RJT> This is a *real* important point,  when it comes to contact
RJT> cleaners.  The are basically two kinds out there,  those that
RJT> leave a residue ("lubrication",  etc.) and those that don't.  I've
RJT> always tended to favor those that don't.

RS>  I used to be the same way - until I tried Caig chemicals. They
RS> have some excellent products. I haven't found any others that work
RS> as well as the Caig products.

RJT> What are these products called,  if anything besides that?  I've heard of
RJT> specialty stuff out there that's supposed to be pretty good,  but it wasn'
RJT> commonly available and it was more expensive than the usual stuff.

 The most common one is Deoxit R5.

RS>  They even tell you, and it's true, that the less of their product
RS> you use, the better the outcome!

RJT> Hmm.

RJT> I *do* use stuff that leaves a residue sometimes,  like when cleaning a no
RJT> pot doesn't do the trick by itself.  There are a few things out there that
RJT> similar,  RCA called theirs "Big Red" (though it came in
a smaller can),
RJT> somebody else calls it "Blue Stuff",  and I'm sure there
are others.  The
RJT> is that there's a fine abrasive in the spray,  jeweler's rouge or somethin
RJT> similar,  that "polishes" the contacts.  This is good for
some application
RJT> terrible for others...

 These have no abrasives. They chemically enhance
the connections.

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

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?

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

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

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

 TTYL.

 Robert

 * SLMR 2.1a * "I'm a lawyer."    "Honest?"   
"No, the usual kind."
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