Cleaning valve pins

[goraman]

I clean my valve pins in the summer, We have a product here called CLR. It's pretty strong stuff but it removes oxidization and scale. I mix it 50/50 with water in a small saucer and let the pins stand in it for 30 seconds then rinse well and dry. I then swab them with Deoxit and pop them back in till next summer.

http://www.jelmar.com/CLRbasic.htm

[jostber]

I clean my valve pins in the summer, We have a product here called CLR. It's pretty strong stuff but it removes oxidization and scale. I mix it 50/50 in a small saucer and let the pins stand in it for 30 seconds then rinse well and dry. I then swab them with Deoxit and pop them back in till next summer.

http://www.jelmar.com/CLRbasic.htm

Thanks for the tip. Good to know they are greenvinient over at Jelmar:

http://www.jelmar.com/epa.htm

[Si74]

I use on of my wife's nail files then a thin coating of Silclear.
Usually once a year. Has in the past cured noisy valves and definitely
sounds better particularly on nos tubes where the pins are a bit tarnished.

[goraman]

I just did a major cleaning,inspired by this thread and the addition of a new tube DAC.
In reading the instructions for the new DAC it clearly states not to use contact enhancers on the tube pins as the enhancer turns to gum and sledge in the sockets over time and the only way to eliminate it is to replace the sockets! So I cleaned them and just rinsed them with water and dried them with a soft towel and hair dryer.
P.S. I just love this new DAC.

[nat8808]

Yep,would agree with this Marco.I've known dirty valve pins not only to degrade sound,but actually cause problems regarding clicks and pops, and I've even cured a small hum problem by cleaning them.

Me too.

I wouldn't use too abrasive sand paper though, I'd use a metal polish compound on a cloth and rub them each. Even smokers toothpaste is probably effective (I've used whitening toothpaste to clean metal before - any slight abrasive paste will work).

I did notice your choice of words Marco, "a cleaner, fresher sound" - I hope that was on purpose cos that just screams to me "placibo effect" to hear a sound that relates to the abstract actions (abstract from the valve's point of view) you just performed. Hopefully though it was said on purpose!

Gold pins are self cleaning of course - the oxidised gold compound falls off easily hence why gold plating is used. So you really only need to rub those with a cloth or just plug and unplug a few times.

[nat8808]

You should now have improved sound compared to what you started with. Cleaning the pins on your valves will simply provide a better connection and allow you to hear more of what the valves are doing

Marco.

To take a more scientific angle - I'd say those impurities act like semi-conductors, tiny diodes over parts of the surface. Imagine, effectively tiny transistors gathering all over your valve pins!

[Cotlake]

Another method. Stand your valves with just the pins covered for an hour or so in a bath of Coke

[Ali Tait]

Aye, I do this too. Works well.