VOGONS


First post, by Shader_BiH

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I'm curious if anyone has any experience with using pressurized spray cans for cleaning old computer hardware?

I had a couple ISA sound cards that were holding gunk from last century, and since vacuuming them didn't clean enough I decided to look for alternative. In my car I had so called MAF cleaner spray from Liqui Molly, and since description said it leaves no residue and evaporates quickly I decided to test it on these cards. I must say it turned out quite well... It got rid of all gunk and it's even shiny now, contacts and PCB. No damage on sticker as well. 😀 Are there any long-term concerns for using such solutions?

Reply 1 of 4, by Shponglefan

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I looked up the data sheet on the Liqui Molly Air Flow Sensor cleaner. Data sheet is here: https://sichdatonline.chemical-check.de/Dokum … -04-2026_EN.pdf

It's an IPA based cleaner (isopropyl alcohol), so it should be safe to use on electronics. IPA is commonly used for cleaning electronics and getting rid of grease, flux residue, etc.

One chemical I would exercise some caution using is Acetone as that can dissolve certain types of plastics.

Pentium 4 Multi-OS Build
486 DX4-100 with 6 sound cards
486 DX-33 with 5 sound cards

Reply 2 of 4, by DaveDDS

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I used to use "TV tuner cleaner" spray back in the day, but mechanical tuners are long gone, and it's not available these days. I've not found anything comparable (at least local) ...

To clean parts/contacts, I never use water, normally I would just use a drop or two of alcohol on a small cloth.
Sometimes I use the "cleaning oils" shown below, but never just "spraying on". I will usually spray a very little bit on a cloth .. kinda the same thing I do with a drop of alcohol, it really depends on what I'm working on.

For certain contacts, a pencil eraser can work wonders too!

Note that in the pic, the can on the left is (almost empty) the tuner spray I used to use - I kept a bit because sometimes it truly works the best (at least for me).

https://dunfield.themindfactory.com ; "Daves Old Computers" ; SW dev addict best known:
ImageDisk: rd/wr ANY floppy PChw can ; Micro-C: compiler for DOS+ManySmallCPU ; DDLINK: simple/small filetransfer(w/o netSW)via Lan/Lpt/Com

Reply 3 of 4, by Shponglefan

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DaveDDS wrote on Today, 00:24:

I used to use "TV tuner cleaner" spray back in the day, but mechanical tuners are long gone, and it's not available these days. I've not found anything comparable (at least local) ...

You can buy electronic contact cleaners which is the same thing. I use DeoxIT which is available in Canada. I get mine at a local electronics store.

Pentium 4 Multi-OS Build
486 DX4-100 with 6 sound cards
486 DX-33 with 5 sound cards

Reply 4 of 4, by lti

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I've been using CRC contact cleaner since it was cheap. It isn't that cheap anymore, but it still costs less than Deoxit for areas where you don't need lubricant.
https://www.crcindustries.com/qd-electronic-cleaner/