What is the current thinking on contact cleaning? Best product and process?

[Republicoftexas69]

Thanks! I am also an EE, and have been to JPL a few times (in CA, not Notre Dame) when I had contracts with them, but not in over a decade. But I am (was, retired now) an analog IC designer, so while I have a lot of lab time testing stuff, buying supplies was not (rarely) my job. Per the tech at my last place, CRC is what we had at work. I know there are Berryman formulations that are not safe for plastic; this one supposedly is, but frankly I have not used it much (have not had a need). The local auto mechanic used it when he had to replace some headlights on my wife's car and gave me the can when I picked up her car.

Adding LPS to my list of things to get; I like having a can around just in case, as it's one of those things that when I need it, I need it now. Stuff has gotten expensive, natch.

Love Berryman chem dip for cleaning old carburetors. I also enjoy restoring classic race bikes (motorcycles).

 

[Kingrex]

With Caig, you want to wipe it clean. Caig and others will put corrosion into suspension so multiple application and wiping clean is paramount.
Alchol is just fine. Just wipe it off well and then follow with Caig Deoxit G100. Wipe the visible G100 off. It's still there. It penetrates micro pours you can't see. It keeps oxidation at bay.

I never mess with silver paste. It oxides quickly and causes more harm than good. It also arcs. Never had Caig arc. Used it on 845, 6SN7, KT88, E88CC, 12AX7. And used it in every panel I put together.

They make a QTip for electronics. Its a smaller diameter than the ones for your ears. It fits in RCA holes.
Pipe cleaners can work. The nylon ones are not good. They don't wipe the suspended corrosion off. They leave too heavy a layer of formula behind. You really want to wipe it off good. Its still there and doing what it should. A cotton pipe cleaner can work. Just be careful sharp ends dont score the metal.
Rex

 

[MattSPL]

The best results I’ve had are to clean contacts with isopropyl alcohol and a jewellery cloth, then apply Mad Scientist Audio Graphene contact enhancer. Really impressive results applied to everything you can think of including your consumer unit(safety warning - I’m an electrician).

 

[Al M.]

A decrease in connectivity due (normally) to oxidation. Depending on the type of metallurgy and age, this can make a significant difference in the signal that ends up amplified.

Caig DeOxit here. Both types. It just depends on what I am cleaning. Usually, I will do a once a year cleanup of connections. I also take this opportunity to blow out the insides of gear, whether they need it or not.

Tom

Agreed. DeOxit D5, followed by DeOxit G5 here. I spray both onto a pipe cleaner (bundles readily available from Amazon) and wipe the connectors. For the female connectors I have the pipe cleaner stick on a "short leash", i.e., I control with where I hold it between my fingers how far it can go inside (not far of course). I usually wait for 10 min between the applications, and re-connect everything after the G5 application the next morning.

Less distortion, removal of slightly brittle and harsh sound character that creeps in over time with not cleaning. Slightly deeper sound color. Cleaning every 6 months, at the least once a year.

 

[Stereophonic]

My experience….
Post in thread 'Caig Deoxit G100'
https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/caig-deoxit-g100.35371/post-854759

 

[agisthos]

In Australia we have this....
https://crcindustries.com.au/crc-co-contact-cleaner-350g-2016/

I don't know what the US equivalent is though.

 

[DonH50]

In Australia we have this....
https://crcindustries.com.au/crc-co-contact-cleaner-350g-2016/

I don't know what the US equivalent is though.

We have that, and many other CRC products available here (as I am sure you do "down under" as well). It is very expensive right now, not sure if that is normal or due to a supply shortage. The quick-dry CFC-free version (QD) seems more available.

 

[Republicoftexas69]

In Australia we have this....
https://crcindustries.com.au/crc-co-contact-cleaner-350g-2016/

I don't know what the US equivalent is though.

It is the same: https://www.elliottelectric.com/P/Item/CRC/02016/

 

[Lee]

 

[Lee]

Went through the whole system to clean connections today (see photo above) and it definitely added some clarity and the bass seemed a little bit better as well. Love the G100 stuff.

