Try Tuff Stuff found in Wal-Mart in the automotive section. It is a foaming
cleaner and it won't leave a residue. I did my 4K Ultra and a Collins
broadcast transmitter with it and it worked great. It comes in a yellow and
red spray can. Costs about $4.
Bob W6TR
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ian White GM3SEK" <gm3sek@ifwtech.co.uk>
To: <amps@contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 08, 2007 5:07 AM
Subject: Re: [Amps] Nicotine from last owner :-(
> Steve Thompson wrote:
>> >Hi all,
>> > I have now got my Alpha 87A working. Now I have a small
>> >problem with
>> >the smell of nicotine from last owner.
>>Being really pedantic, what's troubling you is mostly tar, not
>>nicotine. That will point you at effective solvents if you want to
>>wash it away.
>>The alternative is to drive off the volatile content
>>which gives the smell.
>>
> Rather than using that as an alternative method, you may get quicker
> results by cleaning out the worst places by hand, and then move on to
> the method Steve suggests.
>
> Foaming aerosol cleaner is very good for removing nicotine tar. Look for
> all the places where tarry dust has collected - particularly the fan,
> which you may need to remove. Mask off any electrical parts that
> wouldn't appreciate a water-based spray, and then spray and wipe off
> with paper towels. Repeat as many times as it takes.
>
> Other places where tarry dust can collect are the air inlet and outlet
> holes in the covers - which are very easy to spray and clean - and also
> the anode coolers of the tubes.
>
> It's not surprising that you had problems with the bandswitch. If the
> former owner didn't change bands very often, deposits of tar will have
> oxidized to a tough, insulating film. (Most likely the initial
> "bandswitch not moving" error came from the smaller, low-current switch
> contacts that are used sense the movement, rather than the heavy
> contacts on the tank circuit itself.)
>
> And then...
>
>>Take the covers off and blow a fan heater at it for a couple of
>>days in a shed, or bake it at 50C in an oven for as long as you
>>can get away with it, opening the door regularly to let all the
>>evaporated stuff escape.
>>
> The practical target is to be able to use the amplifier without any
> noticeable smell in your shack. But beneath the covers, it never
> entirely goes away.
>
>
> --
>
> 73 from Ian GM3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
> http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek
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