26 Feb
2014
26 Feb
'14
5:19 p.m.
On 02/26/2014 03:05 PM, Marc Howard wrote:
As for cigarette smoke, that was somewhat of a joke.
However the heads do
have thick black streaks, probably from that damn black foam. I tried for
about 15 minutes to clean them up with chamois head swabs soaked in 99.9%
isopropyl alcohol. I'll try to spend some more time + use a wooden tongue
depressor later when I get some more time. Unfortunately the problem head
is the top head. I really wish it could be buffed with a Dremel tool.
You might want to try some Freon TF, if you have a source--that was the
most common universal solvent for this kind of stuff before it got
banned. I don't know if there's a comparable HCFC cleaner. You may
also want to consider butane.
Short of that, locate some auto brake cleaner using perchloroethylene as
the active ingredient. Keep it off of plastic--it's only moderately
reactive with most plastics, but better to be safe than sorry. A brand
that I use is called "Brakleen".
I've cleaned very stubborn deposits from floppy heads using it. Take
appropriate precautions--you don't want to sniff the stuff.
Of course, it may be banned in your location--I believe it is in some
California cities.
Seems like anything useful is illegal or controlled. The local hardware
stores in town don't sell MEK because apparently it's used as a solvent
in making methamphetamine. However, go to a town five miles down the
highway and it's readily available. Go figure.
FWIW,
Chuck