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Silly question - Is it advisable to clean valve pins?I've just been sorting mine and found loads I haven't used for years,I'll be giving the old ones a try as I have some quite desirable ones
Anyway what would be recommended for cleaning said pins?
Thanks in advance :)
Wakefield Turntables
14-03-2020, 10:44
It's not going to do them any harm!
It's not going to do them any harm!
:)
Haselsh1
14-03-2020, 10:58
I've used valve amps since 1997 and have never cleaned any valve pins but I do make a habit of taking the valves out and reseating them every couple of months or so. I guess that is almost the same as cleaning them.
An old trick,
is to soak the pins in coke overnight, will visibly look a lot cleaner.
Something in the coke dissolves the mush that sticks to the pins.
After rinsing and letting the pins air dry, always good to treat them with a contact enhancer like DeOxit.
Dont run a valve amp anymore, but did this successfully a few times with some old NOS valves I bought.
An old trick,
is to soak the pins in coke overnight, will visibly look a lot cleaner.
Something in the coke dissolves the mush that sticks to the pins.
After rinsing and letting the pins air dry, always good to treat them with a contact enhancer like DeOxit.
Dont run a valve amp anymore, but did this successfully a few times with some old NOS valves I bought.
Jeez - I missed that one, mate!:eek: So you're no longer using Nick's gorgeous hand-built creation, which you raved about so much - when did that happen, and what are you using now?
Marco.
Hi Neil,
Silly question - Is it advisable to clean valve pins?I've just been sorting mine and found loads I haven't used for years,I'll be giving the old ones a try as I have some quite desirable ones
Anyway what would be recommended for cleaning said pins?
Thanks in advance :)
Yes, gently, and as long as they're not loose, which can sometimes be the case with old valves.
The best tool for the job, bar none (and I have lots of experience with this) is a fibreglass pen, such as this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fibreglass-Abrasive-Cleaning-Pencil-Refills/dp/B003YSWJDG
Simply rub the pins with that until they're gleaming (watching you don't get any splinters in your fingers), then clean off any excess particles with Isopropyl alcohol. Job done!:cool:
Marco.
Hi Neil,
Yes, gently, and as long as they're not loose, which can sometimes be the case with old valves.
The best tool for the job, bar none (and I have lots of experience with this) is a fibreglass pen, such as this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fibreglass-Abrasive-Cleaning-Pencil-Refills/dp/B003YSWJDG
Simply rub the pins with that until they're gleaming (watching you don't get any splinters in your fingers), then clean off any excess particles with Isopropyl alcohol. Job done!:cool:
Marco.
Cheers for that:)
No worries, Neil. Defo get yourself one of those pens, as they work a treat!:cool:
Marco.
Jeez - I missed that one, mate!:eek: So you're no longer using Nick's gorgeous hand-built creation, which you raved about so much - when did that happen, and what are you using now?
Marco.
Aye, moved on from it now Marco.
Was a gorgeous sounding thing, but cost of ownership (at £1500ish a year for new valves) was a bit expensive to run.
Know I could have saved money by fitting cheaper ones, tried that one time but was a false economy...that amp deserved the best.
Anyhoo...
Also,
I was making changes anyway in the system going forward?
Wanted to just enjoy the music and not worry about the kit, which is why I sold on both the Michell turntable and Nick’s superb 300B power amp (which has gone to a happy home).
With my Michell TT I was always wondering if the spring bounce was set up right, was the arm set up properly...kind of thing.
And not enjoying playing vinyl the was I should have been!
And must say with the valve amp there was a bit of that too..
”Were the valves wearing out, is that hum I’m hearing in the background...?”
Saving up for the valve amps final replacement (will take a couple of years), but in the meantime brought through a “stand in” Rotel power amp from the office system.
Sounds pretty good and is a good match for my Impulse H2 horns, not close to what the valve amp was doing though.
But hey, that’s ok. :-)
it’s temporary, and it’s a case of one step back, two steps forward looking ahead.
The valve amps final replacement will be endgame, in the way my P10 ‘table is.
Just want to enjoy the music nowadays and focus less on the kit, getting there, just a couple of bits to slot in.
£1,500 a year running cost on valves sounds a bit steep - what are output valves?
Coca-Cola contains a small amout of phosphoric acid It will dissolve a tooth overnight, and apparently the Italians used to use it to clean the chrome trim on their cars!
Elrogs...
and pre valves too.
Cost of ownership can be harsh, but worth it...just not EVERY year.
(And I drive an Italian car, so need to check my chrome trim. :)
Lawrence001
14-03-2020, 20:57
Aren't they from Lord of the Rings??
Sounds like it...Elrond was it?
Big shiny glow-ey things, on my previous valve amp.
The pins were clean too. :)
https://i.imgur.com/9ZdZUUE.jpg
Lawrence001
15-03-2020, 22:14
Sounds like it...Elrond was it?
Big shiny glow-ey things, on my previous valve amp.
The pins were clean too. :)
https://i.imgur.com/9ZdZUUE.jpgElrond + Balrogs = Elrogs
anthonyTD
16-03-2020, 15:41
Its more important to keep the valve base female pins tight, then all one has to do is pull each valve out of its base every couple of months, and re-insert them, that way, the tight pins in the base will re-scrape the contact area of the valve pins, and all's good again for a while, cleaning the area of valve pins that make no contact in the amp's valve bases serve no purpose, as far the amp's valve base, and valve is concerned.
I seem to recall the guys on the World Designs forum had success with Wonder Wheels cleaner. Small amount in a saucer just enough to cover the pins with the valve stood upright and left overnight.
Frankyc2003
16-03-2020, 17:31
Sounds like it...Elrond was it?
Big shiny glow-ey things, on my previous valve amp.
The pins were clean too. :)
https://i.imgur.com/9ZdZUUE.jpg
Gorgeous piece of kit, but I totally understand where you come from.
I used to have 300B amp as well, and the cost of these was becoming prohibitive.
And as you so rightly said, the nagging feeling every time you switch it on that something might be amiss...
Same with my Gyro, because the thing was bought second hand I never fully trusted the springs and the motor...
Kit paranoia!
Not the best way to enjoy your music in the end.
Very true Francois, before you know it that nagging feeling creeps in...did for me, to detriment of enjoying the kit I had.
Heard the latest news about the 15 day lockdown in France, stay safe.
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