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

[Kingrex]

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

I would not use this. Anything abrasive is going to create micro grooves and ridges. And then you have metal dust/grit loose in the hole unless you somehow clean it out.

Even the 2000 grit paper I use needs a 3500 grit polish to follow it. After polishing I wash the parts in hot water, dry them with a cloth, then start wiping with deoxit immediately. Im amazed how much wiping with deoxit it takes to.get all the polish out of wherever its embedded. At least 4 passes of cleaning.

 

[Kingrex]

These will fit:

Amazon.com

Thanks. I just put them in my cart. Now, what fits in a driver and signal tube socket.
I tried cotton twirled around a toothpick for driver tube holes. That failed. The cotton came off. Then I had to bend the end of a needle to make a barb and pull it out. PiTA.

 

[Tuckers]

what fits in a driver and signal tube socket.

There did used to be a purpose made cleaner tool for tube sockets. Don't remember what it was called.

 

[Lee]

There did used to be a purpose made cleaner tool for tube sockets. Don't remember what it was called.

DeoxIT® Gold Vacuum Tube Kit, #SK-GxMD - CAIG

DeoxIT® Gold Vacuum Tube KitIncludes:DeoxIT® D25L-25C, 25 mL bottle,DeoxIT® Gold GXMD-2DB, Brush Applicator,B-SS116, stainless steel precision cleaning brush, 1/16" dia., 4" overall length, loop end,Lint-free swabs, brushes, cloths,Display box, (8.0 x 5.0 x 1.5")If purchased separately =...

caig.com

 

[Kingrex]

That Caig clean kits look like they might work on a RCA or KT88 and larger. Not a 6922 or 6SN7.

 

[Al M.]

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.

Did my semi-annual cleaning again a few days ago, reliably with the above described effects.

A small, somewhat time-consuming nuisance, but totally worth it.

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

theese are good for tube sockets and female panel connectors

 

[Another Johnson]

theese are good for tube sockets and female panel connectors

Great idea for a lot of cleaning needs but … it may be too aggressive for tube sockets. They tend to lose their springiness/grip with repeated insertions.

The current owner of CJ advised me NOT to clean sockets. The necessary R&R of tubes is enough to keep them clean.
He also advised against using tubes with plated pins since the plating makes the diameter larger.

He was in charge of CJ’s shop and manufacturing before buying the company, so he had a lot of first hand experience.

 

[Al M.]

Great idea for a lot of cleaning needs but … it may be too aggressive for tube sockets. They tend to lose their springiness/grip with repeated insertions.

The current owner of CJ advised me NOT to clean sockets. The necessary R&R of tubes is enough to keep them clean.
He also advised against using tubes with plated pins since the plating makes the diameter larger.

He was in charge of CJ’s shop and manufacturing before buying the company, so he had a lot of first hand experience.

Good to know, thanks. I do not clean tube sockets either, but I do clean all audio cable connections.

 

[Al M.]

theese are good for tube sockets and female panel connectors
View attachment 160873

I hope you pay attention that they don't go too deep into the female connectors. I always use pipe cleaners but make sure that I restrain depth of insertion, holding them "on a leash" with my fingers as it were. You don't want to accidentally damage the electronics inside your gear.