Re: How to clean the dust off motherboards?

[spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

In article shack@deimos.frii.com (Randy Shackelford) writes...

>In article <pdueck-1803970140420001@dial1.pli.mb.ca>,
>Perry Dueck <pdueck@pli.mb.ca> wrote:
> 
>>What is the best way (and safest) to thouroghly clean the dust off of the
>>motherboards, expansion cards, and chips in my Apple //e and my Bell &
>>Howell ][+ ?
> 
>A small paint brush with soft bristles works pretty well.

    A cotton-swab dipped in rubbing alcohol is another option, although
it requires a bit of patience if you plan to clean the entire surface of
the board this way (and allow ample time for the alcohol to dry, although
it does of course evaporate rather quickly). I restored the motherboard
from an Apple IIe to _like-new_ appearance this way, which was pretty
remarkable considering it was caked in thick mud, dust and other gunk
(I found it outside in the trash, and it literally looked like had gone
through a swamp).

    Whichever way you choose to clean a board, always be careful around
pins and capictors, you don't want anything to break off or bend. It's
also a good idea to remove cards, cables or even the complete motherboard
from the case (depending on how well you want to clean it). And of course
do it with the power OFF! ;)

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca