Lubricant for pots?

[pawihte]

What common substance would be acceptable as a lubricant for
consumer grade volume control pots? It's no good recommending a
branded product to me as I live in a place where such products
are unlikely to be available. Thanks.

 

[BobW]

"pawihte" <pawihte@fake.invalid> wrote in message
news:hnfl2r$m6l$1@news.eternal-september.org...

What common substance would be acceptable as a lubricant for consumer
grade volume control pots? It's no good recommending a branded product to
me as I live in a place where such products are unlikely to be available.
Thanks.

Radio Shack sells a small white spray can with cleaner and lubricant. I've
had good luck with it.

Bob
--
== All google group posts are automatically deleted due to spam ==

 

[Peter K]

On Mar 13, 4:15 am, "pawihte" <pawi...@fake.invalid> wrote:

What common substance would be acceptable as a lubricant for
consumer grade volume control pots? It's no good recommending a
branded product to me as I live in a place where such products
are unlikely to be available. Thanks.

Try WD-40

Peter

 

[Phil Allison]

"pawihte"

What common substance would be acceptable as a lubricant for consumer
grade volume control pots?

** Pots do not need lubricating.

How about you post a question properly for once ?

What is the actual problem with the pots ??


..... Phil

 

[pawihte]

Phil Allison wrote:

"pawihte"

What common substance would be acceptable as a lubricant for
consumer
grade volume control pots?

** Pots do not need lubricating.

How about you post a question properly for once ?

What is the actual problem with the pots ??

This is not about a problem with a particular pot. Many
inexpensive carbon pots develop intermittent contacts and
scratchy sounds in audio. This happens both with pots fitted in a
product by a manufacturer and with pots bought from a shop. Some
become defective within a couple of months of regular use,
especially in a dusty environment and/or if they have dc current
passing through them. Replacing them with better quality pots is
not always an option. Flushing with a solvent usually makes them
OK again for a while, but this also takes out the lubricant and
makes the track wear out more quickly.

 

[Phil Allison]

"pawihte"

Phil Allison wrote:
"pawihte"

What common substance would be acceptable as a lubricant for consumer
grade volume control pots?

** Pots do not need lubricating.

How about you post a question properly for once ?

What is the actual problem with the pots ??

This is not about a problem with a particular pot. Many inexpensive carbon
pots develop intermittent contacts and scratchy sounds in audio. This
happens both with pots fitted in a product by a manufacturer and with pots
bought from a shop. Some become defective within a couple of months of
regular use, especially in a dusty environment and/or if they have dc
current passing through them. Replacing them with better quality pots is
not always an option. Flushing with a solvent usually makes them OK again
for a while, but this also takes out the lubricant and makes the track
wear out more quickly.

** Totally mangled nonsense - the track of a carbon ( or other) pot has no
lubricant applied during manufacture.

Any lubricant that resided on the track would prevent operation - cos
lubricants are insulators.

Rapidly evaporating solvents are rarely any use for fixing noisy pots while
slow evaporating ones that leave a thin oil residue are very good at the
job.

Also, rotary pots do not get " dust " inside them.

What actually causes all the trouble is a when a mix of fine carbon
particles from the track and grease from the shaft bearing accumulate on the
fingers of the two wipers and render them partially non conducting. Also,
the metal to metal wiper contacts suffer from surface contamination by the
moisture and sulphides in the air - a thin oily film helps prevent any
recurrence of this. The oil must be thin that rotating the pot displaces
all of it from the contact areas.

A mix of oil and petroleum solvent has a very low surface tension so easily
travels by capillary action to cover all the insides of a pot.

There is a very famous product that fits the bill exactly ...... W
something ......

One uses only a small amount ( a few drops) and then rotates the pot many
times to help it do the trick - repeating the process only if necessary.
If the pot is still noisy - replacement is the only option.

BTW

Some 100mm fader pots I looked at a week back did not respond to the above
treatment - when opened up I found the finger contacts on the slider were
worn completely away !!!



..... Phil

 

[pawihte]

Phil Allison wrote:

"pawihte"
Phil Allison wrote:
"pawihte"

What common substance would be acceptable as a lubricant for
consumer grade volume control pots?

** Pots do not need lubricating.

How about you post a question properly for once ?

