GrottoRob
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Analog Mixer Cleaning...
Hey, everyone-
It has come time again to clean my mixers. I normally use Radio Shack's "Control/Contact Cleaner and Lubricant". The can I have is just about empty, and I figured instead of getting another one, maybe some of you may have better suggestions on a different product. I should mention that mine is a basement studio setup...
Thanks,
Rob
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Clydewinder
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RE: Analog Mixer Cleaning...
2007/06/05 19:11:04
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whatever you do, don't use Leinenkugels.
i use contact cleaner for the jacks and compressed air for the faders & pots.
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yep
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RE: Analog Mixer Cleaning...
2007/06/05 19:33:41
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Swab-on "Contact cleaner" aka "tape head cleaner" basically means isopropyl alcohol. Radio Shack's is as good as anyone's, but Walgreen's sells it much cheaper.
Spray-in contact cleaner of the sort used to clean up crackly knobs is basically some kind of cleaning agent mixed with silicone lubricant or mineral oil. You can get big cans of it at auto-supply stores for cheaper than the dainty little Rat Shack stuff, if you want.
There's nothing fancy about this stuff, and the brand you use is not going to affect sound quality unless you are the sort of person who believes that oxygen-free power cords and special blocks of wood under amplifiers improve sound quality. If you are that kind of person, then I am sure there is an $800 can of repackaged WD-40 out there somewhere with your name on it.
Cheers.
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GrottoRob
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RE: Analog Mixer Cleaning...
2007/06/05 20:01:59
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Good evening...
Yeah. yep- I get the whole isopropyl thing, and I'm definately NOT the oxygen-free woodblock guy. The $800 can-o-WD-40 is money better spent on tangible gear. I just want to make sure I'm not missing something. I can get my hands on the Automotive stuff pretty cheaply ( I'm a mechanic ). I just don't want to go that route and damage something. But I guess I won't? Thanks to you and Clydewinder for yer input....
Rob
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themidiroom
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RE: Analog Mixer Cleaning...
2007/06/06 09:45:33
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Deoxit is pretty good. Initially, I thought you were asking about cleaning the surface of the mixer. I use a soft bristle tooth brush and a shop vac.
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ohhey
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RE: Analog Mixer Cleaning...
2007/06/06 10:24:13
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ORIGINAL: GrottoRob
Hey, everyone-
It has come time again to clean my mixers. I normally use Radio Shack's "Control/Contact Cleaner and Lubricant". The can I have is just about empty, and I figured instead of getting another one, maybe some of you may have better suggestions on a different product. I should mention that mine is a basement studio setup...
Thanks,
Rob
Most modern mixers have sealed pots or ones that can't easily be cleaned, in most cases it cleans out the lub and the control gets hard to move. In some cases you can clean the long fader type controls but they don't feel the same and tend to have troubule quicker after that. I would avoid cleaning fluid unless the control is a lost cause without it.
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krizrox
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RE: Analog Mixer Cleaning...
2007/06/06 16:42:36
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http://www.caig.com/ Click on the middle picture to get to the on-line store. I have been using Caig products for years. I swear by this stuff. Yes I know you can go to Walgreens or wherever to buy isopropal alchohol/WD40, etc but I've always found these Caig products worked well and they have a wide variety of stuff (which all comes out of a single vat in the back room  ). The cans are nice and big and will last a long time. Cheers!
post edited by krizrox - 2007/06/06 16:50:17
Larry Kriz www.LnLRecording.com www.myspace.com/lnlrecording Sonar PE 8.5, Samplitude Pro 11, Sonic Core Scope Professional/XTC, A16 Ultra AD/DA, Intel DG965RY MOBO, Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4GHz processor, XFX GeForce 7300 GT PCIe video card, Barracuda 750 & 320GB SATA drives, 4GB DDR Ram, Plextor DVD/CD-R burner.
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themidiroom
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RE: Analog Mixer Cleaning...
