Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum
Other Stuff => Solid State => Topic started by: spunko on October 16, 2021, 05:32:20 pm
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So, my friend had the brilliant idea to clean his console Soundcraft UI12 with WD-40. He sprayed the thing on all the inputs including USB port.
The thing is flooded inside so I want to clean it. Someone mentioned that I use dish soap and then thinner to remove any residual water or wd40 that are left.
What would be the best way to clean this WD-40 mess?
The console is working great by the way.
Thank you!
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WD-40 is 'just' a fancy grade of kerosene. Light oil. Eventually it will all evaporate. (Which is why your door always squeaks a week later.)
If it hasn't killed it yet, the WD-40 may do far less harm than soap or water. Lots of electronics run fine in oil.(*)
"Thinner" can be almost anything. Alcohol is fairly safe and somewhat effective.
(*) I recall a 1940s article about a controller for a rotogravure press with that ink-solvent which blew-up a lot. Putting a tube computer in the next room was unsatisfactory somehow. So they put the works in an aquarium and topped it up with 20-weight.
"To meet the Underwriters specifications it was decided to immerse all electronic control elements in oil. To this end, a test program was undertaken and the effect of immersion in transformer oil studied on sine wave generators, induction generators, two-phase motors, potentiometers, wire, vacuum tubes, capacitors, sockets, and terminal strips. These tests were conducted over a four -month period and as a result it was possible to obtain all necessary components as standard items which would satisfy the oil immersion requirement."
https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Electronics/40s/Electronics-1947-11.pdf magazine page 108 (PDF p118)
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I think PRR is right about letting it evaporate. If it is lodged in some connectors, you could try blowing it out with compressed air to speed the process.
LOL, you can't make this stuff up, right?