What is the actual problem with the pots ??

This is not about a problem with a particular pot. Many
inexpensive
carbon pots develop intermittent contacts and scratchy sounds
in
audio. This happens both with pots fitted in a product by a
manufacturer and with pots bought from a shop. Some become
defective
within a couple of months of regular use, especially in a
dusty
environment and/or if they have dc current passing through
them.
Replacing them with better quality pots is not always an
option.
Flushing with a solvent usually makes them OK again for a
while, but
this also takes out the lubricant and makes the track wear out
more
quickly.


** Totally mangled nonsense - the track of a carbon ( or
other) pot
has no lubricant applied during manufacture.

Maybe not within your experience, but some manufacturers
certainly do apply lubricants on the track. As a hobbyist, I've
opened up many varieties of vulume control type pots, both rotary
and slide. I opened some of them when they were quite new and
there's no time for the fine grease-like substance to migrate
from the support mechanism to the tracks.

Any lubricant that resided on the track would prevent
operation - cos
lubricants are insulators.

That's why I had to ask about suitable substances. Some of them
were still working flawlessly with "grease" on the tracks when I
opened them. In most cases, the lubricant had been pushed into a
ridge right beside the wiper path.

Rapidly evaporating solvents are rarely any use for fixing
noisy
pots while slow evaporating ones that leave a thin oil residue
are
very good at the job.

So, if "a thin oil resude" works, why not some other lubricant?

Also, rotary pots do not get " dust " inside them.

They most certainly do. There are often enough gaps in the
housing to let dust in.

What actually causes all the trouble is a when a mix of fine
carbon
particles from the track and grease from the shaft bearing
accumulate
on the fingers of the two wipers and render them partially non
conducting. Also, the metal to metal wiper contacts suffer
from
surface contamination by the moisture and sulphides in the
air - a
thin oily film helps prevent any recurrence of this. The oil
must be
thin that rotating the pot displaces all of it from the contact
areas.

A mix of oil and petroleum solvent has a very low surface
tension so
easily travels by capillary action to cover all the insides of
a pot.

There is a very famous product that fits the bill exactly
...... W
something ......

One uses only a small amount ( a few drops) and then rotates
the pot
many times to help it do the trick - repeating the process
only if
necessary. If the pot is still noisy - replacement is the only
option.

As I said at the beginning, it is sometimes difficult to get a
replacement of the same type. Gone are the days when most volume
control pots were of about one-inch
diameter, with a 1/4-inch steel shaft and eyelet solder tags,
secured to a metal chassis with a nut.

BTW

Some 100mm fader pots I looked at a week back did not respond
to the
above treatment - when opened up I found the finger contacts
on the
slider were worn completely away !!!

I've come across such wear effects too, but that's not what I was
talking about. What I did mention was that they wear more rapidly
without lubricant.

 

[Phil Allison]

"pawihte"

** Totally mangled nonsense - the track of a carbon ( or other) pot has
no lubricant applied during manufacture.

Maybe not within your experience, but some manufacturers certainly do
apply lubricants on the track.

** Bollocks.

Any lubricant that resided on the track would prevent operation - cos
lubricants are insulators.

That's why I had to ask about suitable substances. Some of them were still
working flawlessly with "grease" on the tracks when I opened them. In most
cases, the lubricant had been pushed into a ridge right beside the wiper
path.

** Then there is NONE lubricating the conducting surfaces !!!!

You earlier claim is 100% bogus.

Also, rotary pots do not get " dust " inside them.

They most certainly do.

** Utter bollocks.

If the pot is still noisy - replacement is the only option.

As I said at the beginning, it is sometimes difficult to get a replacement
of the same type.

** Your problem.

I've come across such wear effects too, but that's not what I was talking
about. What I did mention was that they wear more rapidly without
lubricant.

** There can be NONE on the conducting surfaces.

Your thinking is totally irrational.

And you're an arrogant pig.



...... Phil

 

[pawihte]

Phil Allison wrote:

"pawihte"

** Totally mangled nonsense - the track of a carbon ( or
other)
pot has no lubricant applied during manufacture.

Maybe not within your experience, but some manufacturers
certainly do
apply lubricants on the track.

** Bollocks.


Any lubricant that resided on the track would prevent
operation - cos lubricants are insulators.

