On Sun, 21 Oct 2018 21:30:37 -0500, Fox's Mercantile
wrote:
On 10/21/18 7:44 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
The recommendation of using WD-40 is controversial.
I refuse to use WD-40 for anything on equipment other than
removing adhesive residue.
I use Goof-Off, which is 25% to 50% mineral spirits. My thinking is
anything that stinks that bad must be powerful stuff.
Wired Magazine send some WD-40 to a lab to check its composition.
https://www.wired.com/2009/04/st-whatsinside-6/
Mineral oil, decane, nonane, tridecane, tetradecane, dimethyl
naphthalene, and cyclohexane. Mostly mineral oil, which is the
primary ingredient of most commercial solvents, cleaners, and
penetrating oils. The others are made from kerosene, naphtha, or
stoddard solvent, which I consider to be fairly similar:
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ipcsneng/neng1381.html
For example, Caig Deoxit Gold is 75% "oderless mineral spirits":
https://system.na3.netsuite.com/core/media/media.nl?id=1567&c=ACCT113328&h=b0ad953fc4fc4d2d52 cc&_xt=.pdf
Bottom line: They're all basically the same stuff with a few
additives.
All contact cleaners include a mild acid to remove the surface oxides
from the contacts. In the distant past, Cramolin Red contained 95%
naphtha and 5% oleic acid for the purpose. Oleic acid is food safe
which makes it the ideal oxide remover. You can also get it cheap on
eBay if you want to mix your own.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=oleic+acid
The problem with oleic acid is that it has to be removed after it
strips off the oxides from the contacts or it will eventually corrode
any exposed copper. That caused problems for Caig, so they removed it
from the mix to be replaced with less aggressive oxide strippers.
Incidentally, if you also want an organically lubricated and smelling
oscilloscope, a little olive oil, which is 55% to 83% oleic acid,
might be an interesting substitute.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_oil#Constituents
--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060
http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558