"Do not use solvents on electronic equipment"

[Spehro Pefhany]

Polycarbonate, actually.

I'd like a pointer to a source of polycarbonate cases.


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

 

[Abstract Dissonance]

Some cleaners can leave behind a slightly conductive residue that can
affect very-high-impedance circuits in a bad way. Most drugstore
isopropyl actually has a small amount of oil in too, and this oil can
leave behind a thin film.

In general non-oil-containing isopropyl isn't so bad for most modern
electronics.

But a note about more powerful solvents (acetones, other hydrocarbons):

Last summer I got a pair of prescription sunglass lenses put into a
pair of Ray-Ban frames. They looked fine when I took them out of the
store. But within a few hours, there were literally hundred of little
hairline cracks on the surface. I head back to Lenscrafters, and by the
time I get there the frame now is cracked into 5 or so pieces. I take
a number, explain what's happening, and we watch as the frames are
self-destructing in front of our eyes, literally falling apart into a
bunch of little grey discolored chunks. They get me an explanation: the
lab had used acetone to clean the frames after mounting the lenses, and
acetone attacks this particular lightweight plastic in an awful way.
Needless to say, I never clean this pair of glasses with anything but
water anymore!

I had thought that generally modern plastics were more resistant to
common solvents than older plastics. But the disintegration in front of
my eyes changed my mind!

Tim.

I wonder if this is there method to get you to buy from them again?

 

[Robert Baer]

Many instruction booklets for domestic electronic equipment say do
not use cleaning solvents such as alcohol.

Is this advice given simply because they are trying to prevent
possible marking of the plastic casing?

Or can domestic cleaning solvents actually damage the electronics
inside in some way?

Alcohol is not considered a "solvent" for any plastics, metals or
epoxies used in electronics.
It makes for a fair cleaner to remove grease and oils..

 

[sQuick]

In any case, alcohol is a pretty mild solvent to most electronic
components and housings. Things like petroleum solvents are more
likely to cause damage (eg. lacquer thinner) and acetone (eg. some
nail polish removers) is rather likely to cause damage to plastics or
to remove markings.

For the outside, a damp (NOT sopping wet) cloth, perhaps with a bit of
detergent is the safest, but I've never seen alcohol damage anything.

What about George Best?

 

[David Peters]

[...]

In my experience chlorinated solvents can instantly ruin certain
plastics. You don't find much of that anymore since the tree
huggers came up with their horse-shit about chlorine harming the
ozone layer. I have washed down some circuit boards with
"plastic safe" spray solvents, only to see the potting overlay
dissolve into goo. One thing to remember about alcohol is that
the stuff you buy in the market called "Rubbing Alcohol" is
mixed with both water, and glycerin. The water is fairly
innocuous, but the glycerin leaves a faint oily residue on
things. Not exactly the best pre-cleaner for adhesives etc.
Better to get friendly with your pharmacist and get some pure
isopropyl alcohol from him. I think pure isopropyl is a
regulated thing because it can be used in drug manufacture or
something tlike that. Anyway, it raises an eyebrow when you ask
for it.One thing you can try as a last resort on a
non-functioning board before you trash it: Run it through your
dishwasher in the top rack with about half the usual dish
powder. Obviously this won't work when things like mechanical
pots etc are incorporated, but I have restored otherwise
non-functioning boards several times like that.

There is a
product called "Goof-Off" that is a really great solvent for
removing the adhesive left behind by labels, and it will even
dissolve dried latex paint fairly rapidly. You need to be very
careful with it, and test the substrate gently before you use it
on plastics etc.

Anything which removes labels or the glue they leave behind is of
interest to me! Do you know what Goof-Off's active ingredients
are ?

 

[Keith]

On 17 Mar 2006, Long Ranger wrote:


Anything which removes labels or the glue they leave behind is of
interest to me! Do you know what Goof-Off's active ingredients
are ?

Mostly xylene.
http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=7015003

Another label/glue remover is "goo gone". The above database lists its
ingredients as "proprietary or trade secret", but IIRC it's orange scented
naptha.

 

[y_p_w]

I'd like a pointer to a source of polycarbonate cases.

The Allsop CD Strong Box:

<http://www.allsop.com/cd-dvd-storage/cd-dvd-jewel-cases/model-23620/cd-strong-box>

The vast majority of CD (music, ROM, or otherwise) jewel boxes
are polystyrene, including the half-thickness jewel cases. Some
music CDs come with a clear center insert.

