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AUDIO FORUMS >> General Discussion and Support >> Cleaning cable connections & tube pins
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Message started by HockessinKid on 02/17/25 at 14:52:20

Title: Cleaning cable connections & tube pins
Post by HockessinKid on 02/17/25 at 14:52:20

So once a year I clean the connections on all my cables. The copper and silver coated male connectors accumulate a fair amount of tarnish & grunge. I use Flitz metal polish, lots of elbow grease with a microfiber cloth & finally a spritz of Deoxit D5. For gold plated just a microfiber cloth rub and bit of Pro Gold G5. Female connectors get cleaned with the D5 and a small bristle brush. Everything is allowed to dry overnight before reconnection.

Vintage tubes, especially those with steel pins can also be quite dirty, which can affect performance. Again a light coat of Flitz polish on a microfiber cloth worked around each of the pins vigorously really cleans things up. Then a light spray with Deoxit D5 followed by some compressed air does the trick. If I have oxidation or light rust on pins I use some emory cloth to clean up the pins before following the procedure above. It takes me about 5 minutes per tube. Small signal tubes can be a real PITA though.

What's your approach if any?

HK

Title: Re: Cleaning cable connections & tube pins
Post by CAJames on 02/17/25 at 15:34:21

I use a Sabitoru Rust Eraser (bought to touch up my carbon steel kitchen knives) for cleaning tube pins, sometimes with a drop of deoxit if it is bad.

I started using Graphene Contact Enhancer from Mad Scientist Audio a few years ago based on posts here. It is a little bit of a hassle because you need to be sure there is only a tiny amount spread more or less evenly on the contacts but I like the results.

FWIW I don't put anything on gold, just rub it with microfiber.

Title: Re: Cleaning cable connections & tube pins
Post by Hearafter on 02/18/25 at 01:23:41

I use rubbing alcohol or deoxit or WD-40 depending on the job. Que tips, micro brushes/foam pads, paper towel and microfiber cloth. Let dry fully as well. I have entirely done cleaning on new purchases of used items. My tubes/ cables don’t get oxidation yearly. In my 5 years of tube ownership I have not needed to re-clean them. Maybe it’s the dry California climate??
Will take another look just to verify…Thanks

Title: Re: Cleaning cable connections & tube pins
Post by Dominick on 02/18/25 at 23:32:14

I use 99.9% pure alcohol to clean all the contacts on the tube pins and cable connectors, with Q-tips and soft pipe cleaners for the female inputs. I then follow up with the DeOxit D5 for preventive measures.

I like the idea of the Flitz metal polish….I may have to give that a try.

Title: Re: Cleaning cable connections & tube pins
Post by will on 02/18/25 at 23:42:30

For cleaning, I do have a lot of silver connectors as well as some gold and rhodium, but the silver wanting attention more. I started to use 90+% isopropyl alcohol because it worked so well without notable residue going inside of RCA jacks with a thinned down q-tip, both on components and cable ends. I go in first pretty wet, then use a dry end or two to get the rest of the black off.

For conditioning, I used Deoxit gold for a long time, and it was good, but tricky for me, having to wipe/polish it fast in order for it not to build up too much and dull the sound. I tried some silver greases with similar issues, finally finding Cardas conditioner to work really easily and well for minor cleaning as well and nice transparent conditioning. Then when MadScientist came on the scene with his graphene oil, having tested some of his early stuff, he sent me a few samples of the oil. Though little bitty bottles, I am still using the second one lots of years later. Like James said, it works best with very little of it. As I recall Bob told me to put it on really thin, and then dab it with a tissue to where you can't quite see it... at least that is how I do it, and it is a really good sounding conditioner to me.