That's why I had to ask about suitable substances. Some of
them were
still working flawlessly with "grease" on the tracks when I
opened
them. In most cases, the lubricant had been pushed into a
ridge
right beside the wiper path.

** Then there is NONE lubricating the conducting surfaces
!!!!

You earlier claim is 100% bogus.


Also, rotary pots do not get " dust " inside them.

They most certainly do.


** Utter bollocks.


If the pot is still noisy - replacement is the only option.

As I said at the beginning, it is sometimes difficult to get a
replacement of the same type.


** Your problem.


I've come across such wear effects too, but that's not what I
was
talking about. What I did mention was that they wear more
rapidly
without lubricant.

** There can be NONE on the conducting surfaces.

Not at the point of contact at the time of contact, at least not
in enough thickness to prevent conduction.What about oil-filled
switches and contactors, eh? The oil or grease simply gets
squeezed out of the way at the point of contact and then flow in
again.

Your thinking is totally irrational.

And you're an arrogant pig.

At least you're consistent. Did mommy forget to give you your
medicine again? Good. Don't ever change. You're good for comic
relief.

 

[Phil Allison]

"pawihte"

Your thinking is totally insane.

And you're a pig ignorant turd.

Drop dead.



...... Phil

 

[default]

On Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:52:19 +0530, "pawihte" <pawihte@fake.invalid>
wrote:

Phil Allison wrote:
"pawihte"

What common substance would be acceptable as a lubricant for
consumer
grade volume control pots?

** Pots do not need lubricating.

How about you post a question properly for once ?

What is the actual problem with the pots ??

This is not about a problem with a particular pot. Many
inexpensive carbon pots develop intermittent contacts and
scratchy sounds in audio. This happens both with pots fitted in a
product by a manufacturer and with pots bought from a shop. Some
become defective within a couple of months of regular use,
especially in a dusty environment and/or if they have dc current
passing through them. Replacing them with better quality pots is
not always an option. Flushing with a solvent usually makes them
OK again for a while, but this also takes out the lubricant and
makes the track wear out more quickly.

I've been using WD 40 since the days of turret TV tuners without
problems. But WD is a branded product . . . how about some light
machine oil or kerosene?
--

 

[Frnak McKenney]

On Sun, 14 Mar 2010 10:05:57 -0500, default <default@defaulter.net> wrote:

On Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:52:19 +0530, "pawihte" <pawihte@fake.invalid
wrote:

Phil Allison wrote:
"pawihte"

What common substance would be acceptable as a lubricant for
consumer
grade volume control pots?
[...]
What is the actual problem with the pots ??

This is not about a problem with a particular pot. Many
inexpensive carbon pots develop intermittent contacts and
scratchy sounds in audio. This happens both with pots fitted in a
product by a manufacturer and with pots bought from a shop. Some
become defective within a couple of months of regular use,
especially in a dusty environment and/or if they have dc current
passing through them. Replacing them with better quality pots is
not always an option. Flushing with a solvent usually makes them
OK again for a while, but this also takes out the lubricant and
makes the track wear out more quickly.

I've been using WD 40 since the days of turret TV tuners without
problems. But WD is a branded product . . . how about some light
machine oil or kerosene?

Did someone already mention "contact cleaner" for this purpose?

Relay contacts, TV tuner contacts, and pot wipers. I still have my
father's old can of De-Ox-Id, and it still works (heck, I'm impressed
that it still has usalbe propellant <grin!&gt. When my old (c.1974)
Kenwood stereo receiver's volume control picks up a little bit of
scratchiness (erratic contact when rotating), one squirt cures it.


Frank McKenney
--
The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is
to fill the world with fools.
--Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher
--
Frank McKenney, McKenney Associates
Richmond, Virginia / (804) 320-4887
Munged E-mail: frank uscore mckenney ayut mined spring dawt cahm (y'all)

 

[default]

On Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:45:35 +0530, "pawihte" <pawihte@fake.invalid>
wrote:

Not at the point of contact at the time of contact, at least not
in enough thickness to prevent conduction.What about oil-filled
switches and contactors, eh? The oil or grease simply gets
squeezed out of the way at the point of contact and then flow in
again.

I think you have that right. It wouldn't surprise me that the contact
cleaners that "leave no residue" are less effective for that reason.

