2. amps-preamps
  3. 153722-33344

WD-40 for electronics

I forgot who said it, but Im sure it was said. So I will ask the question... for "OLD" screechy volume pots and connections is there a miracle grease, solvent, or lubricant? Or did I read or hear this in my dreams??? If not Lets create a snake oil of "Snake Oil's" and get filthy like Mike at My Pillow. To his credit its a great product. Much better than the 60 dollar "Audiophile 12 inch Inner-tube" I bought to go under my 5 disk carousel Carver CD Player.With My Denon 270 receiver and if Im not mistaken DCM Time Window Speakers along with the first pair of rosenut HSU 30 somthing inch tall by around 14 inches wide cardboard tube subwoofers with a black knit around them. God did I think I was all that... Haha I can laugh at myself I hope you guys can too!

But seriously if there is a spray or grease to help... Please chime in... I need it.
128x128haywood310
sfar's avatar
sfar
1,761 posts
 
The ’WD’ in WD-40 stands for water displacement. That’s what it’s designed for, primarily to prevent rust. It’s not a very effective lubricant and only a moderately effective solvent.

Spent half an hour or so last weekend treating every pot and switch inside a McIntosh C26 preamp with Caig Deoxit D5 because of a lower volume in one channel and a slight crackle when the balance knob was turned back and forth. Everything sounded great afterward.
teo_audio
2,197 posts
 
wd-40 = no.

silicone added cleaners and lubricants = no.

zero residue contact cleaners = yes.

Aftermarket lubricants and cleaners combo fluids or sprays... with no silicone... used after the zero residue cleaner has been used to clean up the pot or switch = sometimes yes.

that pairing is the best long term solution, IMO and IME.

(based on my experience in handling and working on the range of a thousand older audio items)
The trick, IMO and IME... is to clean and rinse out with a fairly aggressive zero residue cleaner, and then use a cleaner that is advertised as a lubricant/cleaner, in the now dry but clean contact point.

If it is done with just the lubricant cleaner, a single shot cleaning, not a two stage one.....in my experience, too much of the detritus/crap remains, on a set of contacts that did not get a proper cleaning in the first place. What I mean, is the problem that was attempted to be fixed,  comes back again, far sooner, if it is just a one stage lubricant/cleaner that is used. And never anything with silicone in it. It makes for an impossible mess down the road.
edcyn
1,876 posts
 
DeoxIT has always worked on my PrimaLuna's knobs when they've gotten noisy.  The stuff has also always improved fidelity.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,432 posts
 
Deoxit for cleaning potentiometer tracks:

https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-F5S-H6-DeoxIT-FaderLube-Spray/dp/B00006LVF1/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=deoxit+fader+lube&qid=1578695010&sr=8-4
4krowme's avatar
4krowme
542 posts
 
+1 for De-Oxit. Why would anyone use a product that is not intended for the application in the first place? I am anti WD40 except for its intended purpose, but usually don't even try to persuade others that believe it is good for just about anything.
 Way back when, I remember a spray expressly made for TV tuners, and it stated its purpose up front that it was Only good for that use for whatever reason.
 I guess it should go without saying about many products out there such as glues, lubricants, paints etc. There usually is a best choice for a given application. 
More to discover