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Purchasing a radio from a smoker

skip searcher

Active Member
Nov 17, 2006
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I’m currently looking at a 2970 N2 but it’s come from a smoker what would be the best way to clean the radio the knobs, front screen ,and radio surrounding the screen microphone lead microphone what have you guys used to clean up radios .
 

Depending on how long the smoker had the radio, and especially if they smoked indoors, the inside of the radio may need a thorough cleaning as well, to really remove the smell.

I used to use "Formula 409" for old computer cases, that would get the yellow nicotine stains out, then we would aggressively blow all the nasty yellow dust out of the inside with compressed air. I wouldn't use 409 or any aggressive cleaner, you don't want to "clean" away the printing on the bezel.

I'm a smoker myself so I really cannot comment on how to fully remove the smell, I simply cannot smell as well as a non-smoker can.
 
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I'm thinking a 2970 may take something with a little more power........
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Depending on how long the smoker had the radio, and especially if they smoked indoors, the inside of the radio may need a thorough cleaning as well, to really remove the smell.

I used to use "Formula 409" on used computer external plastics, that would get the yellow nicotine stains out, then we would aggressively blow all the nasty yellow dust out of the inside with compressed air.

I'm a smoker myself so I really cannot comment on how to fully remove the smell.
Never use compressed air inside of a radio. It generates a huge amount of Electro-Static energy and can break very small wires inside of the "Cans" and tuning coils.
In any case compressed air is not a good idea. From personal experience, I had a Television That I just needed to put a picture tube in it and it was ready to do the color alignment and put it in my living room. After replacing the tube I took it over to my brothers house to blow it out.
Turns out that was a very, very bad Idea. His air system was kept at 175 psi. I adjusted what I was sure the regulator I adjusted was for the line I was going to use.
From a distance of three feet I gave it a short blast and one of the coils on the convergence board broke and folded over and broke the wires.
I would suggest wiping it down with Febreze. Spray a rag till it is just moist not soggy and wipe it down with that. Do not spray the radio in side or out side.
 
Never use compressed air inside of a radio. It generates a huge amount of Electro-Static energy and can break very small wires inside of the "Cans" and tuning coils.
In any case compressed air is not a good idea. From personal experience, I had a Television That I just needed to put a picture tube in it and it was ready to do the color alignment and put it in my living room. After replacing the tube I took it over to my brothers house to blow it out.
Turns out that was a very, very bad Idea. His air system was kept at 175 psi. I adjusted what I was sure the regulator I adjusted was for the line I was going to use.
From a distance of three feet I gave it a short blast and one of the coils on the convergence board broke and folded over and broke the wires.
I would suggest wiping it down with Febreze. Spray a rag till it is just moist not soggy and wipe it down with that. Do not spray the radio in side or out side.


I used to use cans of compressed air to remove stubborn dust from in between heatsink fins of the CPU cooler. That's the only way to do that without removing the heatsink to manually clean in between each fin. I've never had static (from air turbulence) kill a motherboard.

I little bit of air hasn't damaged anything I've cleaned, but then again I start from broken radios anyway...
dusty-circuit-board-hard-drives-series-computer-parts-66652729.jpg


What is the least invasive way to clean this board? I would think air..
 
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Q-tips? Back when I blew out the TV the Canned Air was not on the market yet.
Completely understandable, and that raises a good point!

I used my air compressor the other day to clean my P.C. w/ low PSI (I hadn't drained the tank, no line filter) and I noticed some water was coming out, not good! Use a line filter to trap moisture if you decide you have to use your air compressor in this manner (not recommended), canned air would be more ideal, and the pressure won't be excessive.
 
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If you use compressed air regulate it to about 20 psi. That's what we used in the service and in most electronic shops I worked in or use the can type. To clean boards there are cleaners in spray cans such as MG Chemicals Super Wash. You can also clean them with alcohol or even wash them in a sink. We used to clean a lot of dirty boards in a sink with a little detergent and a small brush. Blow them off with some air and let them dry. Doesn't hurt a thing. Electronic parts are all sealed. Tuning cans will dry right out. Of course with a radio you need to keep the liquid off the speaker and out of the meters. Covers can be washed in the sink with water and detergent. Auto polishes and waxes shine covers and front panels up nicely.
 

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