#40 Shop Talk Wafer switch repair

In this video we look at several types of wafer switches. We then look at a method I use to clean these switches and bring them back to life. These switches are in many types of equipment.
Site links:
gokarters.com/smf/index.php?topic=2551.0
For inquiries and contact information:
gokarters.com/smf/index.php?topic=2549.0

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Awesome switch tips Buddy. Very enjoyable episode!

[@TheRadioShop]

+Mr Carlson's Lab Thanks Paul. Glad you liked it. Just a simple way of doing this.

[@kellingc]

This is 8 years after you posted the video. I just discovered it today. Awesome demonstration and information. Thank you for showing this. I'm not so scared of wafer switches any more.

[@jansteen3676]

Wow, that is what I was looking for. Have a bad bandswitch in my FL2100z. Thanks for this amazing video. Very very usefull! I know now that my 2100z is not lost!

[@williammorgan5125]

Hey you are really good at repairs..I enjoy watching to learn tips tricks on keeping old radios working

[@TheRadioShop]

Glad you like them!

[@helipilot727]

One thing I love about your videos is that you get right to the content rather than spending half the video asking for likes and talking about other videos, etc. Fine business here.

[@TheRadioShop]

Thank you for that very kind reply. At times I go one a rant but try mostly to stay on topic.

[@brianhind6149]

Bravo! Thank you sir for ALL your videos. I love your homespun style. Your little tips & tricks are just a delight, & a product of years of experience. I have watched many videos done by people who have NO idea what the Hell they are talking about ! You Sir, epitomize the best of the humble experts who expose the technical Prima Donnas for what they are! Well Done!

[@johncunningham5435]

Excellent tips; great inspiration to repair vintage radios that most techs would not attempt. This come down to a labor of love, "a true craftsman" nice to see it alive and well.

[@TheRadioShop]

+John Cunningham Thank you for that very nice comment John. I agree it is a labor of love. To me this is what is missing in todays Amateur radio operators. It is why I do these type of videos to bring back what our past operators had to do. Thanks for watching and thanks again for the kind words.

[@TheBrforsberg]

Thanks for the wonderful video. I have an old Heathkit VTVM that I want to restore and it has corroded wafer switches. I now know what I need to do. Thanks for the info.

[@keeterp7522]

Learned a lot from this video!! Thank you.

[@TheRadioShop]

Glad it was helpful!

[@texhow1]

A great Video Buddy, I am sure this will help on my up & coming Switch problem, many thanks.

[@karlfell3768]

Always something new to learn. The salt and vinegar is a great tip. Fantastic video. Keep them coming as I have watched every one and learned a little from each. Karl..

[@TheRadioShop]

+Karl Fell Thanks Karl. Very happy to hear you like them. Just a simple trick that has great results.

[@cuban9splat]

Thanks Buddy. You have solved one of the most difficult aspects of repairing older ham radio equipment. Very well done!73 de K7RMJ Frank

[@TheRadioShop]

Appreciate the kind words Frank. Glad you liked it.

[@robertcole267]

Your formula worked great. I now have a new looking switch that was tarnished and covered with rosin on contacts and ceramic wafer.

[@dennisqwertyuiop]

Very good tips The vinegar and salt works great, You and Paul have great ideas

[@TheRadioShop]

+DENNIS N Thanks Dennis. I love sharing my old tips. Paul always have good ones too.

[@Beretta96Dan]

I was watching some other KZbin videos about removing rust from metal with vinegar and then finishing off with baking soda. The vinegar did a very nice job on the rust! Enjoyed your video and the wafer switches looked really clean! Thanks, Buddy!

[@TheRadioShop]

+Beretta96Dan Yes it is a really old trick, most folks has forgotten about this. Really does a good job though. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@daveleisman4441]

Someday I want to be this smart about maintaining my equipment. Great job and a double thumbs up!

