Briggs,
I like what you are doing, but I have to say that your cleaning sections sucks and is very likely to ruin a game eventually. NEVER use the end of a pencil to clean contact. For one, the pink erasers leave a very bad residue on the contacts that is sticky. This residue attracts dirt and can actually build up gunk in your system, as well as make the cart's connection get worse and worse (although I see you recommend cleaning with contact cleaner afterwords, so this may not really matter). Secondly, and most importantly, if the eraser breaks during mid cleaning and you scrape the metal end on the games contacts... that would do tons of damage. This is simply bad advise and I would recommend taking it down. IF you want to use an eraser for cleaning, go to a supply store or an art store and get an Art Gum. These are very soft erasers that leave a fine powdery residue that can be blown off with compressed air. They also are soft enough to never damage the contacts. Here is my cleaning method:
For general cleaning,
Contact Cleaner and cotton swab:
I use Super Contact Cleaner which is a non-residual cleaner. Simply spray onto the contacts and swab with a cotton bud. The contact cleaner can be found online at <a href="http://www.mcmelectronics.com" target="_blank">http://www.mcmelectronics.com</a>
If the cart is not responding to the cleaner or if the contacts are oxidized and require extra cleaning, try this method.
Art Gum/Compressed air:
This has restored many green and horribly oxidized carts to almost new condition. The carts should be opened and the boards removed for ease of cleaning, but if you cut the art gum right it can be use to clean an unopened cart. I rub the art gum over the contacts until all grim is removed. Once the contacts are shiny, I blow out the boards with compressed air, removing all debri. Following this cleaning with the above contact cleaner method will make the carts like new again.
Both of these methods are 100% safe and leave the carts with little to no residue and in the case of the contact cleaner, in a better conductive state then using an eraser or plain rubbing alcohol as others have suggested.
Again, keep up the good work on your site, it is very ambitious and is turning out nice... Just look at this as constructive criticism, as I find a lot of the stuff on your site very helpful. I just would hate to see people blaming you for damage done to their carts.
-Nick
[ March 20, 2002: Message edited by: nruva ]</p>
