I was reading an old service manual for a Zenith TV from 1978 and saw they recommended using a pencil eraser to clean tuner contacts. Is that still a valid trick?

3 comments

3 Comments

That's a classic trick from back in the day. It probably still works on those old mechanical contacts. Just be gentle so you don't wear anything down.

jason4801mo ago

Got me wondering... what exactly counts as "gentle" in that case. Like are we talking a specific number of wipes with the eraser or just a light touch. I've seen people go at it like they're sanding wood and that can't be right. The goal is to clean oxidation, not remove the plating. If the plating wears through, you're just making a bigger problem for later.

parker_price1mo ago

My version of gentle probably still left a crater. Let's just say I'm not allowed near vintage electronics anymore.