ROBERT SAYRE wrote in a message to ROY J. TELLASON:

RS>  Blue Stuff doesn't even come close. I've never tried "Big Red".

I haven't seen it in ages.  Basically the same as blue stuff,  just a
different color...

RS>  By using a fiberglass brush and always brushing across the width
RS> of the legs, not the length of the legs, I tend to cut small lines
RS> across the legs (somewhat like a file) that help to bite into the
RS> sockets. This works on some connectors as well.

RJT> What connectors?

RS>  Connectors that connect one PC board to another by a ribbon or 
RS> similar cable. I don't know the brand name for these "stake-pin" 
RS> type connectors.

Usually it's the connectors on the ribbon cable that seem to be the problem
in those cases,  some of them are *real* cheaply made.

RJT> Though I've heard much about chip creep I can't say I've 
RJT> encountered it much of it lately...

RS>  We still see problems with the four sided IC's that are socketed. 
RS> Not creap, so much as poor contact with the sockets.

There was one item of equipment,  I can't remember what model specifically
but it was some keyboard instrument that was made by Roland,  where they
had a problem with those sockets.  Their solution was some metal spring
clips that fit over the chip and held it in place.  I might even still have
some of those around,  someplace.

---