WD-40 Specialist Contact Cleaner?

Bellycaster · September 2023

The volume pot on my Wolfgang could do with a clean. It's gotten quite scratchy.

Is the above stuff OK for it? Not the regular WD-40.

I'm reading different opinions and one anecdotal story of someone who's pots were ruined by it.

I have a 7 year old can of Maplins contact Cleaner, but have lost the straw thingy, so the stuff will go elsewhere in the cavity as well as in the pot.

Thanks.

markj · September 2023

Would also like an answer for this.
The potion my Custom shop 335 are crackly / scratchy and didn’t know if the WD contract cleaner would work and if it would damage the nitro finish.

DrJazzTap · September 2023

I use the electrical contact cleaner on pots. The specialist stuff is just the new name for it.
@markj you can spray it into the pots. Just be mindful of the finish. Check the ingredients for more info.

Lestratcaster · September 2023

I use Servisol which I also got from Maplin many years ago. And I still got the straw. Used it earlier actually to clean out some crackly Les Paul volume pots.

swiller · September 2023

I use deoxit faderlube based on recommendations from the synth forums. Apparently other stuff can corrode the contacts, but sure most will be ok short term.

roberty · September 2023

Lestratcaster said:

And I still got the straw.

Show off!

Lestratcaster · September 2023

roberty said:

Lestratcaster said:

And I still got the straw.

Show off!

Lol. I nearly lost it though.

Kittyfrisk · September 2023

Bit OTT in quantity, but they are easily replaced

https://www.amazon.co.uk/JQuad-Aerosol-Spray-Plastic-Straws/dp/B07DHZRRW7

Bellycaster · September 2023

Kittyfrisk said:

Bit OTT in quantity, but they are easily replaced
https://www.amazon.co.uk/JQuad-Aerosol-Spray-Plastic-Straws/dp/B07DHZRRW7

Not to worry, I can drink my Rum and Cokes through them so as not to waste them

Kittyfrisk · September 2023

^ Cheers, Sláinte etc

Bellycaster · September 2023

Kittyfrisk said:

^ Cheers, Sláinte etc

I actually used to pronounce that song as it was speltdt

Not knowing what the fuck it meant

KevS · September 2023

Servisol Switch Cleaner as it has a lubricant in there too and not expensive..
Been using it for over 20 years and no problems.....

Although what you want to spray on your Knob is your own business I guess..
Just don't do it in Public..

BillDL · September 2023

The WD-40 electrical contact cleaner is alcohol based and evaporates fairly quickly leaving no residue. You can "damage" any pot by spraying a lot of solvent cleaner forcibly into it, because it will wash out the grease that is there on the shaft where it goes up through the threaded collar and also on the back of the casing as found in better pots like CTS ones. It won't actually damage it, but it may feel slightly "looser" and sometimes even a bit "scrapey". Obviously spraying any fast evaporating solvent into an enclosed area if there is moisture in the air can cause condensation because of the temperature drop it causes while evaporating, but not really to the extent that it would induce oxidation inside a pot. I still prefer Servisol to WD-40 electrical cleaner because (as mentioned by @KevS) of the conductive lubricating film it leaves.

NicoAdie · September 2023

I’ve used it to clean pots on a couple of guitars and a Deluxe Memory Man, worked fine, no complaints.

Voxman · September 2023

Lestratcaster said:

I use Servisol which I also got from Maplin many years ago. And I still got the straw. Used it earlier actually to clean out some crackly Les Paul volume pots.

I use Servisol Super 10 too.

Sassafras · September 2023

I used to use Servisol but the WD40 stuff is much better and generally more permanent.

Dan · September 2023

Sassafras said:

I used to use Servisol but the WD40 stuff is much better and generally more permanent.

Got both and would probably agree with this. The WD40 CC seems to be a bit more longer lasting where ive had to occasionally respay when using servisol.

CavemanGrogg · September 2023

Not that I've used it on a guitar, I do use it though, the WD40 CC is really really good, a lot of the YouTube channels I watch highly recommend the stuff, and none of them are sponsored or endorsed by the stuff yet they all use it.

SpoonMan · September 2023

I've got a few different cleaner/lubricant type sprays. Some clean only, some leave a residue. Some are safe with plastics, some not.

Electrolube works pretty well on pots.

I imagine they are all fairly similar though, given they are for the same thing. Brand probably doesn't matter much.

hollywoodrox · September 2023

Servisol here, I too have my straw

bbill335 · September 2023

Dan said:

Sassafras said:

I used to use Servisol but the WD40 stuff is much better and generally more permanent.

Got both and would probably agree with this. The WD40 CC seems to be a bit more longer lasting where ive had to occasionally respay when using servisol.

allow me to be the dissenting voice and say that servisol has "fixed" things for me - slider switches in particular - that the wd40 brand contact cleaner would only spruce up for a few hours. that said, it's been a good while since i bothered with the wd40 one as the servisol has lasted me ages. i was getting the wd40 out every session and got through a can or two quite quickly.

Yorkie · September 2023

WD-40 contact cleaner.

A reluctant purchase, considering all I had to do was clean 3 scratchy pots.

3 pots my arse. I’ve fixed more electronic devices than I can count with it.

BillDL · September 2023

The Harley Benton contact cleaner is OK, but if you upgrade the nozzle it's then 3 times better than any of the more expensive brand names

Bellycaster · October 2023

Just used the Servisol today. Is it wise to leave the Guitar for 24 hours until trying?

maltingsaudio · October 2023

Bellycaster said:

Just used the Servisol today. Is it wise to leave the Guitar for 24 hours until trying?

No crack(le) on ! You can use it straight after, I usually spray the pots when it’s plugged in and the amp on so I can tell if it’s doing the job. Do however wipe any residue off the finish of the guitar to avoid any reaction with the paint although in all the years I’ve been spraying servisol into switches never seen any adverse reaction to the guitars finish

Bellycaster · October 2023

maltingsaudio said:

Bellycaster said:

Just used the Servisol today. Is it wise to leave the Guitar for 24 hours until trying?

No crack(le) on ! You can use it straight after, I usually spray the pots when it’s plugged in and the amp on so I can tell if it’s doing the job. Do however wipe any residue off the finish of the guitar to avoid any reaction with the paint although in all the years I’ve been spraying servisol into switches never seen any adverse reaction to the guitars finish

Thanks, I'll check it out in a bit. I sprayed from the cavity side into the little notch in the pot. Hope I've not done anything wrong?

Bellycaster · October 2023

Tis Successful.

maltingsaudio · October 2023

Bellycaster said:

Tis Successful.

Great stuff

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WD-40 Specialist Contact Cleaner?

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