Cleaning pins on NOS tubes??

[gahult]

What have you found to be the best way to clean the pin on NOS tubes that have been on the shelf for 40/50 years?
I think I have seen commercial products, don't remember where. (damn Alzheimers)
Would like to find something simple household or hardware/automotive that will work without having to pay shipping and handling and waiting.

Thanks,

Gary

[billyz]

I always use cramolin Deoxit. I read somewhere it does not arc at high voltage.

[selloutrr]

caig deoxit probably the same stuff with a wire pipe cleaner sort of brush then lint free cloth dry into the pin straightener. if its nasty try a toothbrush and repeat the clean scrub dry a couple times

[selloutrr]

i've heard of studio's using bonami on the patch cable
its a household cleaner no idea how it would work for tubes but it's found at grocery stores

[gahult]

Thanks,

I'll check the local guitar store and see if they have the Deoxit.

Gary

[billyz]

Cramolin is the same as Caig deoxit . Just showing my age. I still have an old can before they quit using freon as a propellant. It used to be very hard to find and I became a dealer just so I could have it on hand. Now they sell it at Guitar Center. I have fixed more amps and guitars with it than any other fix, ha ha.

[dobbhill]

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

[iknowjohnny]

I don't know if there is anything wrong with the way i do it, but it seems to work fine for me. When the pins look dark and corroded i uses steel wool or light wet and dry sandpaper (#600 or thereabouts) to remove the surface oxidation/corrosion then wipe them down with deoxit. That way any barrier like oxodized or corroded metal which deoxit won't remove is gone first, then the remaining metal is conditioned with deoxit which promotes conductivity. Since no onbe else seems to do it this was i suspect someone will tell me there is a reason not to, but i have never had a problem.

[billyz]

I am a little hesitant to get too aggressive on the the pins as most of them are plated. If they are severely corroded it may be necessary, but just dark I wold opt to use Deoxit and a Q tip.

[CaseyJones]

I've cleaned up really scuzzy pins w/ 400 grit sandpaper. I got a bunch of NOS tubes with nasty pins that had been in a caddy in a damp... maybe more like moist... basement. They were so nasty the tubes exhibited all sorts of anomalies in my tester... and who wants to stick grungy crap in their nice tester sockets?! So I buffed 'em up good. No regrets!

[tonelab2]

Carburetor Cleaner