Cleaning Pots and Faders on a Mixer

[elmacaco]

Hi all, I am cleaning up a very dusty topaz, and I wonder about what you guys use on pro boards to clean sliders/pots. Do you relube? I'm going to use Cailube at the end of the process, but I am unsure of deoxit since I know on metal it gets under the plating and can cause problems.
If you use anykind of spray, does the problem reoccur on the fixed pots? How long afterwards? How much do you spray into pots and faders?

Compressed air? I have quite a few pots with slight crackles, and rather than the excersize fix, I'd like to really get it out to avoid frequent problems.

Also, how often do you guys clean and maintain your boards.

I have searched the archives here and a few other places, but they seldom go into detail about history of use and actual application techniques, mostly just the name of the product used.

Any insight greatly appreciated.

 

[pucho812]

Have you tried contact cleaner?

 

[elmacaco]

I am researching different contact cleaners, I have deoxit and progold from caig, but I have been warned that these can cause damage if used incorrectly. Which do you use, and how often?

Dissasembling the topaz isn't too much fun. Man do I wish it was modular!

 

[BYacey]

Be careful of contact cleaners with silicon. I have tried these in the past, and the pots and faders feel like they have grit in them. I think it washes away the lubricating greases that allow smooth movement. Caig has a recent product out for pots and sliding controls, but I haven't tried it yet.

 

[elmacaco]

Thanks, I got the Cailube already and will try it out on the pots today.

I tested their Progold on a pot and it made it turn really easy, too easy if you ask me, so I'll try the cailube and see how the combo works.

 

[schneiderman]

I've always had good results from CAIG D5 and the other CAIG products.
I"ve been using them for over 20 years now and never seen any adverse
affects from there use. The key to using them on pots is "a little goes a long way" or you'll end up with the too loose scenerio you described.
Anyway just my 2 cents. hope it helps. :grin:

 

[Scenaria]

never really had any luck with the caig stuff. it worked for a little then got worse! because the lubricant would get sticky and attract even more dirt..

best thing I did was pull out the tracks.. wipe them down with some alcohol.. let em dry and put em back together.. also used a little oil on the shaft that the fader slides on (keith likes using his oil from the horn he plays

anyhow.. I do know P&G has/had a powder you can apply to the track which makes it pretty smooth..