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MintLP Protractor Issue. Anyone else?

Hello,
I went to use my MintLP Protractor last week to do a re-check of Arm, cause I had dis-mounted the Arm.

Last time I used it, was when I first recieved it, over a good year ago, maybe closer to two years.

What I have noticed with mine, that it was once a frosted transluscent clear overlay over a sheet of glass mirror has now changed.

Now I notice, that clear frosted color of the overlay has turned a dirty brown stained color. Anyone else have this happen?

Whether any other detrimental effects have occured, I am unsure, but this Protractor was always kept wrapped in its protective Plastic Bag, in its Cardboard Shipping Box, it shouldn't have turned a brown color, expecially not for what this protractor cost.

I'm thinking of emailing Yip, and asking why this happened, and what can be done about it? Mark

markd51
markd51 OP
741 posts
 
Yes, Yip made mention that if the Protractor needed cleaning, it should be wiped with Iso Alcohol, nothing else.

And I did with mine once, due to seeing slight scratching of the overlay, caused by the Stylus at the Null Grids.
mingles
775 posts
 
Mine appears to be the same as the day I got it.
sunnyboy1956's avatar
sunnyboy1956
423 posts
 
Am on my 3rd Mint LP in 3 years and apart from some scratch marks at the null points caused by the stylus , I have observed no other wear and tear and certainly no brown marks or discolouration of the kind Mark found. I live in a relatively more inhospitable climate in terms of heat and humidity etc
Happy listening
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
I'll send Yip an email and ask him for input. He really is very friendly and helpful and approachable. I don't know why people don't just ask him. ;-)

I have an older MintLP for my Triplanar that does show the material under the overlay has turned brown like the OP reports. The overlay itself is clear and clean. This material under the overlay appears to be an aide to facilitate using the mirrored surface. I suspect Yip may have found a substitute at some point that doesn't fade like this.

I don't think this is a cleaning issue. However, from the front page of the MintLP intstructions:

"The plastic surface can only be cleaned with lighter fluid [i.e. white petroleum] by a soft dry cloth. WATER, and any other kind of cleaner, water base or whatever, SHOULD NEVER BE USED.

I have no financial interest in MintLP, but I am a very happy customer.
markd51 OP
741 posts
 
Dan_Ed,
You are correct sir, that my manual as well says only the use of Lighter Fluid as a cleaner.

Why I thought alcohol, is beyond me, and it seems like so long ago, that I do now forget what I actually used as a cleaner? lol

I do have lighter fluid around here, but if I did mistakenly use Alcohol, that could be the reason why I'm noticing a brownish tint to the Applique Overlay Sheet?

As another poster has mentioned though, the Protactor seems to have no other faults other than this brownish tinge, and certainly doesn't appear to warrant a return all the way back to Hong Kong.

I did email Yip, but haven't heard back from him. In any case, I'll live with mine, and as I've previously mentioned more times than I can count in other threads, it is a really great tool! Mark
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