[@TheRadioShop]

Thank you for that nice comment. Most is just common sense. No magic in this,

[@ate508]

Amazing, especially when the parts are not made anymore. Thank you for the service tips to keep serviceable equipment humming.

[@TheRadioShop]

Thank you for watching. It is fun keeping old relics alive.

[@injoelsgarage3934]

Buddy, outstanding repair video. I think all of us who repair vintage gear have run into dirty and corroded wafer switches. You have given us new hope for the repair and cleaning of those wafer switches. Thank you for your time and knowledge and sharing with us. Happy holidays to you and yours. Joel

[@TheRadioShop]

Thanks for the nice comment Joel. This really gives new life to these old controls. Have a great holiday also my friend

[@PapasDino]

Always makes it nice to see how something is done to salt (no pun intended!) away for future use! TNX for taking the time to share your repair techniques. 73 - Dino KL0S

[@TheRadioShop]

+Dino Papas Ha Ha Dino, that was a good one. Got to salt them down for the winter. :)Thanks for stopping in my friend.

[@PapasDino]

+The Radio Shop BTW just as an aside, there's another interesting way to clean RF connectors described on GBPPR's channel (GBPPR Vision #2: Cleaning RF Connectors). Does use some chemicals but another tool for your kit bag. Happy Easter! 73 - Dino KL0S

[@TheRadioShop]

Thanks Dino for that information. can never have enough tools in the bag!

[@TheRadioShop]

+Dino Papas And a very Happy Easter to you.

[@sobakete]

Fascinating video, Buddy :) I remember my father, a watchmaker, cleaning rust from machinery and faceplates from wristwatches with Coke. As a kid I was always thinking "This man is wasting my perfectly delicious coke!!". I wish he knew your method, I wouldnt care so much if he wasted vinegar instead ;)

[@TheRadioShop]

The old coke was a tough product. Eats everything from rust to battery acid lol. Mean stuff but I love it. Thanks for sharing.

[@zoxwolf2133]

Excellent. Entering ham world while waiting my Yaesu zd already watching videos how to service same😂 with other various stuff. Keep up mate

[@dannelson8556]

Great video. Something that most hams don't seem to know nowadays is that If those wafer switches are the silver plated type then that "corrosion" is actually silver oxide and is more conductive than the silver itself. They are designed not to be cleaned because as they age they become more conductive. As the old saying goes "pretty is as pretty does" I always thought it was hilarious when hams would clean tarnished silver plated PL259's thinking they were making them work better because they were all shiny and pretty. Again silver oxide is more conductive than silver itself its why they are silver plated in the first place

[@TheRadioShop]

+Dan Nelson Thanks Dan, I do not know how many times I seen equipment come in where the folks have sanded the silver or gold plating off. I am like why would you do that? At the most I will take a soft fine brush and brush off any loose material, just to keep it from falling into an area that would cause problems. Thanks for watching Dan.

[@dougrea]

Love working on kenwood hybrids. Can’t believe I haven’t see this video before!! Great job. Thanks.

[@gh778jk]

To get the grime and crud out of those switches (and many other vintage parts) an ultrasonic cleaner is a very nice tool to have. Don't get the toy ones to clean jewellery with... you want one that has a sweep function. You will be amazed how good those things come out of the cleaner! Paddy

[@TheRadioShop]

I have to get me another one. Mine quit quite some time ago.

[@daveleisman4441]

In another one of your videos you used a brush to clean the female contacts on an 8 pin octal socket. You told me where to purchase these brushes but I lost the name and contact information. Could you send it along once again, please? Great videos by the way. Excellent teaching media. Double thumbs up once again!

[@PelDaddy]

Pretty hard-core to take those all apart, but sometimes you need to. Thanks for the cleaning tips. Great info!

[@TheRadioShop]

+PelDaddy Thanks. Yep you don't ha e to take them apart. Unless there is damage. Mostly done it for video

[@jonmu8140]

Buddy, I hope you're doing alright with the aftermath of Matthew. Hang in there. I have an old signal generator, and your Eico videos has inspired me to restore. It has a wafer switch that won't even move. I know what I'm going to be doing this weekend.

