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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2008 9:07:27 GMT -5
I am restoring a RCA co-pilot base which was filthy with nicotine on the outside. I used this stuff called Krud Kutter from Lowes, and it was amazing. Not only did it disolve the nicotine, but it didn't harm any paint or plastics, and the smell is a non-issue. www.krudkutter.com/originalkrudkutter.aspIf anyone is into restorations, this is a must have. I cannot believe the before and after using this stuff. |
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Post by husker on Jul 18, 2008 10:56:33 GMT -5
I am restoring a RCA co-pilot base which was filthy with nicotine on the outside. I used this stuff called Krud Kutter from Home Depot, and it was amazing. Not only did it disolve the nicotine, but it didn't harm any paint or plastics, and the smell is a non-issue. www.krudkutter.com/originalkrudkutter.aspIf anyone is into restorations, this is a must have. I cannot believe the before and after using this stuff. SO you don't see any issues on these old circuit brds? I am in the process of doing 4 trams ( yea I know..I got alot of work ahead ) 1 Browning MkII and a MkIV Does it clean inside all the dust and crap on the inside of the radios as well?? |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2008 11:21:59 GMT -5
Haven't try this on circuit boards. I would recommend that you try it on a scrap, first. The way I used you clean circuit boards in the past with my old work, was to power wash them indoors under a hooded vent. Light pressure, not the deck style pressure washers. Then dry overnight in a drying over that was about 120-130 degrees. The oven looked like a file cabinet with 2 doors.
However, I do not work there anymore, and don't have those items available. So, here is what I would do. Spray and let soak for a couple minutes. Do not let dry. Then wash with water using hose (I am not sure you want to wash this down the drain or septic). Do it outside. Shake water out and use a compressor for blow remaining water our (if you have it). Repeat if still dirty. Let the board sit in a hot area like a shed or garage, for a couple days to finish drying.
The water will not hurt any of the components, as you are not soaking them. Just rinsing. I never had a unit smoke on me when I did it at work using the washer and oven. Granted, that was industrial equipment and not CBs. But the components were the same. Clearly, you couldn't do this with modern day electronics, SMD, static, etc. But i would do a test unit first, that you won't care it if dies on you.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2008 11:23:59 GMT -5
I should have said to try and blow out any loose crap, dust, before hand with a compressor. If you don't have one, get compressed air cans from BJ's or Sam's Club. A compressor is a hugely useful tool. I use the one that is used with a nailer.
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Post by Tombstone (R.I.P.) on Jul 18, 2008 18:59:24 GMT -5
I would never, never rinse a circuit board with a garden hose unless it has no components soldered to it, that's asking for trouble, you've been lucky but who am I to say?
Tombstone
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Post by Tinker53 on Jul 18, 2008 20:22:08 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2008 20:56:02 GMT -5
You can rinse it off, and I have done it. Nothing ever blew up. Granted, I has the proper tools and drying over. If you don't have that, then you must really be sure it is dry. Now, I would be care with tube units because of the high voltage. I would try to use cleaning chemicals instead. But for older circuit boards, it can be done.
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Post by BionicChicken on Jul 18, 2008 21:40:23 GMT -5
It can be done. You just have to be carefull and pay attention to what you are doing. Sometimes there is no other choice but to use water. I've heard of some people in other forums talk about using a dishwasher but that would saturate everything too much. A little rinsing and not a soaking will work.
Since you can't get Methelyne Choride or the good Freon TF your choices are limited. Sometimes flux remover works. You always take a chance of destroying any lettering or chassis numbering when you clean one. Something I've used that works good for chassis cleaning is a product called Dylek PS. It doesn't remove any lettering or hasn't so far.
I remember one Maverick 250 I worked on years ago. A gummed up mess. It sat beside a wood burning heater and the fan started making racket from all the soot in it. The owner started spraying the fan with LPS 3 chain lube....with it running. In front of him I sprayed the whole thing down..tubes and all...with laquer thinner. I let it soak about 15 minutes and then turned the water hose to it. Afterwards took an air hose and blew it out good. I let it set in a closed car trunk in 95-100 degree weather for a week. When I got it out and replaced the fan and a few other toasted parts it ran like a brand new one. Last I heard he was still hammering on it.
