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Post subject: Sticky Switches
Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 5:38 pm
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Hi:
I bought a Fender Jag and about a year after I got it, The slide switches started to cut out like the lead/rhythm switch and after talking to my tech guy at the store, He mentioned
that this problem is standard with a lot of guitars from fender. It is created during the soldering of the switches as in carbon build up because of the heat on the contacts.

His suggestion was to spray the inside contacts with WD40 with the little red tube in place and work the slide switch as you spray so I did this with all four switches.

No only did the switches work but I found tones that did not know where there before.

Bottom line, It work like a charm.

Just a thought if anybody has had any problems before......

Douglasc


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Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2010 11:59 pm
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Hmm, I would recommend using Contact Spray instead of WD40. WD40 is NOT for electrical circuits. It will leave a film of oil, it's a lubricant, and that will eventually attract and retain dirt, dust, grease, and make your switches sticky again, possibly even corroding the contacts. Contact Cleaner Spray, good ones, are designed to leave no residue. For a good electrical contact you want a clean dry surface, without any oily residue.

I'd suggest that most of the benefit you got from doing that was from contact friction, by switching back and forth a few times to wipe off some gunk buildup, not from the WD40. Definitely it's not going to help in the medium and long term.

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Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 7:45 am
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nickbeatnik wrote:
Hmm, I would recommend using Contact Spray instead of WD40. WD40 is NOT for electrical circuits. It will leave a film of oil, it's a lubricant, and that will eventually attract and retain dirt, dust, grease, and make your switches sticky again, possibly even corroding the contacts. Contact Cleaner Spray, good ones, are designed to leave no residue. For a good electrical contact you want a clean dry surface, without any oily residue.

I'd suggest that most of the benefit you got from doing that was from contact friction, by switching back and forth a few times to wipe off some gunk buildup, not from the WD40. Definitely it's not going to help in the medium and long term.


Hmm, So far it has lasted seven years and works like a charm.
And from my information gathering most electronics experts seem to like using it,

Hmm,Are you a expert???

Douglasa


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Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 7:58 am
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Actually, WD-40 is not designed to be a cleaner or a lubricant. It was originally created to displace water from equipment. Hence the nomenclature WD(water displacing)-40.

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Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 7:55 pm
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YZFJOE wrote:
Actually, WD-40 is not designed to be a cleaner or a lubricant. It was originally created to displace water from equipment. Hence the nomenclature WD(water displacing)-40.

Thanks Joe, a bit more clarity.
Regardless it is not designed for use on electronic circuits, which is what your switch is Doug. Useful if it gets wet I suppose.
And no, I don't claim to be an expert in anything, I have been to a few University classes in electronics, but I'm not a pro. Maybe it's different where you live but over here we use contact cleaner to clean contacts. Strange I know.... But there's a lot of different ways to skin a cat, so don't go changing. I like the smell of contact cleaner more than WD40 8)

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Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 5:54 am
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Nick definitely calls it right on WD40. It's great stuff for mechanical fixings, but not on electrical fixtures. And you don't need to be an expert to know this - common sense tells us we don't really want a sticky layer of silicon on our variable resistor tracks or switches.

A proper spray on contact cleaner is your best friend when servicing your guitar's electrical parts. Buy a tin you'll never regret it.

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Post subject: Sticky swithces
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 12:20 pm
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I think you guys out there are forgetting that these are slide switches and I know that Wd40 Is lubricant and not a contact cleaner.

However if you put a contact cleaner in the switch you are running into possible drying out and binding on the slid portion of the switch a lubricant is needed for this purpose.

And like I said I did this seven years ago and it still works like a charm so how is this wrong????????

Douglasa


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Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 12:44 pm
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Back in the day many guitars were finished with nitrocellulose paints. Silicone is a definite no-no with those finishes. That's why you will hear many guitar players and techs say to never, ever, use WD-40 for anything on a guitar.
A little WD can do a lot of damage. Try walking into a production paint shop with a can and see what happens. It'll get ugly real quick.

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Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 2:20 pm
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YZFJOE wrote:
Back in the day many guitars were finished with nitrocellulose paints. Silicone is a definite no-no with those finishes. That's why you will hear many guitar players and techs say to never, ever, use WD-40 for anything on a guitar.
A little WD can do a lot of damage. Try walking into a production paint shop with a can and see what happens. It'll get ugly real quick.


When these switches are made they are assembled with a white grease for lubrication and during the process of soldering this grease is melted.
And as far as the finish is concerned the problem will not exist after the finish is cured
Keep in mind they wouldn't allow wax in the paint shop ether.
We are not talking about circuit boards hear we are talking about mechanical switch lubrication is a must..

Douglasa


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Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 4:21 pm
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Douglasa wrote:
YZFJOE wrote:
Back in the day many guitars were finished with nitrocellulose paints. Silicone is a definite no-no with those finishes. That's why you will hear many guitar players and techs say to never, ever, use WD-40 for anything on a guitar.
A little WD can do a lot of damage. Try walking into a production paint shop with a can and see what happens. It'll get ugly real quick.


When these switches are made they are assembled with a white grease for lubrication and during the process of soldering this grease is melted.
And as far as the finish is concerned the problem will not exist after the finish is cured
Keep in mind they wouldn't allow wax in the paint shop ether.
We are not talking about circuit boards hear we are talking about mechanical switch lubrication is a must..

Douglasa

That white grease is dielectric grease. You can buy that at any auto supply or electronic supply store if you need it. It's actually the best way to lube and protect any electrical switches and contacts.

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Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:25 am
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Not saying WD-40 will not work for years but I think nickbeatnik was only giving a heads up to a better solution which I did not know off and will definitely keep in mind. No reason for people to get uptight when guys are helping out.


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Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 5:39 pm
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straycat113 wrote:
Not saying WD-40 will not work for years but I think nickbeatnik was only giving a heads up to a better solution which I did not know off and will definitely keep in mind. No reason for people to get uptight when guys are helping out.


Ok: I give up,I tried something on someone's advice and it worked and when I left a notice about it.

Someone just had to tear it apart and put the screws to it.

You guys are on your own....

Douglasa


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