CAIG Laboratories F100L-L25C CAIG DeoxIT FaderLube, 100 Dropper, 25 ML

A little goes a long way! Recently in my hunt for a nice basic alarm clock I was bit by the vintage bug and picked up 2 GE alarm clock radios manufactured in the mid 1980's. Despite them being in wonderful shape, some of the knobs were a little rough feeling when turned and the display brightness knob on one of them caused the display to flicker a bit as it was adjusted. All of these knobs are potentiometers and I read about the Fader 5 aerosol spray was great for cleaning pots but the Fader 5 only contains 5% lubricant. After a bit of researching I learned that the best way to clean and lubricate these 40+ year old pots was with a good residue free electrical contact cleaner and then to follow up with a couple drops of this Deoxit F100L100% lubricant. I wasn't really keen on desoldering the pots to get better access to the openings so this needle tip dropper was a lifesaver. Just a tiny squeeze and a couple drops in the volume, tone and brightness pots smoothed everything out. I also used some of this lubricant in the AM/FM selector switch and because it's plastic safe I also used a little on the plastic tuner frequency indicator where it interfaces with the track is slides on. This bottle is tiny and not necessarily cheap however it's the only size with the needle tip dispenser and without that I'd have had to desolder at least 2 of the pots in each radio to get them lubricated. According to the CAIG website, this bottle should last considerably longer than 4-5 years as so long as it's stored properly (sealed up, cool temps, no direct sunlight) Overall this Deoxit F100L is a great product that is highly versatile and the needle dropper made it all worth the price as I was able to effectively lubricate the pots to protect them for the long haul without any waste whatsoever.

While this product is likely grossly overpriced, which I don't know for certain because I am not a chemist, the fact is that it works. I bought the small tube and the spray, but this product is the best in my experience. With the needle that connects with the bottle, it is easier to place the Deoxit where it belongs, making less of a mess and using less of the product which is expensive. Note: Do not follow the instructions which say to drop the Deoxit into the hole at the base of your potentiometers. Take off the knob and squeeze a tiny amount between the tiny hairline between the shaft and receptacle of the top of the pot and work it in by turning it enough to work the cleaner/lubricant in, which is easier when you put the knob back on. I apply the deoxit twice, after working it in once, then repeating. I have a bass with active pickups that I made the mistake of spraying with contact cleaner, that made the bass screech like a Banshee, to the point it was virtually unplayable. For a while I located the frequency on my graphic equalizer and pulled the slider down to zero which largely solved the problem in passive mode, but every time I switched it to active mode, the screech returned in full force I used the deoxit in all the pots and the switch and the screeching was virtually eliminated. I have another guitar that the volume kept on cutting out, so I applied the Deoxit to the pots and switch...problem solved. I have identical wah pedals on my guitar and bass rig. After using the Deoxit, the noise was drastically reduced. I was getting alot of noise that I through was my amp, but by sequentially turning off my pedals, I discovered the noise was primarily from the Graphic Equalizer and compressor on my pedal board. After treating both the compressor and EQ, by squeezing the Deoxit into the sliders, the noise was virtually eliminated. My experience with this product made me realize that Deoxit is an essential part of routine maintenance of my electric and electronic instruments and rigs.

I got this to lubricate some control pots on a stereo tuner/amp. They went from scratchy to smooth as silk instantly. I have an older mechanical keyboard with cherry red switches that was starting to have missed presses. A drop in the switch made them feel like they were brand new and completely eliminated the missing key presses. Believe the hype around Deoxit FL. It's really every bit as good as people say.

In my opinion, CAIG contact-cleaners and lubricant products are the best available. I have been using CAIG DeoxIT since the mid-1960's for electrical and electronic contacts work. If you are maintaining expensive electronics, it cuts though the oxidized layer, cleans thoroughly and leaves no damaging residues. I use the F100L-L25C to clean & lubricate very expensive or discontinued pots & switches. Using the dropper, the full-strength 100% F100L solution can be applied to pots & switches which are too tightly sealed to spray or where spraying might want to be avoided. A few weeks ago, one of my neighbors was given an $800 estimate to replace all the heavily crusted & rusted contacts of his custom van's interior switch lighting. I unscrewed the switch covers and applied the D100L to all the stationary and sliding contacts. An hour later, I added the F100L to the contact surfaces: PROBLEM SOLVED!

Helped me restore an old powered mixer from the '80s. I used it on the pits and EQ faders. Good stuff, but definitely spendy. Use sparingly.

I deduct a star only for the cost. I've repaired enough audio equipment by now to realize the spray is mostly wasted. Occasionally there is a need for it, but for 99% of the jobs that need this a few drops is really all you're after. If you use the low spray setting, trying not to saturate all the surrounding components you're let with product and no compressed air, so wasted product left in the can. This needle dropper bypasses all of that. I quit using the red after it was revealed it can and will destroy carbon discs in the pots. I use this and a couple of contact cleaners that I trust. I'd bought a small plastic vial before and am satisfied that this route is the most economical in the long haul.

This is what I use to keep sliders quiet and moving freely. Especially useful on vintage equalizers.

Expensive but worth every penny. I don't know of any other products that do what this does as well as it does. And the fact that it lasts after you apply it! It might be expensive but considering the results it's worth it.