Re: Apple Refurbishing

[mjmahon@aol.com (Michael J. Mahon)]

Sean Fahey wrote:

>"Oldbitcollector" <oldbit@spam.com> wrote in message
>pan.2004.10.22.22.26.20.453000@spam.com">news:pan.2004.10.22.22.26.20.453000@spam.com...
>
>> I'm currently using the painstaking method of q-tips
>> and alcohol.   While I do appear to be making headway,
>> does anyone have a better method?
>
>An old ham radio friend recommended this to me, but when I need to wash
>boards in bulk, I've loaded them into the dishwasher without detergent,
>using the mild setting just so the boards didn't rattle around too much
>(being lighter than pots and pans). After setting and drying, I usually blow
>them off with a compressor or hair dryer (depending if there are jumpers to
>worry about flying off) to make sure no moisture is lurking under anything.
>
>Over a hundred boards cleaned - no problems yet.

This is a fine method for cleaning PC boards as long as they do not
contain components with semisealed internal spaces that could trap
water (plus dissolved contaminants) or lubricants.

Most Apple II boards meet this requirement, but some of the earlier
boards have a variable capacitor for color trim which could pose a
drying/contamination problem.

I would avoid wholesale wetting of boards that have trimpots,
for example.

I suppose it's worth saying that dust is not, in general, a big
problem for electronics, so cleaning usually has only a cosmetic
benefit.  (In the Apple world, the slight extra heat insulation effect
is insignificant.)

-michael

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