Anyone Used (or using) Ferro-fluid Like "Tweak" on their connections

Tour2ma

Just was reading the "Wire in General" thread Mantis started (which I have tried to add to 3 times, but get rerouted to another thread) and was wondering if anyone one has any experience with this old product or one like it.

TonyPTX

Are you referring to some sort of "conductive" paste that you add to the end of the IC to give you more "contact" area? (Much like the use of thermal compound for a heatsink?)

If that's the case, I think that would be a complete waste of time and effort just for the interconnects (not to mention being very messy). If you buy a decent quality cable, the finnish on the connector should be to mirror polish which means that the existence of "voids" between IC and connector contact would be minimal.

However, if you're making your own IC's, I'd think that using a conductive compound would give you some benifit if you're going to use "crimp" style connectors rather than soldering.

Used to use the stuff on the main lines into and out of 4060V breakers before I'd bolt down the clamp to secure the lines. The breakers tended to run a lot cooler (Then again we're talking some serious AMPS here too).

Tour2ma

Tweak was an old product (may still be available) that was water white conductive liquid. It was not a paste.
Came in ~1 oz. fingernail polish style bottle for $10 - $15 bucks. Claim was you brushed it on your terminals and connectors (RCA-pin-banana or whatever) and it filled gaps to improve conductance. Also was supposed to stay put a long while to provide corrosion inhibition.

rskarvan

I used some of that white goop in my car stereo front door speakers. It keeps water out of the connectors and helps a great deal. For a home rig... I don't think so.

hand123

I'm also looking for this product called Tweak as described by Tour2ma. I think I first saw it in an Audio Advisor catalog. Haven't seen it in a while. Any news from this crew?
Thanks
Steve

B Run

This thread is 8 years old so I wouldn't hold your breath.

dorokusai

hand123 wrote: »

I'm also looking for this product called Tweak as described by Tour2ma. I think I first saw it in an Audio Advisor catalog. Haven't seen it in a while. Any news from this crew?
Thanks
Steve

Conductive grease has been used for a very long time in grounding applications to resist oxidation and in others for heat dissipation, ala chips. At some point this turned into a tweak when you add a higher silver content and package it cooler. Walker SST rings a bell....the paste for connections right? I'm sure someone can add to this name brand e.g.

As far as adding a anti corrosive element to a connection is a proven fact for its benefits. Metallurgy and the interaction between metals of different periodics is also real, in how they react to one another.

Does this have an effect audibly? I'd say no, in that it's not a tweak per se, since if you have corrosion, you have a problem in the first place. If you apply said product, like CAIG, ahead of time....it's a non issue. After the fact, your not fixing anything that couldn't have been prevented in the first place.

I'm a big CAIG fan but I don't use it as a tweak, just a preventive measure. As far as other "solutions" go, I don't believe they have any added benefit. All my connections are treated with it as it's a low cost way to prevent future problems and there is a benefit in that when it comes to the bigger picture.

When I sell gear, for example, I treat all my gear with CAIG not only for my benefit but to make sure the buyers are ok in the long term and I see it as added value. If you don't care about what you're selling to someone, why bother?