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Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: tgakidis on April 21, 2014, 12:00:18 PM
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I know it was mentioned on TS.com before. Is rubbing alcohol ok?
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Rubbing alcohol ok.
Deoxit will help prevent corrosion in the future.
http://www.amazon.com/CAIG-DeOxit-Cleaning-Solution-Spray/dp/B0002BBV4G
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thanks!
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thanks!
Spray, let soak, then mate/unmate the connector several times to work the contacts.
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check out deoxit . a spray on contact cleaner..
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I've had some good experiences with Stabilant 22; I've seen (heard) it fix a microphone/cable combination that had become a little crackly. I'm not sure I believe the company's explanations of how the product works, though.
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I've had some good experiences with Stabilant 22; I've seen (heard) it fix a microphone/cable combination that had become a little crackly. I'm not sure I believe the company's explanations of how the product works, though.
^^ Expensive stuff, I've been considering picking up a bottle but uncertain of which S22 strength to pick up and is it really better than CAIG's product line. What variety solution do you reccomend?
I'm currently using CAIG DeOxit Red/Cleaner, Blue/Shield as well as their Fader Lube and Gold products in various forms. Unfortunately, Cramolin is not available in a pure solution in the US anymore. Mixing the pure solution with Mineral Spirits was a way to make your own cleaning solution for less $$ and it worked great.
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I've had some good experiences with Stabilant 22; I've seen (heard) it fix a microphone/cable combination that had become a little crackly. I'm not sure I believe the company's explanations of how the product works, though.
^^ Expensive stuff, I've been considering picking up a bottle but uncertain of which S22 strength to pick up and is it really better than CAIG's product line. What variety solution do you reccomend?
I'm currently using CAIG DeOxit Red/Cleaner, Blue/Shield as well as their Fader Lube and Gold products in various forms. Unfortunately, Cramolin is not available in a pure solution in the US anymore. Mixing the pure solution with Mineral Spirits was a way to make your own cleaning solution for less $$ and it worked great.
Found this explanation in a rec.audio.tech
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.audio.tech/x-XIfP2PJQQ
Deoxit is a contact cleaner that leaves a small conductive film to prevent corrosion.
Stabilant 22 is gap filling polymer that is conductive only over small distances. It needs to be applied to clean connectors. If you have an old connector that is loose and intermittent and you are unable to replace it, stabilant 22 will bridge the gap between contacts for you.
EDIT/UPDATE. Many engineers are crying foul on Stabilant's audiophile snake oil claims.
There's a technote on CAIG (Makers of DeOxit) with their take on the differences between the products.
http://store.caig.com/s.nl/ctype.KB/it.I/id.1977/KB.215/.f
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I've never compared the available products and don't know the chemistry or physics that describes them. It's just that Jerry Bruck sells Stabilant 22, and was talking it up to me a few years back. I was much more resistant than he was to the claims about how the product supposedly works; it's an old story with the two of us. But he gave me a tiny sample in a plastic envelope, which then sat on my desk and got covered by a huge pile of papers.
Then later when I had this minor problem with a microphone/cable combination, I was somehow able to find the sample. I used it and the problem cleared up right away. That doesn't necessarily mean that the product fixed the problem. But the product didn't prevent the problem from being solved, either. Huzzah! My one data point.
[digression into the philosophy of David Hume omitted, but the theme was: If you really believe that causality is all in the human mind, what (if anything) do you do in response to that belief?]
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I use deoxit red and gold with a contact cleaner first.
Find big bottles of deoxit ted. Radio shack has small ones. I found the bigger ones at Guitar center....
One can usually lasts awhile and I spray in on my home stereo connections too.
-p
Or I have taken 90% isopropal alchohol and cleaned my noisy line in on the edirol hr09 by using guysonic method. Dip stereo connector into solution, plug into line in. Twist and turn plug. Leave a minute. Pull out and let dry. It works too.
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Any suggested prefered sources for the Caig products other than RadioShack, GuitarCenter, or direct from Caig on-line? After many years my supply is finally near need of replishment. Also, any real need for a dedicated contact-cleaner in addition to DeoxitGold? I find Gold works beter or is at least faster as a cleaner than 90% isopropal alchohol. Or maybe the slight fizzing up while eating the grime has simply charmed me. To extend the supply and cut down on overspray, I tend to spray just a bit on a cotton swab and wipe contacts. Should I try a different format like the little jar with the fingernail polish brush rather than the spray can?
[digression into the philosophy of David Hume omitted, but the theme was: If you really believe that causality is all in the human mind, what (if anything) do you do in response to that belief?]
Answer (in irony): You outwit yourself. ;)
We tend to think of causality as a specific, direct chain of events- a forward progression in time as considered form a perspective of the past, looking forwards along the chain of events towards the future - this leading to that. It is interesting to flip one's perspective and consider the same forward progression through time as viewed from the opposite direction: Rather than attempting to link a very specific causal series to a specific outcome (this makes that happen), re-framing the causality series as a particular outcome arising when certain preconditional events are satisfied. (that happening requires these particular preconditions). Perhaps the same, but it frees my thinking towards considering alternate probable causes. Specific but narrow in the first case, open but non-specific in the second.
Philisophical angles on contact cleaning, dig it!
A spilled beer caused the short.
A short may be caused by sloppy beer handling.
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I've bought Caig stuff online at both Parts-Express.com (Ohio), and Micro Tools (Calif). Most electronics vendors have it, too. Maybe even check Amazon.
I have aerosol and teeny tubes of red and gold, and faderlube. I often spray a cotton swab with Red or apply from the vial, and use that on male XLRs, then use the aerosol extension tube on female XLRs.
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Super Contact Cleaner made by MG Chemicals is what I'm using now. I read some negative things about Caig. Unfortunately I don't recall where I read that. I used Caig in the past and was happy enough with it.
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How often do you guys clean your connectors? (lots of opportunity for jokes here)
Frequently just to be safe? A few times a year? When you notice problems?
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Couple times a year, usually when pre-rigging a setup for a festival weekend in the spring and another in the fall, and of course if problems become apparent.