Bit cleaner - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

ITAM805 · 11th May 2013, 5:52 pm

Probably everyone knows this but I only discovered it today after I somehow lost the yellow bit sponge for my Antex.

A run of the mill dish sponge make a very good (and cheap) cleaner, I just cut most of the sponge side off, but left enough to keep it moist, then the green side cleans the bit brilliantly

Skywave · 11th May 2013, 7:41 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ITAM805

Probably everyone knows this . . .

Well I didn't!

So thanks for mentioning it - especially as those sponges are in regular use in our kitchen - and I do believe that there is a fair stock of them in there too!

Al.

Alistair D · 11th May 2013, 9:37 pm

I made up a component leg cleaning tool by glueing a couple of small pads of Scotchbrite to the jaws of a pair of duck billed pliers and very well they work too. The material in the rough side of these dishwashers is just a variation of Scotchbrite so it is quite possible that, used dry, they could perform that function as well.

Al

Kala_12 · 12th May 2013, 9:08 am

Hi,
I have used old dishwashing pads such as these for all sorts of cleaning jobs including wooden cabinets. For really bad/stubborn cabs, my wife suggested wire wool. She has these moments of inspiration. Where would we be without them?
Stuart.

TrevorG3VLF · 12th May 2013, 11:48 am

Wire wool with high voltages and magnets is very bad news.

Herald1360 · 12th May 2013, 10:14 pm

It can be spectacular enough with a 9V alkaline PP3

Pete_kaye · 20th May 2013, 5:03 pm

I once saw a demonstration of how to light a bush fire with a 9V battery and unused brillo pad - it seemed to work .

PaulR · 29th May 2013, 3:32 pm

If you use wire wool to clean/strip a cabinet don't get it wet afterwards. Tiny bits of the wool stick in the grain and go rusty leaving speckled marks.

McMurdo · 31st May 2013, 6:57 pm

I've just ordered some multicore bit cleaner from CPC, I used it as a trainee and the results are very impressive on even the nastiest bit. I use a weller magnastat iron and of course anything like steel wool just sticks to it and is deposited on your joints.

As a child I once set the garden shed on fire with 9V on wire wool...I thought if I threw the burning wad into a box of old rags it would just 'go away'. It didnt.

Tim · 31st May 2013, 10:43 pm

Scotchbrite is brilliant for cleaning jack plugs too.

11th May 2013, 5:52 pm	#1
ITAM805 Nonode Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Folkestone, Kent, UK. Posts: 2,172	Bit cleaner Probably everyone knows this but I only discovered it today after I somehow lost the yellow bit sponge for my Antex. A run of the mill dish sponge make a very good (and cheap) cleaner, I just cut most of the sponge side off, but left enough to keep it moist, then the green side cleans the bit brilliantly Attached Thumbnails

11th May 2013, 9:37 pm	#3
Alistair D Nonode Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Edinburgh, UK. Posts: 2,008	Re: Bit cleaner I made up a component leg cleaning tool by glueing a couple of small pads of Scotchbrite to the jaws of a pair of duck billed pliers and very well they work too. The material in the rough side of these dishwashers is just a variation of Scotchbrite so it is quite possible that, used dry, they could perform that function as well. Al __________________ I won't tell you how I discovered that.

12th May 2013, 9:08 am	#4
Kala_12 Hexode Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, UK. Posts: 268	Re: Bit cleaner Hi, I have used old dishwashing pads such as these for all sorts of cleaning jobs including wooden cabinets. For really bad/stubborn cabs, my wife suggested wire wool. She has these moments of inspiration. Where would we be without them? Stuart. __________________ Half my stuff is junk - luckily, my wife doesn't know which half!

12th May 2013, 11:48 am	#5
TrevorG3VLF Rest in Peace Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Matlock, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 1,378	Re: Bit cleaner Wire wool with high voltages and magnets is very bad news.

12th May 2013, 10:14 pm	#6
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,535	Re: Bit cleaner It can be spectacular enough with a 9V alkaline PP3 __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

20th May 2013, 5:03 pm	#7
Pete_kaye Octode Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,227	Re: Bit cleaner I once saw a demonstration of how to light a bush fire with a 9V battery and unused brillo pad - it seemed to work .

29th May 2013, 3:32 pm	#8
PaulR Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Southport Lancashire, UK. Posts: 3,233	Re: Bit cleaner If you use wire wool to clean/strip a cabinet don't get it wet afterwards. Tiny bits of the wool stick in the grain and go rusty leaving speckled marks.

31st May 2013, 6:57 pm	#9
McMurdo Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 5,271	Re: Bit cleaner I've just ordered some multicore bit cleaner from CPC, I used it as a trainee and the results are very impressive on even the nastiest bit. I use a weller magnastat iron and of course anything like steel wool just sticks to it and is deposited on your joints. As a child I once set the garden shed on fire with 9V on wire wool...I thought if I threw the burning wad into a box of old rags it would just 'go away'. It didnt. __________________ Kevin

31st May 2013, 10:43 pm	#10
Tim Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 3,310	Re: Bit cleaner Scotchbrite is brilliant for cleaning jack plugs too. __________________ "Nothing is as dangerous as being too modern;one is apt to grow old fashioned quite suddenly."