What do you clean threads with and how do you do it?

I have quite a few flashlights that I bought in the last 3 months when I started my flashlight collection. However, I have never clean my flashlights...the threads or o-rings. I also have not lubed any threads and o-rings either.

I am not going to ask what lube to use because I already bought a tube of Nyogel.

But what do you clean threads with and do you use paper towels or microfiber clothes? Q-tips? