Analog Snake / Stage box Repairing

Hi all

Looking for a little bit of info if you can help

The Studio I am about to move in to has a very old analog snake stage box ( that was left behind from the last owner I think because its to much of a pain for them to have taken it out the walls etc) Iits going from my control room in to my live room the box its very old and looks like it has seen better days looks like some one has stomped on it and its a bit bashed up.

It has 24 XLR inputs and 4 jack returns the XLRs on the box all look a bit rusty.

I only officialy got the studio today so havent had a chance to test it and see what works if any of it but if it works it will save me buying a new one.

I am going to conect it all up to a Mixer this week and test it.

Has any one any experiance with cleaning one of theys up ? Would the rest clean up on the inputs ?

I am not bad with a Soldering Iron so I am hopeing any lose conections I can solder up again.

Any advice before I start trying to clean this thing up ?

Thanks to all

Norrie

Thanks AT !

Yeah theres just 4 screws holding the plate over the box on so I can pop that off.

What would be best to use to give the conections at eh box a good clean?

Yeah Its going to be fun I will upload some pics as I start to get the place kited out I should be starting my building work this weekend ( new walls new roof etc ) but going to go test the Snake this thursday and pray it all works so I save a few bucks on buying a new one every penny counts at the momment.

Any tips on how to get this nice and clean would be great !

Norrie

Nah no floods the rooms fine even got full working silent air con.

Its just so dam old and I dont know what the last owner did to it so I just want to clean it up  or end up buying my own I will prob buy my own in a few months anyway to be on the safe side but the main thing is this will get me up and runing faster

It could have been siting somewhere else for all I know got rusty and then put in there.

I just need to find the best way to clean it with out damageing anything :)

Norrie

Hi Oh HEY !

I was thinking I could solder it all up no problem but I think it would in the end up be better off just buying a new analog stage box.

I will clean it up as best I can and see if its of any use and if not I will just need to go and buy one.

The plan was to get a new one after being in there for a few months and use the money I have on other things but if worst case senario I have to replace it now.

I will report back with how I get on

Thanks again to all !

Guitarhacker


You can buy some contact cleaner either on line or from a local electronics store. It is available in a spray can which is the best for projects like that. the contact cleaner will not hurt the connectors, the connections or the wire. I would however use plastic under the box since it can harm finishes and you don't want that to happen.

I have a can that I shoot into my guitar amp's pots from time to time.

The rust is something that you may have to live with.... I'm thinking a soft  brass wire  brush will get the surface rust off..... (think Dremel tool here to do it quick) as long as the rust is not inside the connector where the pins go in you'll be OK.  I've used my dremel in this manner to remove small amounts of rust and the brass will polish the metal right up. A light coat of oil rubbed on the metal will keep it from rusting again.

Most metal you can clean rust off and then prime and paint it.  Just be sure to protect the connectors while doing this so dust and paint don't get on the pins or inside the connector. Just mask them off with tape if you can't remove them.

If the box is otherwise sound a cool paint job could make is easier to live with LOL !

 The Studio I am about to move in to has a very old analog snake stage box ( that was left behind from the last owner I think because its to much of a pain for them to have taken it out the walls etc) Iits going from my control room in to my live room the box its very old and looks like it has seen better days looks like some one has stomped on it and its a bit bashed up.