Elecraft

Brush or Blow Dust?

Classic

List

Threaded

4 messages Options

Dan Nixon

Brush or Blow Dust?

I'm an old ham who has built a lot of kits over the years. I am really
excited though to become an Elecraft user having just received my K3 kit. My
question has to do with instructions to "either brush or blow away any dust
or lint from the front panel area around the encoder shaft".

I have a good old standby fine bristle brush I use for my radio front
panels. I also have a fairly new can of the "Cleaning Duster: which states
that it is for removing dust and dirt from audio, video and other such
equipment. It contains "Difluoroethane" ???

Question is: What would you recommend to use "safely"....Dan, W4EA

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

ac0h

Re: Brush or Blow Dust?

I'd use the canned air.
The brush can be used for anything that doesn't blow off.
The Diflouroethane is the canned air propellant.
--
R. Kevin Stover, ACØH

-------------- Original message from "Dan Nixon" <[hidden email]>: --------------

> I'm an old ham who has built a lot of kits over the years. I am really
> excited though to become an Elecraft user having just received my K3 kit. My
> question has to do with instructions to "either brush or blow away any dust
> or lint from the front panel area around the encoder shaft".
>
>
>
> I have a good old standby fine bristle brush I use for my radio front
> panels. I also have a fairly new can of the "Cleaning Duster: which states
> that it is for removing dust and dirt from audio, video and other such
> equipment. It contains "Difluoroethane" ???
>
>
>
> Question is: What would you recommend to use "safely"....Dan, W4EA

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: Brush or Blow Dust?

In reply to this post by Dan Nixon

Dan,

The original question has already 'morphed' to one of general use of air
or products for cleaning circuit boards.

Let us think about one of the reasons for that statement in the manual.
The VFO A encoder has a plastic plate under it. We all know that
plastic can often build a static charge which will attract dust and
other small particles. If the area under where the plastic will be
mounted has lint or dust, it can show up badly when the plastic is
attached.. That could include gently wiping the area with a slightly
dampened lint-free soft cloth, or even using a cloth one would normally
use to clean eyeglasses. The use of a dry brush may not work if used on
the plastic because some type brushes may actually increase the static
charge and make matters worse (but then, the manual states to clean the
area *under* where the plastic will mount and does not refer to the
plastic itself). Use whatever works and is sufficiently kind so that no
damage occurs. A quick 'breath of air' from your mouth may be all that
is required.

73,
Don W3FPR

Dan Nixon wrote:

ng3v

Re: Brush or Blow Dust?

Actually, Don,

A breath from your mouth is really good advice. It would contain a lot of
water vapor which will help remove the electrostatic charge on the plastic -
at least in the short run. The canned air and the nylon brush will both
likely exacerbate it.

Tom

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 11:48 AM
To: Dan Nixon
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Brush or Blow Dust?

Dan,

The original question has already 'morphed' to one of general use of air
or products for cleaning circuit boards.

Let us think about one of the reasons for that statement in the manual.
The VFO A encoder has a plastic plate under it. We all know that
plastic can often build a static charge which will attract dust and
other small particles. If the area under where the plastic will be
mounted has lint or dust, it can show up badly when the plastic is
attached.. That could include gently wiping the area with a slightly
dampened lint-free soft cloth, or even using a cloth one would normally
use to clean eyeglasses. The use of a dry brush may not work if used on
the plastic because some type brushes may actually increase the static
charge and make matters worse (but then, the manual states to clean the
area *under* where the plastic will mount and does not refer to the
plastic itself). Use whatever works and is sufficiently kind so that no
damage occurs. A quick 'breath of air' from your mouth may be all that
is required.

73,
Don W3FPR

Dan Nixon wrote:
> I'm an old ham who has built a lot of kits over the years. I am really
> excited though to become an Elecraft user having just received my K3 kit.
My
> question has to do with instructions to "either brush or blow away any
dust

> or lint from the front panel area around the encoder shaft".
>
>
>
> I have a good old standby fine bristle brush I use for my radio front
> panels. I also have a fairly new can of the "Cleaning Duster: which states
> that it is for removing dust and dirt from audio, video and other such
> equipment. It contains "Difluoroethane" ???
>
>
>
> Question is: What would you recommend to use "safely"....Dan, W4EA
>
>
>
>

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html