BC
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Post by Tombstone (R.I.P.) on Jul 19, 2008 6:32:45 GMT -5
I probably worded the hose thing wrong and sounded like a smart alec. If you rinse without soaking components, blow the board off with air and dry it as quickly and completely (like the oven thing) it will probably work. In the back of my mind I'm still leary of that though.
Tombstone
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Post by Tombstone (R.I.P.) on Jul 19, 2008 6:41:15 GMT -5
Oh..........I just noticed the dishwasher thing, I don't think that would be good!
Tombstone
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Post by BionicChicken on Jul 19, 2008 7:04:30 GMT -5
One thing I forgot to mention is that "if" you have to resort to a water hose and you blow it out with a air hose you can use an alcohol based contact cleaner to dissipate more of the moisture. This will help to get rid of what hides in the nooks and crannies around the components and such. But just make sure you let it air dry throughly to be sure. I always bring them back slowly on a variac without tubes in them to check for possible problems relating to the "Saturday Night Bath".
BC
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2008 7:54:29 GMT -5
Maybe this made a liar out of me. I went to Home Depot and thy didn't have it. Maybe they have it at Lowes. I got it at one of them.
As far as the water, you only rinse the cleaner off with it. You don't soak it. you can use a spray head to do it. The car drying is a great idea. That was basically hot hot the drying over was.
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Sandbagger
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Post by Sandbagger on Jul 19, 2008 14:55:49 GMT -5
It can be done. You just have to be carefull and pay attention to what you are doing. Sometimes there is no other choice but to use water. I've heard of some people in other forums talk about using a dishwasher but that would saturate everything too much. A little rinsing and not a soaking will work. Since you can't get Methelyne Choride or the good Freon TF your choices are limited. Sometimes flux remover works. You always take a chance of destroying any lettering or chassis numbering when you clean one. Something I've used that works good for chassis cleaning is a product called Dylek PS. It doesn't remove any lettering or hasn't so far. I remember one Maverick 250 I worked on years ago. A gummed up mess. It sat beside a wood burning heater and the fan started making racket from all the soot in it. The owner started spraying the fan with LPS 3 chain lube....with it running. In front of him I sprayed the whole thing down..tubes and all...with laquer thinner. I let it soak about 15 minutes and then turned the water hose to it. Afterwards took an air hose and blew it out good. I let it set in a closed car trunk in 95-100 degree weather for a week. When I got it out and replaced the fan and a few other toasted parts it ran like a brand new one. Last I heard he was still hammering on it. BC They say water and electricity don't mix, and the thought of soaking or cleaning the insides of any radio with water seems very foreign. I had the unfortunate cicumstance of having my Midland 13-885 become the victim of a flood back on 1987. The entire radio was submerged in muddy water for the better part of 12 hours. When I got the radio back, it was loaded with crud. The only thing I could do was blast the insides with a pressure water hose and then took a hand-held hair dryer and heated it up until dry. The radio played fine afterward except that the clock motor stopped a few weeks later. I just recently replaced that clock motor after 20 long years, and the radio is good as new again. Well, almost...... |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2008 16:15:56 GMT -5
Water and electricity don't mix. The idea is to get it dry. When I was at that job 20 (1987-1994) years ago I used to overhaul these: www.oplinksolutions.com/Search.asp?ID=82&T=EQUIP&F=M. They were used by Conrail and would come in absolutely filthy. I used to take the cover off, and power wash them. This has two servo motors with 2 driver amplifers. When I was first shown the washer and drying oven, my first thought was, "Are you crazy?" My boss said not to worry. I must have overhauled a couple hundred of these, using that washer and over. Not one ever blew up. The component were solid state. They only thing was we used to spray the transformers with water repellent, and then I tried it without it, and got the same results. No smoke or fire. The key is to rinse and make sure it is dry. Not to submerge in water. |
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