Cleaning Tubes / Tube Amps

msg

Any recommendations for cleaning tubes and tube amps?
I'm talking about minor surface type stuff at this point.
Anything to watch out for, recommended cleaners, cleaners to avoid, etc.?

mhardy6647

The only trick with tubes -- many of the old US tubes were labeled using a material that was designed to be degraded by any attempt to clean. This was to discourage shifty repair people who'd clean used (pulled) tubes and sell them as new. I usually clean em with a damp paper towel, and very carefully around any labeling. For tubes that aren't really grungy, just fogging them with one's breath can be a good way to clean with a soft paper towel or cloth (sort of like eyeglasses).

Otherwise, whatever you like. I like to use a soft camel's hair brush and/or a firmer hog bristle brush to remove dust.

Windex or similar cleaners -- sprayed onto a soft cloth or paper towel -- work well in general (IMO) for cleaning, although some silkscreened labels may be removed by many cleaners. Another tricky surface to clean is labeled glass panels from tuners & suchlike; these can be very fragile to any efforts to clean (especially when the component's got some age on it).

voltz

wouldn't hurt to Deoxit the pins of the tubes! and deoxit the cables and connectors while you at it

mhardy6647

good point -- I was only thinking cosmetics :-P

A Q-tip dampened with DeOxit does a nice job on tube pins; sometimes an emery board is a good choice if they're really grotty.

voltz

also if you don't have some Deoxit here a little Dexoit kit/package Doug sells and I think he normally includes if you buy some cables from him.

http://douglasconnection.com/Connection-Cleaning-Kit-DCCCK.htm

really like the Signet RCA Cleaning Tool - you don't twist it, just insert & remove!

pitdogg2

mhardy6647 wrote: »

Windex -- sprayed onto a soft cloth or paper towel -- work well in general (IMO) for cleaning, although some silkscreened labels may be removed by many cleaners.

Correction WILL remove labels....ask me how I know:)

mhardy6647

some aren't :-P
... but yeah, many if not most of us have been there, done that.

[Deleted User]

I recommend cleaning the tube pins with Flitz metal polish, be careful with DeOxit used on tubes with higher than average operating voltages. The same concern with lubricants that contain silver.

msg

Thanks for all the input guys. This is the kind of info I was looking for, esp the stuff about what not to do.