Deoxit

[Mick Bailey]

Servisol is really poor on pots. I've used it for years as a contact cleaner for slider switches and the like, but it will kill a pot just like WD40 - works for a while, then it's worse than before. Whenever someone says they have a scratchy pot and they've sprayed it with Servisol, I automatically think "That's a new pot, then".

[diydidi]

Mick.
What would you recommend as an alternative to unobtainium=Deoxit?. I saw a video last night on youtube of a guy that uses a can of IPA on faders, and then follows it up with a vaseline spray.
Any thoughts on that??

[S2udio]

Yup thats what I have used for the last 20 years.......never had a problem on many a desk
Deoxit......just marketing !

[diydidi]

Yup thats what I have used for the last 20 years.......never had a problem on many a desk
Deoxit......just marketing !

You mean Servisol??

[g1]

You mean Servisol??

I think he meant the IPA followed by lube.

[52 Bill]

I've been around long enough to have seen the flavor of the week cleaners come and go, Blue Shower, WD-40 and Gunk carb cleaner, Video tape head cleaner. Depending upon what the problem with the pot was, most any tuner/contact cleaner worked to some degree or another. You had to watch out for the stuff that melted plastic or guitar lacquer but most would clean a pot or a switch. Probably a good spritz of air would fine for some pots.

If the DeoxIt is too hard or expensive to find, then test the stuff that you can get and use whatever works best for you. I used to try not to use DeoxIt on everything and just save it for the tough ones, but it just got to be too much of a hassle to keep two different sprays in stock.

[potatofarmer]

Isopropyl, well it's a good solvent all right but a bit dodgy medically. The body has no means of clearing it, even from inhaled fumes, so it accumulates and causes problems, according to Dr Hulda Regehr Clark. As a cancer survivor Steve, you should be aware, and perhaps choose to avoid solvents that may cause you damage. And that goes for all the rest of yez too.

This is straight up false. Googling "Hulda Clark" was a delightful experience, but as long as you don't inhale the vapors for a prolonged period of time or chug-a-lug from the bottle you'll be fine. Don't believe me, look up an MSDS...

[ric]

This is straight up false. Googling "Hulda Clark" was a delightful experience, but as long as you don't inhale the vapors for a prolonged period of time or chug-a-lug from the bottle you'll be fine. Don't believe me, look up an MSDS...

I'm not an amp tech, but I've worked around plenty of things best not inhaled after years in the building trades and I want to weigh in on the better safe than sorry side.

I've chosen to wear an N95 in dust and organic vapor cartridge respirator in fumes. I get teased but I can take it. I've even switched to a full face after noticing some sealants and working with laquer bothered my eyes. 3M bought AO Safety so my quick drop half face respirators can't get new cartridges so I upgraded.

[S2udio]

I think he meant the IPA followed by lube.

Certainly did !

[Mick Bailey]

Mick.
What would you recommend as an alternative to unobtainium=Deoxit?.

I've been using Kontakt PR which is specifically formulated to regenerate pots. The batch I got a couple of weeks ago appears to be a slightly different formulation than before. It used to foam slightly and leave behind more lube once the solvent had evaporated. I've just used it on a Tech 21 where every pot was seriously bad and all are now working - need to see if the results are permanent with the new product. The old version worked superbly - just the smallest amount would instantly fix a bad pot. If it didn't the track was worn through or broken.

We're being taken for a ride with Deoxit outside of the US. Maybe this is due to the Hi-Fi market, or the increasingly narrow field of application. Pots have been disappearing from equipment for years so it's a niche market product. There's no reason for a can to be any more expensive than any other solvent-based aerosol product - paint, degreaser, spray adhesive or whatever.

Here in the UK the exchange rate is more favourable to US imports than it has been in a long time, but this hasn't been passed on to the public.

[g1]

We're being taken for a ride with Deoxit outside of the US.

Even in the US, the price is kind of outrageous. It may warrant being more expensive than other similar products, but not that much more expensive.

[John_H]

Even in the US, the price is kind of outrageous. It may warrant being more expensive than other similar products, but not that much more expensive.

One of those little cans lasts me a very long time. The cost per use is quite minimal. It's the same with CRC for cleaning. A little goes a long way.

[diydidi]

Got some Servisol Super10. Will report back on how good it works.

[tedmich]

Mick's KONTAKT PR is made by AG TERMOPASTY a 7 yr old Polish company and there is very little info/MSDS for it that I can find but its cheap as dirt, <$2 for 60mL in the EU.