Cleaning Black Tarnished IC Leads

[sarakisof]

After days of searching, i finally found a rare amplifier IC needed for an old Hohner electric piano. It's the TDA1111 and was the last NOS one left found in an old repair man's lab.

As you can see its legs are a bit of tarnished turned black.
How do i clean them in a safe appropriate way in order to not damaging the component?
Isopropyl alcohol can't do the job obviously alone. Needs smthng to slightly scrub the tarnish out of them.
Fiberglass pen, steelwool 0000 maybe?

[EBK]

Try lemon juice.

[Mark Hammer]

I just use a utility knife blade to scrape the tarnish off.  In fact I was just doing that yesterday.

A shiny lead makes for a good solder joint!

[GGBB]

Fine sandpaper (400+) and acetone.

[mozz]

If it's silver plated, use jewelry cleaner.  Those fiberglass brushes are great, if you can still get them. 

[ElectricDruid]

Those really hard erasers that they sell for rubbing out ink work pretty well too. Soft pencil erasers don't have enough "scratch", but the other ones are not bad. I mean, they're terrible for what they're *supposed* to be for and just rub a hole in the paper whenever I tried it, but they're quite good for this kind of contact-cleaning task!

[blackieNYC]

You can use Tarn-X, but then clean it off afterwards.

I'm told that silver tarnish is actually completely conductive - anyone know that to be true?

[sarakisof]

Ocean of inputs here.  Seems everyone go with his own unique way. I guess it's a what works on what thing.
In my case definitely doesn't seems smthng rusty, corrosive or bad enough, I'm sure it works perfectly as it is, but yeah, as said above, a shiny lead makes for a nice joint.

Will try to avoid using smthng liquid so most likely go with fine sandpaper/0000 steel wool/fiberglass pen or brush.
Will do in a few hrs so any other ideas welcome 

Will be back with results

[anotherjim]

The fibreglass pen wins every time.

[EBK]

What is a fiberglass pen?  I have never heard of one.

[sarakisof]

What is a fiberglass pen?  I have never heard of one.

https://www.amazon.com/Hama-Cleaning-Battery-Contacts-Glass-Fibre/dp/B00006IVJJ
Just an example.
https://www.faber-castell.com/products/180300glasseraserpencil/180300
I have this one, not a "dedicated for contacts" one, but does the job perfectly so far.

The fibreglass pen wins every time.

😂

[anotherjim]

If you get a fibreglass pen, be sure you can get a bunch of replacement "brushes". They don't last long. And the tiny bits that break off dig into flesh like splinters - don't breathe the dust!

[sarakisof]

I know Jim. I won't pretend I don't breathe  but protective glasses and wise use are always with me. 

[sarakisof]

Voila...




I'm working as ad manager for Fab.Castell, just got my bonus gift. 😛

And the tiny bits that break off dig into flesh like splinters

Really? What a liar you are Jim.

[antonis]

Somebody needs forearm depilation..
(or else, the use of a 40W soldering iron should resort to sizzling..)

P.S.
(due to P.M. malfunction..)

Many ancient 2200 up to 4700 μF (FRAKO/63V) vertical caps in my junkbox but no horizontal..

[sarakisof]

 

Somebody needs forearm depilation..
(or else, the use of a 40W soldering iron should resort to sizzling..)

lol ρε Αντώνη

Many ancient 2200 up to 4700 μF (FRAKO/63V) vertical caps in my junkbox but no horizontal..

Junkbox, meaning previously used or just NOS sitting there for a weird guy who's looking for trouble? 😁

[anotherjim]

Safety hint was for Eric and other fibre virgins.

And sarakisof, that one interesting lifeline you have there. Should it do that?

[sarakisof]

And sarakisof, that one interesting lifeline you have there. Should it do that?

Sure Jim.