I'm one of those who has used DeOxit on some old keys - two "bugs" from the 1950's that see regular service on my operating desk.
I was having to constantly "buff" the contacts. I used bit of paper, drawing it through the contacts while holding them closed several times. If I didn't use a particular key for several days, it'd be needing a considerable cleaning. Even when in constant use, I'd have to do a cleaning every week or so. Keep in mind that the contact closure is far more critical on a bug than it is on paddles. If the logic sees a contact closure when using a keyer, it'll make a dot or dash of exactly the correct length. With a bug, that dot or dash length is totally dependent upon the rig seeing a good, stable contact closure for exactly the right length of time. If the contact is dirty, the element will be truncated. The sending is often described as "scratchy" with the carrier jumping on and off perhaps several times in the length of one dash at 20 wpm as the keying circuit interprets the poor contact is alternately an open or closed circuit. It really makes for nasty sending. One day I was launching into yet another cleaning and saw, right next to my key, a little squeeze bottle of Caig DeOxit. So I put a small drop on the contacts. The surface tension held it in place with the contacts open. A few minutes later I tried the key. Perfect contact action. I did have to remove the excess DeOxit from the dot contacts since the liquid interfered with the smooth action of the pendulum that makes dots on a bug. So all that was left was the very thin film of DeOxit that clung to the metal. It was more than six months later that I noticed the contacts needing help. Before I had to clean them ever few days. I now keep a little squeeze bottle of DeOxit at the operating desk <G>. Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of David A. Belsley Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2006 7:48 PM To: ROBERT CARROLL Cc: 'Elecraft Reflector' Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Begali contacts - old thread reprise... Yes. It's fantastic for virtually all contacts and pots. dave belsley, w1euy On May 24, 2006, at 10:28 PM, ROBERT CARROLL wrote: > Dave- > > I bought a Graciella at Dayton so am very interested in this > thread. Are > you talking about Caig Deoxit or something else? > > Bob W2WG > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of David A. > Belsley > Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2006 10:21 PM > To: Kenneth Moorman > Cc: Elecraft Reflector > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Begali contacts - old thread reprise... > > I put the stuff on my keys a couple of years ago and haven't had any > problems since. I think it will last indefinitely. I learned about > the stuff on this reflector, so I suspect there are those with even > longer experience who may want to chime in. > > best wishes, > > dave belsley, w1euy > > > On May 24, 2006, at 9:54 PM, Kenneth Moorman wrote: > >> Hi David, >> >> How long will the Deoxit treatment last? >> >> Thanks, >> >> Ken, NU4I >> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "David A. Belsley" >> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> To: "n3drk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Cc: "elecraft" <elecraft@mailman.qth.net> >> Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2006 9:26 PM >> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Begali contacts - old thread reprise... >> >> >>> A tenth-drop of Deoxit on the contacts will produce the same effect >>> with no abrasion at all. best wishes, >>> dave belsley, w1euy >>> On > > ------------------------------------- > david a. belsley > professor of economics > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > > ------------------------------------- david a. belsley professor of economics _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
