Topband: Cleaning Up Large Air Variables?

[James Kearman]

kd4e wrote:
> Can they be immersed in some sort of cleaning solution
> without harm to the ceramic, brass, and other metal?
>   
I took apart a large Johnson variable that had a heavy accumulation of 
dust and crud, and was able to wash it in a bucket. I could remove the 
rotor plates individually but not the stator plates, so it took some 
time and many paper towels ("Viva" towels worked best) to get in between 
them. I used dish washing detergent and warm water. The enemy here is 
pitting of the metal. If not too bad, very fine emery paper ("crocus 
cloth") used carefully, willl smooth out the bumps.

BTW, as you don't know what was in the water it was in, wear rubber 
gloves. The caps should clean up, but I'd be more concerned about 
corrosion inside the power transformer. Good luck.

73,

Jim, KR1S
http://kr1s.kearman.com/