Tubes Asylum

okay to use steel brush to polish pins?

75.142.52.0

mike1127

A

I have some NOS tubes with corroded pins. I read that you can use a short brass brush to polish them. You can even attach a brass brush attachment to a dremel and spin it, but that would be a bad idea for me as I'm very clumsy and would most likely bend the pins.

So I ordered some short brass brushes from Amazon and gave it a go. There was essentially no corrosion removed after brushing one pin for 10 minutes.

The set includes a steel brush. I brushed a couple pins with that for 5 minutes and they got shiny! However I'm wondering if this can scratch the pin and actually degrade performance of the tube.

Anyone have a recommendation?

Follow Ups:

RE: okay to use steel brush to polish pins? - mike1127 16:50:05 04/12/25 (0)
I thought I got most of the corrosion off with the steel brush, but I got a Dremel with a brash brush attachment and worked on the pins, and they got really shiny. Quite a difference. I think it was true polishing. I'm not sure if this will make a difference to the electrical contact.
A cheap solution - Byrd69 06:45:07 04/09/25 (0)
I use the following: Take a small amount of fine steel wool and wrap it really tight around the tip of something like a tiny drill bit. Shape the wool so it's small enough to fit between pins. Place a couple drops of super glue on the tip. Once dry, it will be as hard as....

It works very well, and lasts a long time.....and cheap,as in $0.00.

As The Dill said, wipe clean with alcohol when finished.

Your interest may vary but the results will be same. (Byrd 2020)

I can't compete with the dead. (Buck W. 2010)

Cowards can't be heroes. (Byrd 2017)

Why don't catfish have kittens? (Moe Howard 1937)
RE: okay to use steel brush to polish pins? - The Dill 05:21:19 04/09/25 (0)
Don't worry about it, use the steel brush on the steel pins. If you come across copper or brass pins, use the corresponding brush. After brushing, wipe off the pins with an alcohol swab.

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