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Author Topic: CLEANING CERAMIC BANDSWITCH  (Read 4625 times)
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W1KSZ
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« on: July 01, 2018, 06:03:23 PM »

I have an old Ceramic Bandswitch that looks like it has a greasy or oily deposit on it.

What is the best way to clean it so it can so it can be used again with RF and HVDC ?

Tnx, Dick, W1KSZ
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W1ITT
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« Reply #1 on: July 01, 2018, 06:51:37 PM »

Dick..
I like Cascade dishwasher detergent for projects like that.  I also use it on brass cartridges that have been lubricated for case forming during reloading.  Use of a solvent can cause any grease or oil to thin out and deposit into a larger section of the ceramic.  After the Cascade soak and a toothbrush job, rinse a couple times.  If you have hard water or use a salt based water softener, do the rinse in distilled water.  If you use a dehumidifier, the water that results is, for all practical purposes, distilled and there'll be plenty of it this week.  After the rinse, shake the switch down and go after it with a hair dryer, or put it in the oven at 150 F or so for a while. 
Then relube sparingly and put the RF to it.
Norm
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W1KSZ
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« Reply #2 on: July 01, 2018, 06:56:25 PM »

OK, thanks for the tip.

73, Dick, W1KSZ
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KB2WIG
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« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2018, 08:02:08 AM »



Bury in cat litter to draw out the oil.  Then the above.

KLC
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WD5JKO
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WD5JKO


« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2018, 09:22:09 AM »

Hi All,

Nothing wrong with what has been presented thus far....But if it were me, and the ceramic switch were out of the rig, I'd douse it with "automotive brake cleaner" in a well ventilated area. Might use a soft bristle toothbrush on it too while flushing away the grime. Then let sit out in the sun for a while.

Jim
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KB2WIG
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« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2018, 11:34:51 AM »

.
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N1BCG
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« Reply #6 on: July 03, 2018, 01:59:45 PM »

I’ve found that a pencil eraser does a magnificent job of removing tarnish. Wiping the surfaces with a cotton swab soaked in isopropyl alcohol finishes the job.
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W1RKW
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« Reply #7 on: July 03, 2018, 04:26:52 PM »

you want the ceramic supports squeaky clean such as mentioned above in previous posts then carefully and sparingly apply a contact preservative to control oxidation on the metal contacts, something like DeOxIt S series Shield S100L, the blue stuff.
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Bob
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His fear was when I turned it on for the first time life on earth would come to a stand still.
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« Reply #8 on: July 03, 2018, 05:29:18 PM »



The finish of the wafer has a lot to do with a 'proper' cleaning. Glazed is good, easy to clean. Not glazed, well....

If one uses a solvent to clean the surface, what is there to prevent the solvent, along with whatever it's carrying, from being absorbed into the ceramic? A big boo-boo. Cat litter, aka Diatomaceous earth, doesn't enter into the ceramic, it just draws the liquid(s) out.  And you don't need to scoop it out while holding your nose.

Try It, you'll like it.

klc
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W1KSZ
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« Reply #9 on: July 03, 2018, 07:40:28 PM »

The switch does not look glazed, so I will not be using any solvents on it.

I have some Q-Tips made with Nylon (I think) mesh that can clean off most
of the stuff.

Thanks for all the replies,

73, Dick, W1KSZ
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KF7WWW
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« Reply #10 on: July 03, 2018, 07:50:10 PM »

Brake Kleen.. Works for what Ive done.
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W1KSZ
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« Reply #11 on: July 03, 2018, 09:40:24 PM »

I think the Ceramic is too porous to use that stuff. For the time being
I will just dry clean it as best I can.

Tnx es 73, Dick, W1KSZ
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WA2SQQ
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« Reply #12 on: July 04, 2018, 03:15:55 PM »

I’ve used Buddy’s advice, works great
https://youtu.be/9viOArsegIs
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W1KSZ
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« Reply #13 on: July 04, 2018, 06:05:00 PM »

Let me get my Rosetta Stone ... let's see, Buddy is .... ??
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WA2SQQ
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« Reply #14 on: July 05, 2018, 02:46:09 PM »

At the you tube link I posted, forget his call but his you tube page is great. I’ve learned a lot. Check it out
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