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In Reply to: RE: Regarding deoxIT application... posted by Crazy Dave on October 22, 2009 at 11:59:42
Pipe cleaners are not recommended. They tend to leave tiny bits and pieces of their "threads" stuck in the contacts of many tube sockets. Alcohol is fine (depending upon the type of alcohol) for cleaning, but it does NOTHING for oxidation.
As far as replacing tube sockets is concerned, that *may* be an option, but it might not. When restoring "vintage" audio equipment, not all tube sockets are still available in the "correct" mounting style or construction. Current-production tube sockets from China are *generally* a poor substitute for even the cheapest of the cheap American sockets of years gone by. There ARE some ceramic octal sockets being produced that mimic the Cinch-style sockets of yesteryear, but most of the miniature 7 and 9-pin sockets I have run into are pretty poor. Your experience may be different.
A few years ago, I contacted Eby to do a run of "classic-style" octal sockets featuring gold-plated contacts. They informed me that they would be happy to do a minimum run of 500 sockets for $22.75 each! Needless to say, we didn't pursue that "venture" much further. However, they WERE a VERY informative contact. While most folks believe that gold-plated sockets are the BEST that can be purchased, it turns out that in MOST cases they are much less than satisfactory. Silver-plated sockets are a better choice! The reason is the thickness of the plating! Gold-plated sockets have a "flash" plating of gold that is as thin as humanly possible. Plug a tube into one ONCE, and you cut through the plating and get down to the base-metal of the tube socket contact. Silver-plated sockets have a MUCH thicker plating and withstand MANY insertions and removals without much problem. Who knew?
Just some idle musings on the subject.
Bill
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