Pot Cleaner

[Jdansti]

Is this safe and effective for cleaning pots?

[fowl]

Probably safe.

I see there's about two types of cleaner though.  Straight solvents, and those that leave a lubricant behind.  Standard carbon-track pots need a lubricant, so if you remove the factory lube with a solvent, you should replace it.  I like Deoxit, cleans and lubricates pots etc.  That stuff says "zero residue" on the bottle, so no lubricant.

[Jdansti]

Probably safe.

I see there's about two types of cleaner though.  Straight solvents, and those that leave a lubricant behind.  Standard carbon-track pots need a lubricant, so if you remove the factory lube with a solvent, you should replace it.  I like Deoxit, cleans and lubricates pots etc.  That stuff says "zero residue" on the bottle, so no lubricant.

Thanks- That makes sense.

[davent]

MG Chemicals does make a cleaner for controls, pots, etc, that does contain lubricant,

https://nextgenguitars.ca/products/mg-chemicals-nu-trol-control-cleaner-140g-aerosol.html

[Jdansti]

MG Chemicals does make a cleaner for controls, pots, etc, that does contain lubricant,

https://nextgenguitars.ca/products/mg-chemicals-nu-trol-control-cleaner-140g-aerosol.html

That's the one I remember. Thanks!

[Mark Hammer]

I will sometimes pry the tabs, remove the back, and just go over the resistive strip with a cotton tipped applicator (Q-tip) is space permits.  One can also just slip some folded-over bathroom tissue in there and move it around (non-abrasively) with the tip of a utility knife, or similar.  You'd be amazed at how much grime comes off without applying any chemicals at all.

[Rob Strand]

I will sometimes pry the tabs, remove the back, and just go over the resistive strip with a cotton tipped applicator (Q-tip) is space permits.  One can also just slip some folded-over bathroom tissue in there and move it around (non-abrasively) with the tip of a utility knife, or similar.  You'd be amazed at how much grime comes off without applying any chemicals at all.

I was a lot more gung ho about opening pots and stuff when I was younger.   A few times the tabs broke off or  didn't close tightly afterwards.  These days if I have to pry something open I barely lift the tabs to open it - to the point where I almost can't get it apart.

[Mark Hammer]

Gentle "just enough" prying IS called for.  I normally use an X-acto blade to pry the tabs up to about 30 degrees away from the rest of the pot, bend them just a weeeee bit more with the needle-nose pliers and wriggle the back off.  I NEVER bend them to 90 degrees.