 

[Ron Resnick]

What do people think about just using 99.9% isopropyl alcohol and hospital grade cotton swabs and cotton wipes on connectors?

 

[sbnx]

IPA to clean the contacts is good. It will clean them. As Rex pointed out, Deoxit prevents re-oxidation and "enhances" the connection. Everything in my system has that 2-step process.

 

[hifilife]

This is why it's important to clean your connectors! Caig D100L removed this stuff from the RCAs of a used phonostage I recently purchased. Multiple applications were necessary. It just kept removing and removing crud. After no additional oxidation is removed by subsequent applications, I usually clean the D100L off with 99% IPA and follow up with an application of Caig G100L to minimize the formation of new oxidation. Most, if not all, RCA connectors that I've ever cleaned are about this dirty.

 

[Glide3]

This is why it's important to clean your connectors! Caig D100L removed this stuff from the RCAs of a used phonostage I recently purchased. Multiple applications were necessary. It just kept removing and removing crud. After no additional oxidation is removed by subsequent applications, I usually clean the D100L off with 99% IPA and follow up with an application of Caig G100L to minimize the formation of new oxidation. Most, if not all, RCA connectors that I've ever cleaned are about this dirty.

View attachment 143755

I do nearly the same thing with the only difference being Kontak in place of the 99% IPA…which are very similar.

 

[Lee]

What do people think about just using 99.9% isopropyl alcohol and hospital grade cotton swabs and cotton wipes on connectors?

My research suggested the Caig formulas were much more effective and tailored to audio. One thing that gives people comfort is that Caig publishes MSDS sheets so it's unlikely the formula will do anything wrong.

 

[Lee]

With Caig, you want to wipe it clean. Caig and others will put corrosion into suspension so multiple application and wiping clean is paramount.
Alchol is just fine. Just wipe it off well and then follow with Caig Deoxit G100. Wipe the visible G100 off. It's still there. It penetrates micro pours you can't see. It keeps oxidation at bay.

I never mess with silver paste. It oxides quickly and causes more harm than good. It also arcs. Never had Caig arc. Used it on 845, 6SN7, KT88, E88CC, 12AX7. And used it in every panel I put together.

They make a QTip for electronics. Its a smaller diameter than the ones for your ears. It fits in RCA holes.
Pipe cleaners can work. The nylon ones are not good. They don't wipe the suspended corrosion off. They leave too heavy a layer of formula behind. You really want to wipe it off good. Its still there and doing what it should. A cotton pipe cleaner can work. Just be careful sharp ends dont score the metal.
Rex

One thing I use are the Caig applicators but I also use some detailing q-tip tools that don't lint. I also have the RCA plastic molded tools that some brand sold but I don't recall off the top of my head.

 

[hifilife]

One thing I use are the Caig applicators but I also use some detailing q-tip tools that don't lint.

Do they fit into female RCAs without altering them? I use regular cotton Q-tips that I reduce the diameter of by removing about 50% of the cotton. It's not that big of a deal to do, but it would be nice to buy something that fits.

 

[Lee]

Do they fit into female RCAs without altering them? I use regular cotton Q-tips that I reduce the diameter of by removing about 50% of the cotton. It's not that big of a deal to do, but it would be nice to buy something that fits.

Yes, but it is a tight fit if I remember.

 

[Lee]

It was like this: https://diamondgroove.com/RCA-Cleaning-Tool--AASIGTOOLN

 

[Al M.]

Do they fit into female RCAs without altering them? I use regular cotton Q-tips that I reduce the diameter of by removing about 50% of the cotton. It's not that big of a deal to do, but it would be nice to buy something that fits.

These will fit:

Amazon.com

I use them regularly with my DeOxit D5 and G5 solutions. I make sure that I hold them "on a tight leash" when I clean female connectors, i.e., I hold the pipe cleaner between two fingers at the point where I do not want it to go deeper into the connector, in order not to touch and potentially damage internal electronics of the gear.