Compressed air vs Contact Cleaner vs WD40

I was reading about guitar maintenance and came across this article about cleaning pots and switches. It recommended compressed air.

I always use contact cleaning spray. And Saw more than one tech use WD40 but since it leaves some grease after it does its thing, I'm not sure it's ok for pots.

What are your thoughts?

I keep a can of CRC QD (for Quick-Dry) Contact Cleaner handy for just this reason.

I suppose you could try compressed air first, but I use DeoxIT D5. No lube. Lube or no-lube is open for debate. I haven't heard of pots being damaged when either D5 or F5 is used in small quantities, though I've never seen an original pot track with lube on it. D5 can wash out the damping grease on the shafts and make pots feel loose, though.

I use DeoxIT F5 on sliders. They slide really poorly when dry.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sérgio

I was reading about guitar maintenance and came across this article about cleaning pots and switches. It recommended compressed air.

I always use contact cleaning spray. And Saw more than one tech use WD40 but since it leaves some grease after it does its thing, I'm not sure it's ok for pots.

What are your thoughts?

---

WD40 is NOT a lubricant. It is a solvent that also displaces water.

Crucial life lesson: If it moves and it shouldn't, duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, WD-40.

Here's my tip:

If a pot is giving you trouble - replace it. For the 10 minutes it takes to replace it why screw around? If it failed once it will fail again.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Offshore Angler

Here's my tip:

If a pot is giving you trouble - replace it. For the 10 minutes it takes to replace it why screw around? If it failed once it will fail again.

---

Now try that on an ES-335 or similar guitar where you have to fish the guts out through the F hole. My Heritage has a bad volume pot and I have to try "fixing" it first! LOL!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tele-Bob

Now try that on an ES-335 or similar guitar where you have to fish the guts out through the F hole. My Heritage has a bad volume pot and I have to try "fixing" it first! LOL!

---

If you play a 335 your "asking for it"! You do need to be a glutton for punishment to play them. :lmao: Who needs their man-boobs pinched by their guitar just so they can pretend to be Larry Carlton?

PS, in all seriousness the old fishing line trick makes it a lot easier.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OldStrummer

Crucial life lesson: If it moves and it shouldn't, duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, WD-40.

---

I also heard this one: "Girl, if your boyfriend doesn't know what WD40 is for, you need a real boyfriend"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Offshore Angler

If you play a 335 your "asking for it"! You do need to be a glutton for punishment to play them. :lmao: Who needs their man-boobs pinched by their guitar just so they can pretend to be Larry Carlton?

PS, in all seriousness the old fishing line trick makes it a lot easier.

---

When I'm playing my Casino sitting down, my teat squashes like it's in a mammogram clamp.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ch willie

When I'm playing my Casino sitting down, my teat squashes like it's in a mammogram clamp.

---

I hate playing guitar sitting down exactly because of that