[600MRG] Lithium Chloride?

[Brian Pease]

On a 1000pf variable I have here, I had enough space on the shaft for a 
tiny hose clamp.  I attached some braid and connected it to the frame to 
bypass the sliding contact, which I didn't trust at all.  I would just 
wipe each plate with a thin green scrub pad to remove the highlights.

On 11/21/2016 6:08 PM, Frank Lotito wrote:
> Guys - I'm missing something - Its somewhat related to the message board's threads having to do with cleaning an newly found air variable cap where the 600 mrg threads getting mixed with private e-mails between the interested parties.  I have a gut feeling the chemical cleaning agent discussed may be far to aggressive, maybe not.
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> What exactly does "Lithium Cloride" dissolved in water, yet heated water do for a dirty variable capacitor?  This almost sounds like a Gilbert Chemistry set experiment going wild on the kitchen table!  I have long forgotten many of the things I probably knew from the 2 semesters of college chemistry I took many-many decades ago.  I think we all should be very careful on how we might recommend the use of chemicals to clean whatever.  An aggressive cleaning either mechanically or chemically may ruin the aluminum structure's surface finish and the steel hardware to draw the assembly together.  It may also de-beautify you, or cause serious eye injury!
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> My two cents - Forget the surface discoloration and oxide.  Grease and oily / fuzzy lint can be washed off using a relatively benign soap / degreaser.  What is important are the mechanical meeting junctions between plates and spacers must be corrosion free, the threaded rod used to pull all the plates and spacers tightly together must be corrosion free, the faces of the spacers parallel to each other so when the rotor or stator assembly is pulled up tight there is minimum tendency to "bow" the assembly's axis,  and not easy to do, the rotor shaft bearings on the two end plates have to be tight and meticulously clean.
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> While the unit is dissembled for a thorough cleaning, a Brillo Pad wipe-down of each rotor and stator plate should be done to "smooth down" any sharp dings and slivers of metal.  Those mechanical defects may lead to the development of corona or flash over if the applied voltage (RF plus any DC) is high enough.  The Brillo Pad in my experience is pretty safe for polishing-up tempered and untampered aluminum alloy structures.  Mechanical buffing using an electric or air driven hand-held grinder motor, or pedestal buffing machine by the unexperienced is an almost 100% guarantee of ruining the aluminum surface!  Most definitely, wire wheels and aluminum do not like each other!
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> Be safe, have fun - 73 Frank K3DZ / WH2XHA
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