[@michealmihailovic4128]

Great video Buddy and some excellent tips for oldies & newbies excellent presentation as always

[@gixerags750]

Have been hanging for a video on this,...sweet

[@IamDerick]

I also use the screws that attach hard/DVD drives to their computer trays. A really good video I picked up a few nuggets. Thanks. :)

[@TheRadioShop]

Thanks. These screws come in handy.

[@radiodoctor]

Best method I've seen. Many thanks.

[@TheRadioShop]

Thanks for those kind words Mark.

[@KB5PQL]

I really enjoy all of your videos...especially the Kenwood TS-520 series! I love my 520SE and after a few years of bringing it back to life have it back in service except for a few odds and ends that need fixing. I love this Radio! :)

[@TheRadioShop]

They are very good solid radios. Was one of my first HF rigs before I got my ticket. Will be doing more videos on these in the future. Glad you like them.

[@TRXLab]

Wow Buddy I missed an excellent video. Lucky that I found it at least. Thanks for sharing this great tip! Take care my friend 73

[@TheRadioShop]

+TRXBench Thank you very much Peter for the kind words. Just a simple little tip that saves a lot of time cleaning things. Very pleased you liked it my friend. I have many more up my sleeve :)

[@fey4949]

Excellent video. I brush and clean with a tootbrush but this is an outstanding solution. Next time i give it a try. Keep the video's coming. I wish you and your family happy easter. This is a nice easter egg hi. See next time. Best 73

[@TheRadioShop]

+FEY Thank you very much sir. It really takes the work out of it.Thanks for watching.

[@VintageLabSilvioPinheiro]

Excellent tips, I have adapted all materials suggested in his video for ingredients I could find in local shops of my country. The result was the same. I felt a little silly to be spending so much money on Deoxite, Quimox and other expensive products. Thank you for sharing 73 DE PU2SRZ

[@TheRadioShop]

+Silvio Pinheiro Thank you for the comment. Don't get me wrong, Deoxite has it's place and is a fine product. But at times just simple house hold products will achieve the same results, and in a safer way. Glad you found this helpful my friend. Good to know my videos make it all the way into Brazil.

[@VintageLabSilvioPinheiro]

+The Radio Shop It is certainly a great pleasure to follow your KZbin channel here in Brazil. Whenever there is an opportunity I share to local hams your videos, everyone likes and is a good reason for local rounds chat.

[@TheRadioShop]

+Silvio Pinheiro Thank you very much for sharing my work Silvio. Much appreciated. That is always a good thing to hear my friend. It is very much appreciated.

[@Andrewausfa]

That was excellent! I shall use that salt and vinegar method when I next have some wafer switches to clean on my valve sets.

[@TheRadioShop]

+Andrewausfa Thanks for the nice words. It works for all types of cleaning, not just these switches. Simple, safe, and gets the grime gone :)

[@supyrow]

outstanding sir! best of them all, very thorough. 73!

[@TheRadioShop]

+su pyrow Thank you very much, glad you liked it.

[@DoRC]

great video. since the solution works pretty much hands free is there any reason (aside from getting to see things better) that the switches couldn't be soaked while still assembled?

[@TheRadioShop]

Well we have to remember that the solution is corrosive. And we do not want it to get onto other components as well as metals. Good question.

[@CT1ELP]

You are an artist ! Good Job.

[@TheRadioShop]

+CT1ELP Thanks very much for the kind words. Not a lot to it but works.Thanks again :)

[@MrPerrey]

Waooooo, no more words to say!! You helped me out so much with this cleaning trick!

[@TheRadioShop]

Thank you very much

[@michelfries1429]

Great tips as usual! Thank you for sharing this with us all!

[@TheRadioShop]

Thanks for watching

[@goodun6081]

Although silver oxide might be considered a conductor, and perhaps perfectly okay at radio frequencies in particular ??, silver plated switches with oxidation on them will absolutely definitely cause intermittent audio channels, noise, and distortion. My electrical engineer boss tells me that silver oxide has a diode rectifier effect. Anyway, if spraying the switch with some Deoxit or similar cleaner ---- (I prefer to use a syringe or pinpoint oiler which is far less messy and less wasteful) ---- doesn't get it working reliably, I will shape a pencil eraser or ink eraser into a wedge tip or chisel tip, reach in there, and carefully clean the track. I have also used ultra-thin ultra fine plastic- backed crocus cloth type sandpaper slipped between the track and the switch fingers and worked back and forth to clean the switch finger. I have also used a fiberglass bristle scratch brush to do the same, although that's a little more abrasive than the pencil eraser. If, and that's a big if , you can get at the contacts on the switch wafers, you can usually clean / polish them with the pencil eraser or scratch brush. Liquid cleaners aren't or won't be necessary except for spraying them with a pure degreasing solvent that leaves no residue and no lubrication, alcohol or some alcohol mix for flushing circuit boards and removing rosin will usually do the trick. And I will mention here that you should never simply spray or squirt contact cleaners of any kind into the switches of a tube tester, you might well cause conductive leakage paths and ruin it permanently.

[@sdeuss1]

This was very helpful 👍🏽👍🏽

[@TheRadioShop]

Glad it was helpful!

[@SeanBZA]

Nicotine, tar an ash from a 60 a day smoker who chain smoked in the room. I have replaced fingers before, yes it is fiddly, but the donor switch is always useful, and remember to check the lower contact is also tensioned, but that is easy with 2 dental picks.. If it does not want to unsolder simply cut the wires flush with the switch, there normally is enough slack to join again, or room to have a sleeved splice a little away. Will try the vinegar and salt next time, I generally used to use some fine polishing paste to clean the track, and then rely on the application of a copper safe grease as protection.

[@TheRadioShop]

+SeanBZA Good reply Sean. Nicotine is really some nasty stuff. I have a big box of wafer switches and parts. Even a selection of rotors and fingers.Thanks for commenting.

[@lazaruscome4th]

excellent job, very helpful and informative video, perhaps the best yet, i don't know how i missed this when you first posted it, but i found it now, good job bro,

[@TheRadioShop]

+lazaruscome4th Thanks for the kind words Laz. Seems my simple videos get pretty decent reviews from folks. Really interesting. I have found this solution to be the best yet at cleaning tarnished and corroded stuff. Even takes the corrosion out of hard to reach places. Glad you liked it my friend and thanks again.

[@josephcote6120]

I wonder if the salt and vinegar wouldn't work even better in an ultrasonic cleaner?

[@dfpolitowski2]

Wow, this was great.

[@vetterfellow]

I watched this again, Thanks again Buddy.

[@TheRadioShop]

Cool, hope it helps

[@rollerbald]

Good stuff as usual Buddy. That last switch looks very similar to the one on your IFR that you fixed recently. Keep up the good work. 73, Bill.

[@TheRadioShop]

+rollerbald Thanks my friend. The last switch was similar but not as good quality. Thanks for stopping in Bill.

[@DoRC]

Good point on the wd40. wd40 actually makes for a pretty sub par lubricant.

[@TheRadioShop]

Thanks and I agree. One of the best cleaners you can get also.

[@SigmazGFX]

I have to say I’m impressed. The solution cleaned them up nicely. I am working on an SB-200 and the band switch is pretty clapped out. Your #3 switch is identical to the one I need. Do you happen to know the part number or at least what model Dentron it came out of? Maybe I’ll have some more luck finding one in the wild with more info. Thanks!

[@scotthettel949]

I'm wondering if you put that tub in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner if it would work any faster / better?

[@cdrom1070]

going to try a old rotary switch. Feel like I am watching Burt Gummer when you start talking house hold products. The only thing I am going to do differently is put them in a ultrasonic with the cleaning solution (heated).

[@cdrom1070]

BTW I think the salt + acid makes some kind of chlorine compound. If you added salt to drain cleaner it makes chlorine gas (don't do this because you will corrode everything, maybe if you are preparing a non rusty factory for a horror movie you can do this).. vinegar must make a more mild thing in the solution that cleans well.

[@cdrom1070]

did a 15 minute ultrasonic clean with distilled white vinegar and a table spoon of salt for like a cup of vinegar, then did 5 minutes of ultrasonic in baking soda and tap water, then rinsed it off and did 5 minutes in the distilled water and rinsed with distilled water. Then I drenched it in deoxit after drying a little and and I am baking it at 80 degree C for 1 hour (PID over with circulation fan) to drive off the moisture. So far it looks great. I did not take everything apart completely becuase of all the plastic welding pins, I hope the detent switch will be OK. My hope was that the ultrasonic cleaner would help it get into the sealed areas better, because I know what is going to happen when I try to mess with those 1mm long plastic welded pins on the stack switches ( each wafer is individually sealed with 6x molten pins and there are 4 wafers, how evil).

[@DavidGillooly]

Thanks for that tip on the cleaning solution!

[@TheRadioShop]

+David Gillooly You are very Welcome

[@stanthology]

Vinegar cleaned big blobs of rust off my brake rotors too! I could hardly believe it. I was great and cheap too.

[@TheRadioShop]

+stanthology Yes, so many things you can use it for. And does a fantastic job.

[@Ronnie9710]

Great job Buddy.I did know about the cb channel selector,but the wafer's were a new one for me.Tnx.73 kn4u

[@TheRadioShop]

Thanks

[@juliotorres5386]

Excellent work and video. Would this method work for frozen pots? Thanks

[@josephcote6120]

That's usually caused by binding between the shaft and the mounting collar. There are videos that address this, but basically you end up disassembling the pot and cleaning the shaft and collar (light fine sanding) followed with a tiny bit of silicone lube on reassembly.

[@goodun6081]

@@josephcote6120 , you are assuming that the potentiometer can actually be disassembled and the shaft pulled out of the bushing. I've seen frozen pots that were virtually impossible to disassemble due to corrosion between the pot or switch shaft, which is often aluminum, and the bushing of the device which is typically plated brass. I have a Hickok 539 B tube tester where the shafts of the rotary wafer switches are completely seized and frozen, and I am looking for ways to free them up without risking getting any kind of cleaner or penetrating oil into the phenolic wafer switches, which can leave conductive leakage paths and ruin the tester. I have been wondering if a little vinegar drizzled to the junction between the shaft and the bushing will loosen the corrosion, or perhaps a good penetrating oil will do it, but I'm thinking more along the lines of the vinegar. I had a Dynaco preamp some years ago with a frozen input selector shaft, that required multiple applications of alternating heat and penetrating oil, and rotating the shaft with vise grips, in order to free it. That technique would probably be too rough to use on the Hickok tube tester. Not to mention labor-intensive when you have seven or eight switches to free. I am also anticipating that I will probably have to grind a screwdriver sized slot into the top of each of the shafts with a Dremel tool and cutting wheel so that they can be twisted with a flat blade screwdriver as I try to work them free.

[@SeanBZA]

If you do not have those small mic socket screws grab a dead hard drive, the top mounting screws ( though you will need a Torx driver to use them though) are similar in size. Just be aware those screws are all stainless steel, so non magnetic.

[@TheRadioShop]

+SeanBZA Good suggestion on the hard drive screw! Thanks

[@laser31415]

Very helpful. I just Subscribed.

[@TheRadioShop]

Thanks for subscribing Lewis

[@marcovL1970]

Verry usefull video good explaination thanks !

[@TheRadioShop]

Thanks.

[@InssiAjaton]

The tarnishing of silver is predominantly sulfidation, not oxidation. Sulfidation can of course come from various sources, but sweat is a primary source in domestic environment.

[@gmw1964z]

Can the vinegar salt solution be brushed on? Or does it have to soak?

[@TheRadioShop]

Yes you can do that, may take several applications., just be sure to rinse off good.

[@g1fsh]

nice one Buddy some great tips there. thanks mate.

[@TheRadioShop]

+Gary g1fsh Thank you Gary for watching. Just one of many simple methods I use that cost pennies.

[@Masterkill45588]

I'm working on an old fisher R200B and the band switch is black on every single contact, and it dont work at all, faint noise on fm but can't tune anything, am and sw are stone dead, im thinking this is what I'll have to do. Contact cleaner didn't do much

[@wesleywilson987]

Great job Buddy Thanks much Old dude

[@G0WZB]

That was brilliant, I'm off to clean some dicky switches now. Many Thanks. G0WZB

[@TheRadioShop]

+Brian Burdis Thanks Brian. It really does a great job. And so easy.

[@jeffalessi]

Totally Awesome!

[@ilanyacobi2918]

Wonderful thank you so much for sharing this with us God bless you ilan 4x6MU Israel

[@stefanBEAR98]

Thank you. Very helpful.

[@jeffalessi]

Really Awesome!

[@TheRadioShop]

THanks

[@4q215]

NOW THAT'S A SWITCH!

[@TheRadioShop]

+4Q2 LOL, Yeah it is sort of beefy. Has to handle a big load. Thanks for watching.

[@geertvandeperre3102]

nice workkeep going

[@TheRadioShop]

Most appreciated

[@geraldrapp8339]

Thank you nice job . 73 28:41

[@saturn5tony]

Awesome, thanks for sharing!

[@TheRadioShop]

+saturn5tony As always thanks for watching Tony. Glad you liked it.

[@yago1467]

Hey Buddy! Found my old YT account and subbed to your channel. Had to as you are disappearing from the zed for a while. I'll keep an eye on your work and update to my thread if I can. Keep up the good work. Sean

[@TheRadioShop]

+Yago Hi Sean, Good to see you on youtube my friend. Things are a little dead over there as far as our thread. Just going to give it a break for a bit.Thanks for stopping in. I will still be n the site though.

[@kylefafnis]

I imagine soaking one of these wafer switches that's made from a fibrous material would be unadvisable. I've got a heathkit wafer switch that is really corroded.

[@jimschleitwiler6480]

EXCELLENT !!!!

[@TheRadioShop]

Thanks

[@grantfullen9559]

Great Video Buddy :)

[@TheRadioShop]

+Grant Fullen Thanks Grant, hope you are good.

[@generatortonu4645]

Thank you very much

[@TheRadioShop]

Thank you for watching

[@7469626572696F]

Amazing

[@ulrichhensel8171]

😃👍

[@1903A3shooter]

I thought the black on the rotor was Silver Oxide and a conductor?

[@TheRadioShop]

Some are plated. These were not. Good information.

[@yago1467]

Eek, double post. About the grime on the switch, I have seen that when the device has lived in a room off a kitchen. That is if it is not tobacco!

[@TheRadioShop]

+Yago Hmm, interesting analogy Sean. Cooking grease just may be it.

[@jeromegrzelak8236]

i use 50 50 clr and water clr cleaner kg6mn

[@fayebower4312]

Great video. Would like to contact you.

[@TheRadioShop]

Thanks. Click the show more tab under the video. Click on contact information and follow the link.

[@helipilot727]

yellow from someone spraying oil on the switch my guess

[@TheRadioShop]

At first I thought it was nicotine. But was not sticky when diluted. Good observation on being oil. These ceramic wafer was over 30 years old.

[@tubeDude48]

Use WD-40 Contact Cleaner & WD-40 Gel *NOT* WD-40