Cleaner and lube for pots
- Thread starter BIGFOOT
- Start date
Hi Bigfoot; can't use straight contact cleaner on pots, must use cleaner / lubricant; CAIG De-oxit / Red; the Blue is straight cleaner, the Red leaves behind a lubricating film.
http://store.caig.com/
Can buy direct or anywhere on the web. CJ
http://store.caig.com/
Can buy direct or anywhere on the web. CJ
Guilderagain
Member
Hello Guild Archtop Fans,
I've read many times about using pot cleaner to clean a scratchy volume/tone pot (standard fix). I've also read that some clean the pots while they are still attached - using the tube provided with the can. I assume that there are lubricants along with solvents in the cleaner. Would it be wise to allow this liquid in contact with wood? I've done electronic surgey on my guitars a few times and it seems it would be safer to remove the pots to clean them internally.
BTW, since all my guitars are younger than 1997, I've yet to encounter a noisy pot. I suppose it would be a hassle (and it is) to have to remove the electronic harness off a hollowbody though.
Alex
I've read many times about using pot cleaner to clean a scratchy volume/tone pot (standard fix). I've also read that some clean the pots while they are still attached - using the tube provided with the can. I assume that there are lubricants along with solvents in the cleaner. Would it be wise to allow this liquid in contact with wood? I've done electronic surgey on my guitars a few times and it seems it would be safer to remove the pots to clean them internally.
BTW, since all my guitars are younger than 1997, I've yet to encounter a noisy pot. I suppose it would be a hassle (and it is) to have to remove the electronic harness off a hollowbody though.
Alex
Hi Alex; CAIG Red / Blue are 70% naptha, 25% propellant, and 5% proprietary formula. You're right, tugging the harness out to clean the controls would prevent any liquid from contacting the wood ... and ... you said it; getting the harness out is a hassle. CJGuilderagain said:
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So here's my next question:
I would like to get the pots out so I can spray in the sides, not just down the shaft. I have not had my Starfire III very long and am not sure what magic is used to get to the pots. I imagine it is like building a clipper ship inside a bottle (which I don't know how to do).
Do I remove the strings and pups to expose a bigger hole and pull the pots out there? Or do you somehow pull the pots out of the f-hole? Or do I simply get a key-hole saw and hack out a big chunk of the top?
Here's a pic if you are interested, before I cut the hole:
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15 ... 2510_3.jpg
I would like to get the pots out so I can spray in the sides, not just down the shaft. I have not had my Starfire III very long and am not sure what magic is used to get to the pots. I imagine it is like building a clipper ship inside a bottle (which I don't know how to do).
Do I remove the strings and pups to expose a bigger hole and pull the pots out there? Or do you somehow pull the pots out of the f-hole? Or do I simply get a key-hole saw and hack out a big chunk of the top?
Here's a pic if you are interested, before I cut the hole:
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15 ... 2510_3.jpg
Walter Broes
Enlightened Member
Nice guitar! What I usually do is leave the pots in the guitar, those cleaner/lubricant aerosol cans usually come with a little "pipe", "straw", if you will, that makes it easier to "point" at the part you want to spray.
I just keep a rag next to the liquid and make sure I wipe any excess off. I don't think a drop of this stuff is going to dissolve every glue joint in your guitar in a hurry. Just take it slow and be very careful.
getting a harness out is a hassle (yes, you remove the pickups and go from there), but the real hassle is getting it back IN!!!
If you've never done this before, I think you have a bigger chance of damaging the harness, pickups, or guitar than if you carefully spray the pots while still in the guitar.
I just keep a rag next to the liquid and make sure I wipe any excess off. I don't think a drop of this stuff is going to dissolve every glue joint in your guitar in a hurry. Just take it slow and be very careful.
getting a harness out is a hassle (yes, you remove the pickups and go from there), but the real hassle is getting it back IN!!!
If you've never done this before, I think you have a bigger chance of damaging the harness, pickups, or guitar than if you carefully spray the pots while still in the guitar.
:lol: :lol: Hi BF: +1 on Walter's comments.BIGFOOT said:
I have a '00 SFIII ... the volume pots are oriented so that the openings of the bodies of the pots are facing the heel of the guitar and the tone controls are oriented so that the openings of the bodies of the pots are facing the neck. If you have an inspection mirror, you can confirm whether your pots are oriented like mine.
The CAIG products use naptha which will not damage the poly finish but there is no point in being sloppy with this. The selector switch is a little more hit 'n miss but same principle; bend tube so it's pointing at the switch body, hose it a little, move switch back and forth a few times ... wait a few minutes for the stuff to dry, and test; no crackle then you're done. When clean and turned slowly, the pots should transmit a slight sense of drag or vibration; if they feel slick, they are still dirty. CJ
Walter Broes
Enlightened Member
Oh, if the solvent is naphta, there's no problem really, doesn't react with nitro finishes either. I actually use zippo fluid to polish my (old, nitro finished) guitars.
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if you want to pull the harness out, loosen the nuts and tie a thread (I use upholstery thread) around the jack and pots. Then take the nuts all the way off. pull the harness out, spray the beans out of it and reinstall by pulling the harness back into position by the threads. One fella on the Gretsch forum uses medical tubing to do the same thing.
jp
Senior Member
Any good rubber tubing will work as long as it fits snugly around the shaft of the pot. It makes it very easy to pull the shaft back through the opening during reassembly.Default said:
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Pup hole. No big deal as long as you remember "righty-tighty, lefty-loosy". Just don't overtightened the screws when you reinstall the pup surrounds.
danerectal
Senior Member
It also helps to start the screws with your fingers so you can feel the slightest resistance due to potential cross-threading. That's the biggest danger in my book.
Hi Bigfoot: they come out the pup hole. If you are just taking them out to clean and lube them, why don't you look into the CAIG manufacturer's data to determine whether or not any harm can come to your instrument's finish by using their products. At that point, you can make what could be considered an informed decision regarding the risks associated with their product which is used by thousands of guitarists and techs v. the headaches and risks involved in dragging your pots out.BIGFOOT said:
OTOH: if you just want to take them out for the sake learning how to take care of your guitar .... enjoy!
I followed your leads to contact CAIG and here's what they said:
"We would recommend either the DeoxIT D5S-6 or DeoxIT D100S-2.
The difference between the two are that the D5S-6 has a flushing solvent to
flush away dirt, dust and grease and them leaves behind a lubricant to
improve and protect the control. The D100S-2 has no solvents. It just has
the lubricant to improve and lubricate the pot.
If the pot is dirty, use a small amount of the D5S-6 first, then apply the
D100S-2."
They have so many products. The D5S-6 is sold at Guitar Center, but not the D100S-2. Sounds like both would be best in my case.
Thx for all of the help.
BF
"We would recommend either the DeoxIT D5S-6 or DeoxIT D100S-2.
The difference between the two are that the D5S-6 has a flushing solvent to
flush away dirt, dust and grease and them leaves behind a lubricant to
improve and protect the control. The D100S-2 has no solvents. It just has
the lubricant to improve and lubricate the pot.
If the pot is dirty, use a small amount of the D5S-6 first, then apply the
D100S-2."
They have so many products. The D5S-6 is sold at Guitar Center, but not the D100S-2. Sounds like both would be best in my case.
Thx for all of the help.
BF
Hi BF: I think you'll be pleased with the results. Once upon a time, life was simple; CAIG sold red and blue - red had the lube, blue didn't. I saw all those product variations and my eyes sort of glazed over. They currrently have the best stuff going; kind to guitar finishes and, even better, gets people out of having to drag their pots out. :wink: Cheers, CJBIGFOOT said: