(Topic ID: 263239)
London
Chicago, IL
If you want the switches to look nice, get some MS-70 Industrial Strength Coin Brightener from your local coin shop. I have recently started using it to clean and brighten leaf switches of all varieties on pinball machines. Just dunk a cotton swab in this liquid and wipe it on the switch contacts first (to clean the silver or gold flashed contacts) then do the blades. I love this stuff.
If you have a switch with dried/gunked up Wildcat 125 playfield cleaner on the switch, first go over the switch with either isopropyl alcohol or lighter fluid then use the MS-70 on the switch.
https://www.amazon.com/Industrial-Strength-Brightener-Contains-Acids/dp/B01G642ISA
I work in a coin shop and we are now using MS-70 on pinball switches on machines that come in for service. Really works well on nickle plated switch blades as well as copper blades.
Quoted from KenLayton:If you want the switches to look nice, get some MS-70 Industrial Strength Coin Brightener from your local coin shop. I have recently started using it to clean and brighten leaf switches of all varieties on pinball machines. Just dunk a cotton swab in this liquid and wipe it on the switch contacts first (to clean the silver or gold flashed contacts) then do the blades. I love this stuff.
If you have a switch with dried/gunked up Wildcat 125 playfield cleaner on the switch, first go over the switch with either isopropyl alcohol or lighter fluid then use the MS-70 on the switch.
amazon.com link »
I work in a coin shop and we are now using MS-70 on pinball switches on machines that come in for service. Really works well on nickle plated switch blades as well as copper blades.
I’ll preface this with the fact that I’ve been in the coin industry my entire life and own a coin business.
MS70 is really useful as a cleaner for removing gunk and debris from copper.
If you want to take Kens suggestion a step further try this.
Mix about 50% MS70 with 50% ammonia.
Do this outside or in a well ventilated area as ammonia vapor is pretty potent and not good for you.
If you have heavy mineral deposits on copper like verdigris (thick hard green mineral) it will dissolve it with soaking for a short period of time without damaging the copper.
Lastly, whenever you do this sort of cleaning/conservation on a metal object be sure to rinse it really well when you are done. You need to neutralize any active cleaning agents, especially on corrosive metals. If not they can just further corrosion over time.
Thanks for all these info .
I had read that the vinegar and salt solution works wonders on copper, but I fear for the contacts that then don't work.
As I read, m70 is the ideal product for leaf switch, but I did not understand if I then have to go over with a blade to clean the contacts again.
Quoted from daw6205:Thanks for all these info .
I had read that the vinegar and salt solution works wonders on copper, but I fear for the contacts that then don't work.
As I read, m70 is the ideal product for leaf switch, but I did not understand if I then have to go over with a blade to clean the contacts again.
The problem with using something like vinegar is you basically setting up a battery and creating electrolysis.
The leafs are one metal, the contacts are another. Once you add vinegar your setting up an electrical current that corrodes the contacts away.
Not to mention something more aggressive like this eats away at the surface metal on the copper.
I imagined that this vinegar and salt solution, which is good for copper, is not suitable for the use of leaf switch cleaning. So I ask you, M70 used on the entire leaf switch, must the gold or silver switches then be cleaned again with something else?
Quoted from daw6205:I imagined that this vinegar and salt solution, which is good for copper, is not suitable for the use of leaf switch cleaning. So I ask you, M70 used on the entire leaf switch, must the gold or silver switches then be cleaned again with something else?
Yes, MS70 is more of a highly concentrated detergent and not corrosive to metal.
Quoted from KenLayton:If you want the switches to look nice, get some MS-70 Industrial Strength Coin Brightener from your local coin shop....
Wow, just orderd some to have on hand thanks.
I just assumed coin pros use taco bell hot sauce packets like the rest of us 
Quoted from Coindork:I’ll preface this with the fact that I’ve been in the coin industry my entire life and own a coin business.
Ahhh the name explained!
Quoted from TheLaw:Ahhh the name explained!
Yeah it’s kind of dual purpose.
A play on “coin door” as well as the fact that I’m a coin nerd.
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