Tips on cleaning my 396?

[scanrrman]

Hey guys! I'm sure there's some of you that know a good way to clean the dust and dirt out of the cracks. How do you go about making your scanner like new again? Just water or is there something else that cleans better but still safe? I want to get all the dirt out of the grooves, especially right in front of the speaker in the grill.
Thanks!

 

[N9JIG]

Use a blast or 2 from canned air.

Try to avoid the temptation to use cleaning products other than a touch with a damp lint-free towel.

You might want to try a little lense cleaning solution on a glasses wipe if the crud is not removed by the canned air.

 

[whacker]

I often use a pointy round toothpick to run through grooves in plastic gizmos, like TV remotes and radios and such. Just don't gouge it into places that aren't supposed to be gouged.

 

[biglaz]

Just drop it in the dish washer! Might want to double check but I think it says "dishwasher safe" on the bottom.

Eh, maybe not...

Seriously though, toothpicks, q-tip type swabs, a soft paint brush, and compressed air should all work well.

 

[Turbo68]

Hello,Get a soft cloth and be pationed and do not get angry and that is the way I clean my Radios.

Good Luck Lino Melbourne Australia.

 

[scanrrman]

I won't put it in the dishwasher because I won't be able to listen to it for those couple hours!!!!!! What good is your scanner when its not on??!!!
I do have the patience though. Thanks for the replies!!

 

[jharr465]

I use Armor-All no gloss. Apply it with a soft rag, not directly to the plastic. Like the others said, use q-tips and toothpicks for the crooks and crannies. It will restore it to like-new condition.

 

[ButchGone]

Re:

A cheap two-buck toothbrush, soft bristles, works wonders. Just rinse and spit afterwards! (my attempt at the ongoing humor)
BG..

 

[vabiro]

Try a denture toothbrush and some canned air for the crevasses.

On the display, try a cotton rag (maybe an old towel) with some LCD/CRT display cleaner. The polishing on the plastic may come off if you use anything harsher.

Cheers
Victor

 

[hotdjdave]

Artist's Paint Brush

Get a medium to soft paint brush from an art or craft store (or even a place like Target or Walmart). Use soft sweeping strokes and paint a masterpiece.

 

[squirrel]

This really isn't related to cleaning but I purchased a protective shield for the screen from shieldzone.com. There stuff is amazing. I have banged the scanner into walls and corners of tables and the screen is just like it was from day one. Apparently they use the same material on the leading edge of helicoptor blades.

 

[linuxwrangler]

DISCLAIMER: Your Mileage May Vary...

But I'm not too afraid of getting a bit of water around electronics - if done carefully. If there's stuff that you can't just brush out with a dry brush, I would go ahead and remove the batteries, hold the scanner face down, and then use a damp toothbrush - preferrably dampened in distilled water - to go after the stubborn stuff. Keep the scanner face down and blot any moisture off on a towel.

An aside:

There is little if any stuff in most electronic products that is directly harmed by moisture. Now if it is running when wet with impure water all bets are off. Things can conduct in unintended ways causing component failures and electrical contact points will be prone to corrosion.

My response to accidental immersion is to immediately disconnect power (personal safety permitting, of course). I then open the case as much as possible and then thoroughly rinse with distilled water. If the device had very dirty or salty water in it I may rinse for a while in tap water and do a final rinse with distilled. Then I must be very, very patient and allow the device to dry completely. Don't try to accelerate the process with heat. Heat+water=corrosion.

Between dropping my own cell-phone in muddy water and helping friends with their disasters I have a pretty high success rate. At the lab where my dad worked they cleared the accumulated dust out of $10,000 oscilloscopes by removing the case, rolling them out to the sidewalk, and hosing them out with a garden hose. But they do dry quickly in the Mojave desert.

Most recently I ran some grungy work clothes through the wash with extra bleach and 160 degree water. Unfortunately I had left my tiny Plantronics bluetooth headset in a pocket. Still works fine.

