Cleaning? How Do You Do?

[Dravenae]

I just wonder why you want that effect.  It was a legitimate question.  I wasn't trying to give you a hard time.

Fair enough. I apologize for my brashness in that case. Through the ambiguity of text, I guess I picked up your question wrong, or felt as though I didn't have to justify my decision. It came across as a redundant, argumentative question. I sincerely apologize if that wasn't the case.

I want that effect because its aesthetically pleasing to my eye. It brings the consoles/controllers back to life, and makes them look new. I also don't appreciate the matte look the consoles/controllers have once they have been dried after being cleaned.

I just want to say that I don't do this to any consoles/controllers that aren't a darker colour, or consoles/controllers that are transparent, because unlike the darker consoles/controllers, it adds nothing to them.

Just out of interest Wiggy, not to be argumentative or smart, but have you tried doing it? You might like the result.  

To iterate, I wouldn't suggest doing this to a console/controller that is either transparent or light in colour, it genuinely add's nothing to the finish, bar a slight sheen.

[wiggy]

Fair enough.

No, I haven't, but I don't really have any desire to put something that's oil-based on my systems/controllers and then leave it there.  It's not that I'm worried that it'll damage the plastic parts so much as it would just irk me to know that the parts are "greasy", for lack of a better term.  It reminds me of dashboard conditioner or tire shine (neither of which I like).  I just really don't like things to have a sheen on them like that, especially if that's not how the product was made to look, and I'm not fond of the idea of using a product that stays on the part(s). 

[Dravenae]

That's fair enough man.

For what its worth, I have never noticed any oily or greasy feeling when using the controllers or when touching the consoles. After I apply a coat of WD40 I always give it a thorough wipe down after, to the extent I use q-tips to get into the vents and what have you. Perhaps that's why I never notice it. I would never dream of applying a coat of WD40 and leaving it to air dry, I always give it a thorough wipe down after.

[JDavis]

Open up my Krion Conquest to clean it (and because it was rattling)

Find this:



 

[AxelSteelBMX]

Well? Did you? And was it?

[Dravenae]

It's a shame the front of the cart is damaged.

[abiscuit]

I didn't see this posted so I figure I'll put in my two cents.

For contact cleaning and cartridge slots I use DeoxIT (http://www.amazon.com/DeoxIT-25cc-Precision-Dispenser-100%25/dp/B0000YH6F8).  One of my buddies is a radio engineer and he swears by the stuff for anything metal on metal.  It's a little pricey but a very thin coat of the stuff works wonders, only thing you need extra is a qtip to wipe away the excess.

As far as other methods of cleaning I've seen these mentioned but it doesn't hurt to mention it again.

99% isopropyl alcohol for contact cleaning, though I have a hard time finding this stuff.  I prefer DeoxIT.
Mr Clean Magic Eraser for removing marker and some discoloring.
Goo Gone for sticker residue, just be careful around the label.
Windex and elbow grease for general cleaning of carts and consoles.

I've also heard good things about Retrobrite for discoloring, especially for a yellow SNES, but that stuff looks pretty intense.

[wiggy]

99% ISO is pretty much impossible to find retail and it's not worth it anyway. 91% is more than good for the job

[Blumpkin]

I finally got around to installing the clear housing on a PS1 that I picked up at a pawn store. The previous owner must have been a fucking slob. The inside was full of pet hair and a lot of the metal that encases the motherboard was rusted from moisture exposure. I cleaned it up as best I could, but thankfully the new housing is cloudy so it doesn't look too shaby.

[e_brugal]

I use Brasso to clean the contacts and after that use 70% Iso, i watch that on a video in youtube, i want to know if 70% iso is good after cleaning with brasso?

[abiscuit]

ArsTechnica had an article on how to clean cartridges recently: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/08/the-cheap-easy-way-to-make-those-old-game-cartridges-as-good-as-new/

They recommend using iso alcohol higher than 50% to clean it up and then a dry q-tip to clean off any excess after that.

The only thing I'm worried about with 70% iso in general is long term.  I've heard some things about that 70% iso isn't pure enough and may cause damage long term, some people opt to use Windex or some kind of window cleaner instead because the % of pure cleaner is higher.  I don't know how Windex would work with brasso though.

[e_brugal]

So, higher better, but 70% iso isn't bad, much better 90%

[Blumpkin]

ArsTechnica had an article on how to clean cartridges recently: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/08/the-cheap-easy-way-to-make-those-old-game-cartridges-as-good-as-new/

Thanks for the link. A little bit of video goes a long way.

I am so not loking forward to cleaning all of my carts. 

[wiggy]

So, higher better, but 70% iso isn't bad, much better 90%

70% is fine.  The other 30% is only distilled water, so just make sure it's dry when you're done. 

[e_brugal]

Thanks, afte cleaning the board i always let them near to a window for 10 min and after that always clean them with a dry old cloth or paper towel to make sure they are dry