20 Oct
2012
20 Oct
'12
10:15 a.m.
From: Tony Duell <ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
Indeed. I ngernal, soaking a fully-assembled unit, or randomly squirting
solvents (or worse lubricants, and even worse Wanton Destruction 40) into
mechanisms is a bad idea.
C: Well, and I realize that a keyboard is an entirely different beast, but I have no
problem tossing a k/b (w/o foam depression pads, you'd better check!) in a bath of hot
water, soap, and ammonia. Let it soak, rattle the keys, rinse, let it dry THOROUGHLY, and
it works great. There are solvents good and bad. Large motors I've left out in the
elements, heck left one submerged for months, dried them out, and they worked fine. Small
electronic motors could be an entirely different thing. But I'm not apprehensive about
introducing solvents into *some* electronics at least. I'll admit though they range
from ok to bad to worse though.
for arguments
sake (and in the event the stuck disk is expendable),
couldn't you remove the drive and soak it w/isopropyl alcohol or
something? To wash away the old grease?
That might begin to loosen the old grease but won't remove it and might
well damage any electromechanical parts such as motors. Once the IPA
evaporates, the grease will re-solidify anyway since the original oils in
the grease have dried up.