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  3. 167579-10249

Fire and smoke damage

Hello guys, I had a major fire that wiped out my house. My audio gear was saved but with major smoke damage and possibly some minor water damage. The gear consist of ARC LS25 pre,  ARC PH3 phono amp, ARC D200 amp and a Teac VRDS 25x cd player. The speakers were Maggie MMG's but one got stepped on and the frame is cracked. My question to you guys is how do I go about cleaning the inside of my gear to get off any smoke or possible water that might be left on the boards. I turned all the gear on its side and just a bight of water came out of the ARC PH3. I will pull out all the tubes and clean the pins and sockets but what else do I need to do.
Thanks much,Mark
mktracy
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,716 posts
 
PS:

If your insurance carrier does not come through you might try this (see link) on the circuits boards et cetera if you want to attempt a DIY cleaning of your favorite gear.

https://www.amazon.com/MG-Chemicals-Electrosolve-Residue-Electronics/dp/B005DNR0N4/ref=asc_df_B005DN...

I have been using it for maybe 15 years without a problem (even on plastic parts).

Before my favorite was Kontak cleaner, but other than the expense the fumes from it triggered headaches (it smelled like naptha and/or dry cleaning fluid).

The MG stuff cleaned just as well (and it's from Canada:-).

Anyway, hope you and yours are doing OK in dealing with the loss of your home, also assume that you are fairly local to me (WHD) from some of your previous comments here about Brooks B.

DeKay
mktracy's avatar
mktracy OP
91 posts
 
Hey guys thanks for the info. Waiting to hear back from insurance company. Gear is really not water damaged but heavy smoke damage. The room the gear was in did not suffer any fire damage at all just heavy black smoke and what little water come in the room was from the ceiling above. Right now gear is at a neighbors house, looks pretty good but you can see the smoke on the gear.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
mktracy
 Gear is really not water damaged but heavy smoke damage.

If you end up with it yourself, cheapest way get a good 1" brush and spay and brush everything a couple of times with WD-40, even the boards and trcks top and bottom, then blow it all out with compressed air and leave it for a couple of days.

Cheers George
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,716 posts
 
I would not use WD-40 on a bet...

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3521361

I don't even use it on my tools.

Let the gear dry out and then use the non-caustic Electrosolve that I linked...

DeKay


georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
WD-40 is fine for this soot removal, used it many times in blown up amps that have smoked up, and it eventually dries out completely.
Should never be used as a lubricant, as it only lubes while it is wet.

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