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bought NOS leaf switches - why are the contacts blackened?

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Kremmit:
Operators back in the day used to just whip out a business card and drag it through the contacts, just like Randy described with the paper.  You can wet the card with rubbing alcohol and it might get a little cleaner than without. 

I would definately not use anything very abrasive- even that wire brush sounds like too much, but maybe it's softer than I picture it.

fjl:
You can use a scouring pad. Those scrape without scratching. A dry new one of course. Don't go using a beat up pad fresh from washing dishes.

Level42:
I didn't use it for my leaf switches (I simply bought some brand new one's....) but whenever I need to clean copper/gold contacts (Like PCB edge connectors) for my work, I use a glassfibre brush.

I never use chemical contact cleaner sprays because they work for a short time, then make things worse than before !

It's cleaning very good and doesn't harm the copper/gold at all. You'll have to disassemble the leaf contacts to use it though, since the brush is in a pen shape.

This is what I mean:
http://www.3dstereo.com/viewmaster/sup-gfp.html

O, and don't try these on your fingers....I'm serious here, it hurts and particles of glassfibre may intrude your skin...

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