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General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc. |
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2nd Mar 2005, 9:26 pm | #21 |
Retired Dormant Member
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Re: Noisy electric clock
Thanks, PaulR. It has stayed quiet enough for the last couple of weeks so I'm leaving it alone.
What's "Stardrops" detergent? Sounds more like something you'd eat |
2nd Mar 2005, 9:58 pm | #22 | |
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Re: Noisy electric clock
Quote:
HTH, Paul |
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2nd Mar 2005, 11:16 pm | #23 |
Dekatron
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Location: Southport Lancashire, UK.
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Re: Noisy electric clock
It is still going strong and is great for cleaning the car, but now costs more than the "bob a bottle" that the old ads said - or am I now showing my age?
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3rd Mar 2005, 9:13 am | #24 | ||
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Re: Noisy electric clock
Hi Nick
Apologies for not replying earlier - I somehow missed this one! Comments below: Quote:
Quote:
Admittedly, in an electric clock there is far less pressure on the teeth to cause wear than in a mechanically-powered one, but lubrication is just unneccessary here. In theory, there is no sliding contact between teeth - in practice there is. Many electric clocks use a couple of stages of worm gearing - the same applies. Lubrication of the first stage as above is not ideal, but necessary to prevent noise. Pivots should be lubed with clock oil - if you can see the oil, it is too much!
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3rd Mar 2005, 9:21 am | #25 | |
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Re: Noisy electric clock
Paul
Your advice is spot-on. Most proprietary clock cleaners consist of, guess what? Ammonia solution with a detergent in it. A word of warning - when you use this, make sure that all parts are totally submerged, or you will get a bright blue tide-mark that is virtually impossible to remove. Citric acid and vinegar are also good tarnish removers, but these sorts of clocks usually have the brass bits lacquered. You can get boxwood dust for drying parts, but this is more for watches. I just rinse the ammonia solution off and brush everything in petrol (outside!) leaving it to dry naturally. Electric clocks indeed suffer less wear, as the power is not being applied against a load. Quite a bit of pivot endshake is normal in any clock and does not cause any problems. Quote:
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3rd Mar 2005, 11:56 am | #26 |
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Re: Noisy electric clock
Mike,
What sort of petrol? An amateur clock restorer told me that the stuff to use was lighter fluid - purified petrol. Motor fuel has all sorts of additives, some of which at least were, very nasty. Pete. |
3rd Mar 2005, 12:42 pm | #27 |
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Re: Noisy electric clock
White spirit has much the same solvent properties as petrol without the vapour hazard or additives.
The other general degreasing solvent I use is isopropanol which is also nice and pure (better than meths which leaves nasty deposits). It will clean off flux residues too. I don' know how appropriate it is for clock mechanisms but where there is concern about oil attracting dirt, don't forget solid lubricants - the simplest being graphite. |
3rd Mar 2005, 1:08 pm | #28 |
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Re: Noisy electric clock
When I made my original request for help I didn't expect the overwhelming number of helpful responses. Thanks to all of you.
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3rd Mar 2005, 1:45 pm | #29 |
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Re: Noisy electric clock
Just to be different, I sometimes wish that the small bakelite Smiths "Sectric" clock I,ve had for 25 years, actually made MORE noise, , as when I restart it after a power cut, I have to stare at the minute hand to make sure it's running....... .
Regards, Mick. |
3rd Mar 2005, 4:01 pm | #30 |
Hexode
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Location: World Heritage Village of Saltaire, Shipley, West Riding of Yorkshire.
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Re: Noisy electric clock
Stardrops is actually made in Huddersfield. I always thought it was what we Northerners used and probably more popular in these parts. You can either buy it in a glass or a clear plastic container. Years ago it was sold door to door in a glass demijohn.
Paul E |
3rd Mar 2005, 5:58 pm | #31 |
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Re: Noisy electric clock
The main benefit of ammonia and Stardrops is that it is much cheaper than proprietory clock cleaning solutions, but maybe only we Northerners are worried about that? Stardrops only comes in plastic bottles now so I have kept the last glass one I had and decant it!
Seriously, the solution is great for removing almost anything from brass or copper in any condition and is good for brass radio bits. If the knob is Bakelite with brass inserts I put the whole lot in and have never had any problems. I also risked it slightly cooler and weaker with plastic knobs from a Bush VHF 61 and it was OK. Sorry for going so far off subject. Paul |
4th Mar 2005, 9:01 am | #32 | |
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Re: Noisy electric clock
Quote:
I just use the same stuff I fill our cars and do camp cooking with - normal unleaded. The preferred solvent used to be benzine (not benzene), which I think is the main constituent of lighter fuel, but this would be a little expensive for a proxy Yorkshireman. Indeed, there are nasty additives; however, you are unlikely to inhale any more of these cleaning a clock than you would filling your car. GMB Yes, white spirit is used by some clock folk; it is not volatile enough for me. Paraffin was also used, but this is not really volatile at all. Cleaning machines used to use trichlorethylene, before it was banned! IPA is ideal (no, not the Greene King stuff) but too expensive.
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