Cleaning Valve pins

[twotone]

Hi guys, someone one here, think it was Ali Tait, posted info a few weeks ago about cleaning valve pins with either coke (the drink) or Irn Bru, am I dreaming this or does anyone have any info about cleaning the pins or a link, please?

Thanks

Tony

[myles]

I'd use a can of Servisol Super 10 contact cleaner personally. Does what it says on the tin.


Or is that Ronseal?

[twotone]

I'd use a can of Servisol Super 10 contact cleaner personally. Does what it says on the tin.

Or is that Ronseal?

Thanks Myles, think I've got a can of that somewhere.

[struth]

Coke works on so many levels:eyebrows:

[twotone]

Found it:cool:


http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?4983-Cleaning-valve-pins-suggestions&p=91314#post91314

[daytona600]

after cleaning the valve pins i use Walker Audio SST- Super Silver Treatment

[Ali Tait]

Yep, Coke will do the job nicely, try leaving a penny overnight and see how it comes out. ;-)

[walpurgis]

I may be wrong, but I'm fairly sure that acids affect the crystal glass of valves. Which is why you are not supposed to handle valves with bare fingers. Perhaps a little research may be wise before using Coke.

[Ali Tait]

Used it for years without any problems.

[Barry]

I may be wrong, but I'm fairly sure that acids affect the crystal glass of valves. Which is why you are not supposed to handle valves with bare fingers. Perhaps a little research may be wise before using Coke.

The idea of not handling the glass of valves with bare fingers, is to prevent leaving any greasy finger prints on the glass. Such grease marks can cause the glass to crack when it heats up.

[walpurgis]

The idea of not handling the glass of valves with bare fingers, is to prevent leaving any greasy finger prints on the glass. Such grease marks can cause the glass to crack when it heats up.

Yes, I'm aware that's said. But isn't it because the skin's grease (sweat) is acidic and micro etches the glass surface causing weaknesses?

[twotone]

Well fingers crossed, I used the 'coke method' last night and also filed the pins with a nail file to clean them, and so far so good, my amp seems to be working fine now:cool:

[Barry]

Yes, I'm aware that's said. But isn't it because the skin's grease (sweat) is acidic and micro etches the glass surface causing weaknesses?

I think it is more a question of differential expansion of the glass: the fingerprints create 'cold spots'. However this faliure mode is extremely rare, to the point that it is not usually mentioned, just as it is not neccessarily suggested you handle incandescent tungsten light bulbs with gloved hands.

Halogen bulbs as used in car headlights and projectors run at much higher temperatures. These should not be handled with bare fingers.

My take on it all is that good quality audio valves are very expensive these days, so it is best to handle them using lint-free gloves.

[mik_rik]

If this works it's my good idea, if not ,I got it from one of the American forums;), get a pencil with a rubber on the end and use the rubber to clean the pins,apparently it works very well.Never tried it myself tho'

[mik_rik]

ps ,it may be a bad idea to use a nail file as it may leave rough spots on the surfaces which may cause "micro " arc spots between the two surfaces ,leading to further cleaning being necessary and so on [possibly eventually leading to valve or valvebase needing to be replaced].Proper ray of sunshine are'nt I.:rolleyes:-just something to keep an eye on. regards Mick

[struth]

Thought you were gonna stick em up your nose aka Blackadder:eek:

[mik_rik]

When I read it,Ithought the "poster" had something a bit different up HIS nose:eyebrows:

[Rush2112]

Not a valve user at present but was for a long time and my preference was a good rub with duraglit then clean cloth to burnish and finish with a good wipe round them with Kontak and then a quick check with the meter for the bias settings and sit back and enjoy !

[wiicrackpot]

Please don't use a file, try one of these.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Scratch-brush-fibreglass-gives-brushed-finish-removes-rust-scratches/201210867619?_trksid=p2141725.c100204.m3164&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%2 6asc%3D20140407115239%26meid%3D28b760f22b0b43e2945 e36867f81e14b%26pid%3D100204%26prg%3D2014040711523 9%26rk%3D10%26rkt%3D30%26sd%3D281178279715

[Barry]

Please don't use a file, try one of these.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Scratch-brush-fibreglass-gives-brushed-finish-removes-rust-scratches/201210867619?_trksid=p2141725.c100204.m3164&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%2 6asc%3D20140407115239%26meid%3D28b760f22b0b43e2945 e36867f81e14b%26pid%3D100204%26prg%3D2014040711523 9%26rk%3D10%26rkt%3D30%26sd%3D281178279715

Excellent suggestion!

[struth]

I use Coke actually.....no kidding! it will clean anything.... The state police use it for various things unmentionable here :eyebrows:

[Barry]

I use Coke actually.....no kidding! it will clean anything.... The state police use it for various things unmentionable here :eyebrows:

The Italians use to use it in the '60s to clean the chrome on their sports cars!

[struth]

Yes, it just shows what it does (DID) to your (MY) teeth...:doh:

[Barry]

Yes, it just shows what it does (DID) to your (MY) teeth...:doh:

Coke contains (or used to contain) phosphoric acid, which despite its name is only a very weak acid. The story that a tooth placed in a glass of Coke would dissolve overnight is a bit of a myth.

[awkwardbydesign]

The story that a tooth placed in a glass of Coke would dissolve overnight is a bit of a myth.
He says with a lisp. :lol:

[struth]

its great for removing rust too....i used to use it if i ran out of rust remover.

[Jimbo]

Just used one of these glass fibre pens to clean some valve pins tonight -superb tool!

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k424/Spendorsp2/image_zpsf1jntvy1.jpeg (http://s326.photobucket.com/user/Spendorsp2/media/image_zpsf1jntvy1.jpeg.html)

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k424/Spendorsp2/image_zps665u0ai1.jpeg (http://s326.photobucket.com/user/Spendorsp2/media/image_zps665u0ai1.jpeg.html)

Cheers Marco:cool:

[Marco]

No worries, mate. Glad it worked. For me, there simply isn't a more effective tool available for this job :)

Marco.