Cleaning corroded electrical contacts, need a tool

[grego]

I am trying to clean some corrosion on a set of older contacts that are at the bottom of a battery compartment. I tried the usual contact cleanersand pipe cleaners, cotton swabs,ect.. but what I really need is some kind of stiff brush. I saw a set of small contact wire brushes on ebutt but can't find them now. The set had several files and picks but what caught my eye was several brushes that basicly looked like a triangle and a round toilet brush but were 1/4" wide.
Does anyone know where I could purchase something like this? Or what I could use to make a brush that would work? The length would have to be 5-6" long with or without a handle. If you have some pictures showing what you made and are using would be great.
I have roamed the aisles of frys, ace and the big box stores trying to find something but I seem to keep buying other things as I roam the aisles.
Thanks for the help.

 

[KevinFox]

I'm not sure if I understand the problem correctly but how about gluing a small bit of sandpaper onto the blunt end of a pencil and then putting the pencil into a hand drill
Kevin

 

[softailgarage]

Or you could use a Dremel

 

[kiatech]

Try a pencil eraser.

 

[rlitman]

If you can reach it with something like a pencil eraser, you want a fiberglass cleaning brush.
Something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003NHDITW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I know RadioShack used to sell very good ones, but I can't find it on their site right now.

If you want a chemical, look up DeOxit.

 

[BFBOB]

Never sand electrical contacts. It creates a series of tiny peaks and valleys that accelerate erosion due to electrical activity - micro-arcing and resistance heating. Clean by filing or scraping. Get in with something like an Xacto knife and scrape across the contacts with the blade held close to 90 degrees to the surface. That leaves a smooth surface that will last a long time - actually smoother than filing. Access is the issue. You may be able to get an ignition file (for filing breaker points on cars - remember those?) in where you can't get the contacts separated enough to get even the long skinny triangular Xacto blade in.
Nail file may work too, though they're not made of very hard steel. NOT a diamond nail "file". They're just glorified sandpaper.

 

[RPH]

Electrical contact points usually have a thin silver coating for conductivity. Any kind of aggressive material removal will remove this causing rapid failure. Just what are these contacts used for? They make points files but must people use a dollar bill or a piece of paper. Anything rougher and the playing is removed. Also another consideration is current flow. If the points don't line up correctly the current flow through them will be concentrated in a too small of an area causing overheating resulting in failure.
Good luck in what ever you decide to do.

 

[rlitman]

Never sand electrical contacts. It creates a series of tiny peaks and valleys that accelerate erosion due to electrical activity - micro-arcing and resistance heating.

I think I want some of what you're smoking.

Electrical contact points usually have a thin silver coating for conductivity. Any kind of aggressive material removal will remove this causing rapid failure.

First off, silver coating isn't used in the "bottom of a battery compartment". I work with some electrical parts that actually get a real silver plating, but that's for totally different reasons.
Battery contacts and springs are typically chrome plated. If there is corrosion, you can safely assume that the chrome is shot. Sand all you want.

 

[RPH]

I did ask what the contacts were used for. But not being psychic like you I couldn't know that. Maybe the op would answer and help out.

 

[Gary S]

I spent 40 years in the electronics industry and worked on everything from small battery powered equipment to multi-million dollar pieces of big equipment. On the small stuff, it usually isn't worth the time to do much to it. On the big stuff with the high priced contactors we used crocus cloth to buff the contacts and buy us a few more years of service. Once the contacts get badly pitted, replacement is the only solution. On expensive contactors, the contacts are easily removed and replaced with new contacts so the contactor can last for decades.

 

[LEVE]

I use dental picks to get into closed in contacts to burnish them. It's worked for me for 50 years....

 

[rockwithjason]

Google contact burnishing kit. There are many out there

 

[grego]

Thanks everyone for your advise so far, I knew there was a better term than contact cleaner. All that shows up is spray contact cleaner.
As for a better description of what I am doing, I have several older toys that have a size c & d battery compartments where one end of the battery is down at the bottom. As with most old toys, batteries are left in them for years and the batteries leak. I need to clean the flat contacts and the coiled spring type of contacts. Both kind use he melted tab type of mounting so to remove and replace will either be very difficult or might destroy the battery box. I will try and get some pictures when I get home.
Rlitman, I have seen those and have used them but I am just looking for a different approach if possible.

 

[RPH]

Scotchbrite glued to a stick. Now that we know the type of contact.
Cheap and can be configured any way needed.

 

[torqueman2002]

Diamond Grip Terminal Cleaner

$32.48 & free shipping w/ Prime
http://www.amazon.com/Innovative-Products-8040-3-Piece-Terminal/dp/B0062Y599K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1373770439&sr=8-2&keywords=Diamond+Grip+Terminal+Cleaner

 

[grego]

Diamond Grip Terminal Cleaner

$32.48 & free shipping w/ Prime
http://www.amazon.com/Innovative-Products-8040-3-Piece-Terminal/dp/B0062Y599K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1373770439&sr=8-2&keywords=Diamond+Grip+Terminal+Cleaner

Those work great, I had a set similar to those long ago but gave them to my shop foreman when I got out of auto repair. With those you have to be careful not to open or loosen the terminals or you will end up with more intermittent problems.
I saw a set of those with a set of brushes that were small enough and had the angles to get into the hard to reach areas but can't find them now. Oh well, the search continues.

 

[Rob_b]

How about a small tooth brush and some damp baking soda...a little work should clean it right up

 

[rockchucker]

DeoxIT.

Very good stuff.

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...vptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_9b0esdpjsu_e

For most stuff I use a small File that you can get in a kit from HF or Sears and some CRC QD Electrical Connector Cleaner. Safe for Electronics. For something a little better use the Lectra-Motive from CRC.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

I have had great success with a typwriter eraser - the pencil type one that you sharpen in a pencil sharpener and has a brush on the other end.

 

[e-tek]

Time to stop playing with your toys and get to work!

 

[grego]

My work is to play with toys!

Time to stop playing with your toys and get to work!

 

[sopocave]

I have had good success using a set of jewelers files. Super small and odd shapes.

 

[coolreed]

Normally, you 'burnish' electrical contacts to try and restore them. Which is basically a very fine file. If they are burned too badly you will have to replace them.