 

[Long Ranger]

There is a

Anything which removes labels or the glue they leave behind is of
interest to me! Do you know what Goof-Off's active ingredients
are ?

Don't know, but the product is a bout 3.00 a pint at my local Home Depot.
It will burn your skin pretty well if you leave it on for a while. I used it
once to remove tar off my fore-arm, and I won't do that again.

 

[Roy L. Fuchs]

Mostly xylene.
http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=7015003

Another label/glue remover is "goo gone". The above database lists its
ingredients as "proprietary or trade secret", but IIRC it's orange scented
naptha.

Neither are good for removing labels affixed to plastic surfaces.

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

The Allsop CD Strong Box:

<http://www.allsop.com/cd-dvd-storage/cd-dvd-jewel-cases/model-23620/cd-strong-box>

The vast majority of CD (music, ROM, or otherwise) jewel boxes
are polystyrene, including the half-thickness jewel cases. Some
music CDs come with a clear center insert.

Perfect, thanks!

 

[Roy L. Fuchs]

Perfect, thanks!

Jeez, dude (edited, was dipshit). Google is your friend. A simple
search on "Polycarbonate CD Cases" yields hits galore!

http://www.dansdata.com/discsavers.htm

 

[Tim Williams]

ingredients as "proprietary or trade secret", but IIRC it's orange
scented naptha.

Most likely limonene (although you'd probably be able to smell that chemical
over a solvent, whatever the mix). Used in any "orange" cleaner product,
and evidently, suprisingly effective, considering it comes from orange peel.

Tim

 

[Keith]

Neither are good for removing labels affixed to plastic surfaces.

Moron, there are *thousands* of different "plastics". Such an absolute
statement shows what a complete moron you are! BTW, Goo-Gone works fine
on many plastics, including melamine.

What a frappin' moron!

 

[Keith]

Most likely limonene (although you'd probably be able to smell that chemical
over a solvent, whatever the mix). Used in any "orange" cleaner product,
and evidently, suprisingly effective, considering it comes from orange peel.

Could be. They advertise that it's "orange", but I'm not convinced. It
does work, though not as well as other solvents.

 

[Roy L. Fuchs]

Moron, there are *thousands* of different "plastics". Such an absolute
statement shows what a complete moron you are! BTW, Goo-Gone works fine
on many plastics, including melamine.

What a frappin' moron!

Aside from the fact that very few products are packaged in melamine
these days, NO, "naptha" is not "safe for many plastics", you fucking
retarded bat's turd.

 

[Roy L. Fuchs]

Could be. They advertise that it's "orange", but I'm not convinced. It
does work, though not as well as other solvents.

From the shit you spew in these groups, you have been huffing the
crap for years.

 

[Keith]

Aside from the fact that very few products are packaged in melamine
these days, NO, "naptha" is not "safe for many plastics", you fucking
retarded bat's turd.

Melamine isn't a plastic, DimBulb? "Plastic" is a term that covers a
*wide* variety of organic compounds. Only an idiot would assume they'd
all act the same with any given solvent. Oh, you are that idiot!

 

[Keith]

From the shit you spew in these groups, you have been huffing the
crap for years.

Why don't you try snorting some, DimBulb. It might clear up your head!
What a maroon! ...and everyone here knows it.

 

[Roy L. Fuchs]

Melamine isn't a plastic, DimBulb?

Melamine is like "bakelite" that hard material that old simpson
multi-meters and ashtrays were made of.

I know it isn't plastic, dipshit. I know all about the materials
used in the electronics industry for components, and for component
packaging, terminal strips, encapsulation, conformal coating, etc.

A twit like you that acts as if he knows what I do or do not know is
showing just how retarded you are. You are just like the TerrellTard,
idiot.

"Plastic" is a term that covers a
*wide* variety of organic compounds.

No shit. Most of them are petroleum based, and are soluble by way of
most petroleum solvents. Of course that doesn't mean ALL of them.

Only an idiot would assume they'd
all act the same with any given solvent.

Only an idiot would think that I assume such a thing, dipshit. You are
that idiot.

Oh, you are that idiot!

Wrong!

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

Why don't you try snorting some, DimBulb. It might clear up your head!
What a maroon! ...and everyone here knows it.

CAlling Roy that is an insult to maroons everwhere! ;-)


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida