Turtlerock Forum

what does everyone use?
have used so many different brands and almost out my electrolube stuff so wondering if anyone has any tips on what to get.

fwiw, will be used on sticky pots, faders, switches etc etc.

cheers all

rick has a favourite… i can't remember what its called but he will likely chime in
as for use - i understand you DONT use contact cleaner on faders.

Hi Dave
I use Deoxit Faderlube F5 here.
Cleans, lubricates, improves contact and protects surfaces...plastic to plastic and plastic to metal surfaces.

cheers

Ben M wrote:Hi Dave
I use Deoxit Faderlube F5 here.
Cleans, lubricates, improves contact and protects surfaces...plastic to plastic and plastic to metal surfaces.

cheers

You can get Deoxit cans from Caprina in Alexandria.

thanks for the recommendations guys, will stock up accordingly!

Deoxit DN5 (or D5, same thing) for connections and switches, Deoxit F5 (Faderlube) for pots and faders (ie anything that needs lube). Is good stuff.

I've recently had great success cleaning up a bunch of scratchy faders (alps carbon) with the following method... disassemble, Deoxit DN5 to clean, let sit for a bit, wipe off, coat of F5, good as new.

Serge at Audio Oz is your local guy for Caig... although he has recently moved to the end of the earth. http://www.audiooz.com.au/

make sure you clean all the D5 out. That stuff is not designed to be used as a contact cleaner and then not washed out.

But D5 is OK to leave on patchbays, yeah?

I suspect not .... I and some other techs have noticed that D5 cleaned contacts develop a greenish 'growth" over time

I and some other techs have noticed that D5 cleaned contacts develop a greenish 'growth" over time

Rob's on the money with that observation.

Here's my advice for servicing good quality patchbays (Switchcraft, ADC, Neutric etc).

1. I never spray anything wet inside a patchbay, even if it's an evaporative spray.
Firstly the compressed air propellent will disturb any dust residing in the patchbay and that dust will then cling to the wet surfaces before the spray has time to evaporate.

If the spray contains any oil then that oil will stay there the and any dust in the future will bind to it. Over a period of time that oil/dust combination can bridge contacts and cause you grief.

Note: The normalling contacts on patchbays are designed with a self wiping action, as the contacts make or break, the wiping action cleans the contacts.

2. The only thing you really need to clean on a patchbay is the tip, ring and sleeve of the jack.

The way to do this is with a Burnishing Tool and only when there's a problem. This is tool looks exactly like patchbay plug except it's all metal.


You simply insert the burnishing tool and rotate it a couple of times and you're done.
Use it sparingly, as they are slightly abrasive

If patch bays are in a clean enviroment and are used regularly, the action of inserting a regular patch bay plug and removing it is all that is normally required to clean it.

Use a bit of preventitive maintenance, make sure patch plugs are kept clean, and once a month insert and remove a patch cord 2 or 3 times into each jack on the bay.

Lastly if you are going to vacuum the patch bay, if possible, vacuum from the rear of the bay.

Hope this helps.

Thanks greg your posts are allways insightful:) I have been thinking about how to clean our patchbay the right way.
I guess vacuuming from underneath pulls the dust back down as to not go back on the contact is that the logic?