Hi all guys,
for me this is the first post to this new forum.

I've a problem with mains and should like to have your advice. The mains wiring in my 9 floors building is 70 (!!!) years old and of course both
cables and connections are horribly degraded. I can access the connections which provide to serve each floor by means of derived cables from the common wire which run vertically through the floors. I should like to clean these connection as it is the only action I can take to improve the situation (the mains in my apartment has already been fully converted to "hi-fi grade" - separate spur, good sockets, etc). My question is: is a traditional spray contact cleaner (i.e. CRC) a good mean to clean these contacts? The effect should last for YEARS cause accessing to these connection is not an easy (nor a safe) matter, and, of course, the cleaner should not bring side-effects (such as undesiderable residual). Or is it better to use isopropil alcohol?

On a different issue, which brand of solder is suitable for high quality audio connections? In the past I've tried a certain number of solders and found - surprisingly for me - that different solders do make a difference to the sound, affecting timing, tune and timbre in a well audible manner! Thanks all and good listening!

Ciao,
Paolo

I'm currently using WBT 0800 silver solder, made by this german company that specializes in connectors and sockets. Other audio-grade solders that I know are the famous wonder solder, siltech silver solder, monster silver solder and groneberg silver solder. I find the WBT one very good with excellent "wetting" properties, and yet very affordable.

cheers,
Steven

Steven,
thanks for your reply.

As for contact cleaning, has anybody of you any experience with Caig Deoxit - sound, persistence, side effects? I've tried a traditional contact cleaner some days ago with orrible results - hard, harsh sound(???)...

P.S.
As I posted earlier in this thread, I have no intention to clean the contacts in my system with any cleaning product - here uplugging and replugging connectors works perfectly. My problem is to clean heavyly oxidized and hardly accessible connections in a building-mains-system (hope you can understand, my english is not so good...).
Thanks.

best regards,
Paolo

[This message was edited by hobiecat on FRIDAY 08 September 2000 at 14:53.]