product: http://store.caig.com/s.nl/it.A/id.1605/.f

Arc

_________________
...I for one, sure would appreciate the return of intelligent conversation, spirit of assistance and the simple yet effective ignoring of those who can't seem to hang with that...
Best regards,
rob


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Do you use contact cleaner in pots?
Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 7:45 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
Arc, I use that, D5, GN5, and the Fader Lube--- all with good success. Be careful with any 100% product... as it will stay on the surfaces, virtually forever. This is where a lot of damage is often done with bad contact cleaners (esp those hi-end stuff like "Tweak"). I like using 5% stuff, as most of the cleaner simply evaporates, leaving behind less chemicals.

You may want to try the GN series cleaner. It's content is rated to higher temps. Whichever, you use--- use the least amount needed to do the job. And sop up any residue. Good luck!

http://store.caig.com/s.nl?sc=1&categor ... ch=G100S-2


Last edited by BMW2002Ti on Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Do you use contact cleaner in pots?
Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:34 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 6:53 pm
Posts: 2252
Location: Harvard IL
Arc, didn't mean to suggest that you bend the wipers. That method just came to mind, talking about this stuff. I've only had to do that a couple of times over the years; When a guy brings in the amp on Thursday night and needs to go on Friday(and I didn't have the right pot on hand). Then the amp could return on Monday for the R&R. But yeah, Beemer's right on. Actually, I need to get some of the new stuff. Still using the D-5 and S-5 Deoxit products. Art

_________________
None of Us are free, if One of Us is chained !


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 18 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: