Tube and Tube Socket Cleaning

I use two methods. For tube pin cleaning, a common pencil erasor works well. Also, one of those fiberglass cleaning tools available from Radio Shack will take the crud off the tube pins. The tool is also small enough to fit inside the tube pin sockets as well. Just rotate the thing a few times and the flexible bristles will clean the pins and sockets to bright metal without removing any material from either. I chuck the pen shaped tool inside my rechargeable drill for stubborn cleaning jobs. Follow-up with deox-it or similar for a years worth of scratch-free listening.

I use Kontak (or electrician's alcohol on non-plated items) along with a pipe cleaner (for sockets) and a toothbrush for pins. On extremely tarnished pins I use the very smooth purple sandpaper which is cloth backed (can't ever remember the name of it). A "file" is too rough, IMO. Pro Gold and other cleaners have been "said" to leave a residue which later gunk's up due to the heat generated by tubes. The two cleaners that I use do not have this problem. Electrician's alcohol is "said" not to be good for plating (gold and otherwise) as it is too strong and in this case the Kontak seems to be fine. The main thing is to be gentle with the metal surfaces. If the tube is still noisy following a good sprucing up, then it is a noisy tube (this happens). I live on the "left" coast and have some mighty fine (and silent) 12au7's (by the way:-).

Dekay that's called Crocus cloth: found at better hardware stores. I wouldn't be without it myself; great for burnishing.

The type of noise was static-like.

I'll try the Kontak and see how it goes.

Thanks, y'all!!!!

Brad

I also use Kontak on a regular basis to clean all connections. Kontak can be ordered from http://www.gcaudio.com/ Perhaps the tubes need replaced? When you switched them, did the static change sides?