2007/06/06 16:45:39
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krizrox
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RE: Analog Mixer Cleaning...
2007/06/06 16:49:20
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ORIGINAL: themidiroom
ORIGINAL: krizrox
http://www.caig.com/
Ummmm Thanks Larry
HA - we'll split the reward money and go have a brewski - how 'bout that?
Larry Kriz www.LnLRecording.com www.myspace.com/lnlrecording Sonar PE 8.5, Samplitude Pro 11, Sonic Core Scope Professional/XTC, A16 Ultra AD/DA, Intel DG965RY MOBO, Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4GHz processor, XFX GeForce 7300 GT PCIe video card, Barracuda 750 & 320GB SATA drives, 4GB DDR Ram, Plextor DVD/CD-R burner.
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themidiroom
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lazarous
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RE: Analog Mixer Cleaning...
2007/06/07 16:00:12
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ORIGINAL: themidiroom
ORIGINAL: krizrox
http://www.caig.com/
Ummmm Thanks Larry
For those of you playing the home game, CAIG makes DeOxit, among other fine products. +1 for Larry and Marcus's suggestions. CAIG makes great stuff... better than plain old ordinary Isopropyl, which can do a good job as well, but isn't quite as easy to apply, and just doesn't feel as "sexy" as an aerosol can of something or other! I'll take a bottle of Propel, Larry can have the beer, and Marcus will have to bring his own Pepsi, as this particular club only serves Coke products.  Corey
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GrottoRob
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RE: Analog Mixer Cleaning...
2007/06/07 17:55:57
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Thanks, guys- Meet me at The Chance in Poughkeepsie and I'll buy a round... Rob
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Roflcopter
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RE: Analog Mixer Cleaning...
2007/06/07 20:03:44
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Make mine a Pepsi on the rocks
If your mixer's that rusty, maybe get a new one. (probably caused by the Leinenkugels)
I'm a perfectionist, and perfect is a skinned knee.
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losguy
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RE: Analog Mixer Cleaning...
2007/10/29 11:31:41
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ORIGINAL: krizrox
http://www.caig.com/
Click on the middle picture to get to the on-line store.
I have been using Caig products for years. I swear by this stuff. Yes I know you can go to Walgreens or wherever to buy isopropal alchohol/WD40, etc but I've always found these Caig products worked well and they have a wide variety of stuff (which all comes out of a single vat in the back room ). The cans are nice and big and will last a long time. Cheers!
Big +1 for Caig products. Stay away from other cleaners... they strip off gunk, but they leave the metal unprotected, too, which makes them vulnerable to faster contamination. What's worse, on pots, most cleaners also strip off the damping lubricant material, which leaves the pots with a scratchy feel (and along with it, a scratchy sound!). Caig leaves a magic "thin film" on the metal that protects the metal from corrosion. It's an electrical insulator, too, until it comes into contact with another metal. Then it becomes highly conductive. In a word, it's brilliant stuff. Better Life Through Chemistry. Use Caig DeOxIt (the red stuff) for cleaning jacks and switches. Use the MCL ("Moving Contact Lubricant") for pots. Be careful not to mix that up... the MCL will preserve the "smooth feel" of the pot. BTW, MCL is especially good on faders. If you're willing to believe it, I've actually used MCL to bring a fader back from the dead.
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Tube
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RE: Analog Mixer Cleaning...
2007/10/31 19:38:45
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I have an old stereo with a crackly volume knob. It has fine notches or clicks for each change in volume level instead of just being a smooth turning pot. Would the Caig "moving contact lubricant" still be a good idea?
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losguy
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RE: Analog Mixer Cleaning...
2007/10/31 23:09:14
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ORIGINAL: Tube
I have an old stereo with a crackly volume knob. It has fine notches or clicks for each change in volume level instead of just being a smooth turning pot. Would the Caig "moving contact lubricant" still be a good idea?
Sure thing. The notch-clicks (called "detents") are a little spring-loaded toothed gear. It will probably love getting the treatment.
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