Re: Safe to use WD40 as switch or potentiometer cleaner?

From: Asimov (Asimov_at_-removethis-bbs.juxtaposition.dynip.com)
Date: 08/25/04 

Date: Tuesday, 24 Aug 2004 21:19:02 -500

"gothika" bravely wrote to "All" (24 Aug 04 00:01:48)
 --- on the heady topic of "Re: Safe to use WD40 as switch or potentiometer
cleaner?"

 go> From: gothika <Vampyres@nettaxi.com>

 go> On Tue, 24 Aug 2004 03:29:52 GMT, Ken Weitzel <kweitzel@shaw.ca>
 go> wrote:

>
>
>Woody wrote:
>
>> "Ken G." <goodguyy@webtv.net> wrote in message
>> news:18920-41234F7B-2@storefull-3258.bay.webtv.net...
>>
>>>There is a large ``cult`` against wd40 because someone chose to start it
>>>then the rest have not tried it and are hell bent that it wont work .
>>>
>>>For ordinary pot , switch , control cleaning wd40 works fine . More is
>>>not better . It does not leave gunk behind .
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> The old favourite was carbon tetrachloride (if you can still get it) with a
>> drop if machine oil in it - usually one drop of 3-in-1 in a teaspoonful of
>> CTC.
>
>Yikes! Scary scary stuff!
>
>Carbon tet has been banned here since I was a
>young fellow, and that was back about the time
>they invented dirt :) Or dirty controls, anyway :)
>
>Don't even think about buying it. And if you should
>happen to have some, please get rid of it. Safely.
>Call your hazardous waste folks.
>
>Ken

 go> Geez Ken, there are some of us who can and do handle hazardous
 go> materials in our work every day.
 go> Carbon Tet is way down on the list of some of the hazardous materials
 go> I've used.
 go> Just avoid ignition devices around it and have plenty of ventilation
 go> to avoid breathing any of the fumes.
 go> Look up the MSDS on use and handling and you'll be fine.

I went to the car parts mart the other day looking for phosphoric acid
to pickle a bit of metal before painting and the clerk drone told me
they don't sell dangerous chemicals anymore because of environmental
rules, etc. So I turned around and went to the electric soldering
department and picked up a bottle of hydrochloric acid and showed it
to him. Some people...

 A+s+i+m+o+v

... Dunno if we'll get that past the CSA und UL 'owever.