Am I potty?.

[catch29]

What's the best way to clean dirty scratchy pot's?. I have been using "propriety" products, Mannol contact cleaner etc which can get a bit expensive. Someone told me to use WD40, I'm not sure. Any advice?.

[Amie]

WD is OK for cleaning but you really need a long lasting lube in there to help make them last, duck oil is probably better.

I've used the method of stripping  down a worn pot cleaning  and rubbing the track with graphite,  from a soft pencil  then use a light grease,  vass or servisol silicon for lube.

Or just buy some "Deoxit" which also seems pretty good...

Just my opinion

[ppppenguin]

Servisol Super 10 is hardly expensive. Deoxit is expensive but I'm told you only need tiny amounts.

WD40 not recommended.

[BusyBee]

I have used Duck Oil for a long time now and find it works very well.

On the odd occasion I have stripped a pot too and replaced the track from another but it is fiddly and does require an identical style track so only really for odd designs using standard type tracks.

Tracy

[Murphyv310]

Hi.
WD40 will leave a fine film of lubricant after the solvent evaporates. Used virtually every contact cleaner available to mankind (55 years between a TV engineer and hobbyist) I always go back to WD40. Duck oil is good too as is believe it or not clear Waxoil but in very small quantities. Switch cleaner is a short term answer as it dries out and then with the lack of lube the track wears faster.

[Richard_FM]

You can get WD40 formulated for switch cleaning.

[ppppenguin]

WD40 is now the branding for a whole range of stuff. I've got a WD40 silicone spray.

[Nick]

WD40 is now the branding for a whole range of stuff. I've got a WD40 silicone spray.

To be fair "Water Displacement 40" was just the first product - they made other "WD" lubricants from pretty much the start and subsequently rebranded as the "WD-40 Company" after their eponymous initial product.

[Radio Fixer]

If really bad just get new ones.

Gary

[Craig]

Caig - that make DeOxit, also make something called FaderLube specifically sliding contacts arrangements in pots. I haven't tried it, so I cannot vouch for its effectiveness. However, with old carbon track pots, often the track is just worn out, and if so needs to be replaced.

Old Jaguars used to have a carbon track throttle pot that fed into the ECU. These sat in the stinking heat above the engine, and every time you used the accelerator the slider moved over the track. So they wore out. And the only way you knew was the fuel consumption got worse. IOW less than the usual 18mpg. These were a completely sealed unit naturally.

Of course, being a Jaguar, the replacement pot was a king's ransom.