Particles rubbed off the pot as a cause are probably secondary to
oxides on the contact fingers.
--

 

[John Larkin]

On Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:06:43 +1100, "Phil Allison" <phil_a@tpg.com.au>
wrote:

"pawihte"
Phil Allison wrote:
"pawihte"

What common substance would be acceptable as a lubricant for consumer
grade volume control pots?

** Pots do not need lubricating.

How about you post a question properly for once ?

What is the actual problem with the pots ??

This is not about a problem with a particular pot. Many inexpensive carbon
pots develop intermittent contacts and scratchy sounds in audio. This
happens both with pots fitted in a product by a manufacturer and with pots
bought from a shop. Some become defective within a couple of months of
regular use, especially in a dusty environment and/or if they have dc
current passing through them. Replacing them with better quality pots is
not always an option. Flushing with a solvent usually makes them OK again
for a while, but this also takes out the lubricant and makes the track
wear out more quickly.


** Totally mangled nonsense - the track of a carbon ( or other) pot has no
lubricant applied during manufacture.

Any lubricant that resided on the track would prevent operation - cos
lubricants are insulators.

Rapidly evaporating solvents are rarely any use for fixing noisy pots while
slow evaporating ones that leave a thin oil residue are very good at the
job.

Also, rotary pots do not get " dust " inside them.

What actually causes all the trouble is a when a mix of fine carbon
particles from the track and grease from the shaft bearing accumulate on the
fingers of the two wipers and render them partially non conducting. Also,
the metal to metal wiper contacts suffer from surface contamination by the
moisture and sulphides in the air - a thin oily film helps prevent any
recurrence of this. The oil must be thin that rotating the pot displaces
all of it from the contact areas.

A mix of oil and petroleum solvent has a very low surface tension so easily
travels by capillary action to cover all the insides of a pot.

There is a very famous product that fits the bill exactly ...... W
something ......

One uses only a small amount ( a few drops) and then rotates the pot many
times to help it do the trick - repeating the process only if necessary.
If the pot is still noisy - replacement is the only option.

BTW

Some 100mm fader pots I looked at a week back did not respond to the above
treatment - when opened up I found the finger contacts on the slider were
worn completely away !!!



.... Phil

I have a lot of, way too many, old Tektronix scopes and plugins, some
dating back to the all-tube days. The pots get noisy after a few
decades on storage. A small spritz with contact cleaner - the RatShack
stuff works fine - and a few good twists fixes them right up. If the
back has openings, I spray it in there; if not, it can usually be
blasted into the shaft bushing.

John

 

[pawihte]

pawihte wrote:

What common substance would be acceptable as a lubricant for
consumer grade volume control pots? It's no good recommending a
branded product to me as I live in a place where such products
are unlikely to be available. Thanks.

Thanks to those who posted helpful replies. It's been a long time
since I had to bother with noisy pots. When I did such things
regularly, contact cleaners were just things I read about in
foreign magazines. I think they're available in local shops now.
Anyway, the stuff I found inside pots were accumulated dust, lint
and unidentified fuzz and grit that were sometimes so thick that
I'd still prefer to open up the pot, wash it with a solvent and
then apply the lubricant manually.

 

[Tim Wescott]

pawihte wrote:

pawihte wrote:
What common substance would be acceptable as a lubricant for
consumer grade volume control pots? It's no good recommending a
branded product to me as I live in a place where such products
are unlikely to be available. Thanks.

Thanks to those who posted helpful replies. It's been a long time
since I had to bother with noisy pots. When I did such things
regularly, contact cleaners were just things I read about in
foreign magazines. I think they're available in local shops now.
Anyway, the stuff I found inside pots were accumulated dust, lint
and unidentified fuzz and grit that were sometimes so thick that
I'd still prefer to open up the pot, wash it with a solvent and
then apply the lubricant manually.

Back when I kit-built my radio control gear, the pots got lubricated
with petroleum jelly (Vaseline, to violate your "no brand name" rule).

Don't blame me if you find a brand of pot that gets dissolved by it, though.

--
Tim Wescott
Control system and signal processing consulting
www.wescottdesign.com

 

[pawihte]

Tim Wescott wrote:

pawihte wrote:
pawihte wrote:
What common substance would be acceptable as a lubricant for
consumer grade volume control pots? It's no good recommending
a
branded product to me as I live in a place where such
products
are unlikely to be available. Thanks.

