06-17-2013, 11:21 PM
Normally, abrasive methods are not recommended on the precious metal contacts used on relays, but the vibrator contacts are made of tungsten alloy which is extremely durable and resistant to wear.
The only way to clean tungsten contacts is by aggressive abrasive action. The tungsten oxide is so hard that it takes a lot of effort to remove it, even with a diamond file.
Vibrator contacts are similar in composition to the mechanical contact points used in automotive ignitions of the 1970s and earlier. It was standard procedure to clean and dress these contacts with a small file, specifically called a "point file".
It is recommended that a non residue solvent cleaner be used after the abrasive cleaning to remove any remaining particles and filings from between the contacts. A thin piece of card paper saturated with solvent and rubbed between the contacts works well in this regard.
The only way to clean tungsten contacts is by aggressive abrasive action. The tungsten oxide is so hard that it takes a lot of effort to remove it, even with a diamond file.
Vibrator contacts are similar in composition to the mechanical contact points used in automotive ignitions of the 1970s and earlier. It was standard procedure to clean and dress these contacts with a small file, specifically called a "point file".
It is recommended that a non residue solvent cleaner be used after the abrasive cleaning to remove any remaining particles and filings from between the contacts. A thin piece of card paper saturated with solvent and rubbed between the contacts works well in this regard.
