Found a game changer for cleaning ancient corrosion off connectors

Had a box of old MIL-SPEC connectors from a 727 that looked like they'd been sitting in salt water for years. Contact cleaner and a brush barely touched the green crust. Out of desperation I tried a diluted vinegar soak for 5 minutes, then hit them with compressed air and dielectric grease. It got the pins clean without damaging the plating. Has anyone else used household stuff like that in a pinch on stubborn avionics hardware?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_mary7d ago

Did the vinegar mess with the gold plating at all?

taraw167d agoProlific Poster

Honestly it's like people forget gold is pretty inert stuff, vinegar is just mild acid that won't touch it. You can get way more damage from a cheap polishing cloth than any cooking ingredient. Saw someone ruin a ring with baking soda once thinking it was safe.