Thanks to those who posted helpful replies. It's been a long
time
since I had to bother with noisy pots. When I did such things
regularly, contact cleaners were just things I read about in
foreign magazines. I think they're available in local shops
now.
Anyway, the stuff I found inside pots were accumulated dust,
lint
and unidentified fuzz and grit that were sometimes so thick
that
I'd still prefer to open up the pot, wash it with a solvent
and
then apply the lubricant manually.

Back when I kit-built my radio control gear, the pots got
lubricated
with petroleum jelly (Vaseline, to violate your "no brand name"
rule).

Don't blame me if you find a brand of pot that gets dissolved
by it,
though.

Vaseline is so common that I'll count it as generic. Thanks for
the info.

 

[Bob Eld]

"pawihte" <pawihte@fake.invalid> wrote in message
news:hnid09$2to$1@news.eternal-september.org...

Phil Allison wrote:
"pawihte"

** Totally mangled nonsense - the track of a carbon ( or
other)
pot has no lubricant applied during manufacture.

Maybe not within your experience, but some manufacturers
certainly do
apply lubricants on the track.

** Bollocks.


Any lubricant that resided on the track would prevent
operation - cos lubricants are insulators.

That's why I had to ask about suitable substances. Some of
them were
still working flawlessly with "grease" on the tracks when I
opened
them. In most cases, the lubricant had been pushed into a
ridge
right beside the wiper path.

** Then there is NONE lubricating the conducting surfaces
!!!!

You earlier claim is 100% bogus.


Also, rotary pots do not get " dust " inside them.

They most certainly do.


** Utter bollocks.


If the pot is still noisy - replacement is the only option.

As I said at the beginning, it is sometimes difficult to get a
replacement of the same type.


** Your problem.


I've come across such wear effects too, but that's not what I
was
talking about. What I did mention was that they wear more
rapidly
without lubricant.

** There can be NONE on the conducting surfaces.

Not at the point of contact at the time of contact, at least not
in enough thickness to prevent conduction.What about oil-filled
switches and contactors, eh? The oil or grease simply gets
squeezed out of the way at the point of contact and then flow in
again.


Your thinking is totally irrational.

And you're an arrogant pig.

At least you're consistent. Did mommy forget to give you your
medicine again? Good. Don't ever change. You're good for comic
relief.

Be careful, your poking a stick into Phyllis's cage. As you can see this
aggravates the beast causing a fit of Tourettes. Communicate with caution!

 

[John G]

On Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:33:27 +0530, "pawihte" <pawihte@fake.invalid>
wrote:

Tim Wescott wrote:
pawihte wrote:
pawihte wrote:
What common substance would be acceptable as a lubricant for
consumer grade volume control pots? It's no good recommending
a
branded product to me as I live in a place where such
products
are unlikely to be available. Thanks.

Thanks to those who posted helpful replies. It's been a long
time
since I had to bother with noisy pots. When I did such things
regularly, contact cleaners were just things I read about in
foreign magazines. I think they're available in local shops
now.
Anyway, the stuff I found inside pots were accumulated dust,
lint
and unidentified fuzz and grit that were sometimes so thick
that
I'd still prefer to open up the pot, wash it with a solvent
and
then apply the lubricant manually.

Back when I kit-built my radio control gear, the pots got
lubricated
with petroleum jelly (Vaseline, to violate your "no brand name"
rule).

Don't blame me if you find a brand of pot that gets dissolved
by it,
though.

Vaseline is so common that I'll count it as generic. Thanks for
the info.

I accept you did not want a brand name but some products have a very

limited range of suppliers.
Servisol was a good contact and pot cleaner years ago but I have been
away from that area for too long to know if it still around.

Of course steel wool is still a very common POT cleaner.

John G.

 

[pawihte]

John G wrote:

I accept you did not want a brand name but some products have a
very
limited range of suppliers.
Servisol was a good contact and pot cleaner years ago but I
have been
away from that area for too long to know if it still around.

Of course steel wool is still a very common POT cleaner.

<G>
My wife already told me that. But she uses it less often since
she stopped using a wood-burning stove.