[konut]

Its been recommended, by more than a few, that periodic cleaning of sockets and connectors will go a long way to ensure the signal from being degraded. Are there tools avaliable that will clean both the sockets and connectors of both cables and recepticles of both RCA and XLR connections, female and male? 

[Fiji5555]

Use Deoxit products....apply on the connectors and plug them in and out over and over....no special tools needed.  http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.292/.f

[Toka]

Yep. Deoxit first, ProGold second...no fuss, no muss.

[TheChairGuy]

Double yep here...that's what I do fairly regularly 

[gooberdude]

Inadvertently i stumbled across a great tool to use Caig or any other mfgr products with, especially effective on RCA's.

they are Japanese Q-tips.   You have to get them at a Japanese supply store.   There are 2 kinds i've seen, both make our US made q-tips look quite ineffective.

the cotton is so bound to the stick that it won't come off, even when soaked in water for a while.

This year i've discovered both japanese Q-tips and Jap duct tape.  both are far superior to what's avail in the US.

occasionally i run across this stuff when people leave things behind after a move-out of the bldg that I manage.    the japanese always stack their leftovers in neat piles, and label everything so our staff knows what is what.

recently a friend went to a huge Japanese store here & found both kinds of Q-tips in the baby section.  Haven't had any luck scoring another roll of the duct tape.

I used to use 99% rubbing alchohol on my inputs & outputs, but i just spent good $ on an aerosol spray of 100% pure...no clue if its any better, but at least this stuff doesn't have additives to keep folk from drinking it.

i like caig products as well...

[TheChairGuy]

Matt/gooberdude,

Unless that Japanese store is close to you or sells those q-tips cheap, you can also find them at Radio Shack. I haven't bought a pack for a while, but they are lint free and have long wooden sticks that the cotton ball is tightly spun to.

[Steve Eddy]

Go down to your local WalMart, Walgreens, or other discount drug store and pick up some of these. Quite useful for many jobs beyond female vanity.



se

[gooberdude]

SE, i knew you had a trick to taming the unibrow!


hey TCG, i'll have to check Rat Shack.   the q-tips i have are $1 for 150 count.
I took them to a local repair shop to show them off & they told me to contact a hospital supply outfit...i think they are the same as from Rat Shack, but much cheaper in bulk.   

Last time i visited Rat Shack they had a sale on Caig products.  i scored a pen of Deoxit & ProGold for $3 each. 

i've heard of people using pipe cleaners as well.  these are real cheap @ Wal-Greens.   

how do folks clean XLR's?  both male and female ends???

[Steve Eddy]

SE, i knew you had a trick to taming the unibrow!

Unibrow!? What unibrow!?

how do folks clean XLR's?  both male and female ends???

I use the same tool for both. For the males, I just go into the socket and move it around sort of figure-eight fashion around all the pins.

se

[gooberdude]

oooooffffff...all the japanese duct tape in the world couldn't help that dude!

good to have some humor back 'round these parts...

[konut]

Thanks guys!

[SET Man]

Hey!

   Yup! I do clean my connections and sockets, usually very 6 months

   I just use ProGold G5 and this seem to work fine for me for many years now.

   But I think in the future this will be much harder to do. Think about  it. With all new type of connections today of which are much smaller with more contacts points. Like HDMI type.... man! how do you really clean this thing?

    Oh! well, for now I like to keep my connectors and sockets clean.

Take care,
Buddy

[rabpaul]

Have never ever cleaned anything.
I have been mulling the idea of getting contact enhancers e.g Walker SST or XtremeAV Quicksilver but the thought of cleaning, applying the stuff has got me wondering if its worth all the trouble (I gather it is). I am sure you can tell that I hate the idea of unplugging everything and cleaning pins, contacts etc.
Its not clear to me if I need to repeat this or how often? Any advice?

[djbnh]

Have never ever cleaned anything.
I have been mulling the idea of getting contact enhancers e.g Walker SST or XtremeAV Quicksilver but the thought of cleaning, applying the stuff has got me wondering if its worth all the trouble (I gather it is). I am sure you can tell that I hate the idea of unplugging everything and cleaning pins, contacts etc.
Its not clear to me if I need to repeat this or how often? Any advice?

Re: Walker SST - I've applied it to each contact area / component / etc. only once and have not needed to reapply. If you plug and unplug components / PCs / RCAs / speaker wires / phono cartridge pins regularly, I think you'd have to reapply at some point. Lloyd Walker of Walker Audio and his web site may be of greater assistance; the web link provides directions, etc. Mr. Walker, in my experience, is quite responsive to e-mail queries.

[beachbum]

I second the use of Walker SST, just did my amp connections, had to disconnect as i added mapleshade platforms under them. I clean with contact spray we use in the elevator industry, then use the applicator's supplied, use a very small amount then come back with the other side of applicator and wipe one more time.
I have already used SST at work on elevators which have hundreds of connections. SST works extremely well at home and at work.