help cleaning mixer

[jusballin]

i just purchased an older mackie cr1604 from a pawn shop for only 150.00. it was needing cleaning and i was wondering if this is something i can do and if what what would i clean it with or should i take it to an authorized service center. any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks,

 

[Track Rat]

If you want to just clean up the outside, get a soft, clean paint brush and also go to Radio Shack and buy a can of compressed air. Use the canned air to blow away the dust and the paint brush in conjunction with it.
Now if you want to clean and lubricate the pots, unless you have some experience with electronics, I'd take it to a tech and have them do it. I've worked on mine quite a few times and it's very tight inside (lots of nobs per square inch). If you still want to try it, go back to the Shack and pick up something to clean TV tuners with (it's in an aerosol spray can) and spray a bit into each pot and work the shit out of it by turning it back and forth. Do this to each pot.

 

[Track Rat]

The same stuff for faders and pots. But warning Will Robinson, don't use contact cleaner as this stuff won't lubricate the moving parts and they'll become a problem.

 

[MONTE]

A lot of times you can just use compressed air to blow the dust out of sliders and then work the piss out of them for a while to restore them. I'd try this first. Even if you do decide to use a cleaner on sliders (which I absolutely do not recommend), if you do not blow the dust and debris out of them first you will end up with soup. Like Track Rat said, if you use a cleaner in the sliders you most likely will "clean" out the grease that's in the sliders too making them extremely difficult to move. Usually if I can't get sliders working correctly with air alone, I replace them. Rotary pots are a little more forgiving.

 

[camn]

what you want for moving parts is this:

Cai-Lube MCL

by the CAIG co.

Its is truly the bomb. You can use it on faders.

xoox