 

[hotdjdave]

I have banged the scanner into walls and corners of tables...

Did you do this on purpose? Sounds like you are pretty rough on your equipment.

I need to get some sort of protective cover, too. I fear my screen getting scratches because sometimes my scanner slides around a little in my vehicle when I am driving or when I hide it under the seat.


My problem is I have a bit of dust UNDER my screen, between the screen and the LCD. Not sure how it got there. It is like in the top right corner.

 

[Dubbin]

This really isn't related to cleaning but I purchased a protective shield for the screen from shieldzone.com. There stuff is amazing. I have banged the scanner into walls and corners of tables and the screen is just like it was from day one. Apparently they use the same material on the leading edge of helicoptor blades.

I posted about that stuff before but all everyone did was ***** because it cost too much. They claimed the PDA screen covers worked just as well... Yes the PDA covers are cheaper BUT they do not take the abuse that this stuff will.

 

[squirrel]

I'm not as rough as i made it sound. I might have it on my belt while doing work around the house and inadvertently bump into things.

I also ordered one for my departments thermal imaging camera since we sent it out about 6 months ago to get it refurbed because the screen was so scratched.

Yea the stuff might be a little pricey but it is well worth it. And no way does a regular PDA cover compare. I spent over $500 for my 396T, another $10 is nothing to help protect it.

 

[linuxwrangler]

Actually I'm pretty gentle on my equipment. After 21 years and a quarter-million miles I still haven't worn out the only car I ever bought. At 240,000 I finally had to replace the front rotors (first time) and pads (second time).

But I do occasionally screw up. I was happy and rather surprised that the Plantronics survived the 160-degree extra-bleach 1200-RPM-spin test. Think I'll write them a letter. And I've met plenty of other sailors who have lost cell-phones to the depths.

I just can't stand tossing something without trying to fix it first so most of my experience comes from working on stuff that friends were going to discard.

I used to have problems with dust in a Nokia phone and my wife now has a Nokia that gets dust under the display window so I've become proficient and disassembly, cleaning and reassembly.

 

[elephant]

Tips on cleaning my 396

I won't put it in the dishwasher because I won't be able to listen to it for those couple hours!!!!!! What good is your scanner when its not on??!!!
I do have the patience though. Thanks for the replies!!

I made the mistake of putting mine in the dishwasher. Now, when I listen to Phoenix police on their digital system, they sound like they are talking under water! I've seen so many other threads about others having the same sound when listening to Phoenix. Guess they all put theirs in the dishwasher, too!

 

[squirrel]

You can use water and a bristle brush. You are best to go buy some distilled water as typically most city systems chlorinate their water heavily. This will tend to leave residues that could cause corrosion and dendritic growth that can cause shorting. Then the best thing to do is use compressed air to blow the excess away. Be careful with the home shop compressors because you will get condensation coming out of the nozzle. Then just let it sit for a few hours. Obviously you do not want to get the speaker or lcd screen wet.

 

[wm8s]

My ICOM IC-900 multiband mobile radio was in my car when my car was flooded. I took the radio out, separated the decks, and opened each one. A pint of very muddy, gravel-ly water ran out. I might have even seen a fish swim out.

So I submersed each deck in store-bought isopropanol solution, let them air dry, and baked them in the oven at very low temperature for about half an hour with the door open. I think the radio worked better after that than it did before. I eventually decommissioned it to the local repeater club, where I think it did remote base duty for a while.

For face panels, I use air, a soft-bristle toothbrush, and some alcohol (as close to 100% as you can get) for stubborn grime.

...R

 

[phyberoptics]

Personally, I don't like the use of canned air when trying to clean things. You're generally pushing the dirt in further.

I use my shop vac with a toothbrush, as I brush, the vacuum takes away the dirt and dust.

For the display, just a damp rag, then a dry towel. Soft cloths and towels prevent the minor scuffing that can happen on a display window.

Either way, always clean with the unit powered off, as I have seen electronic equipment get damaged by the static that vacuums and canned air can cause.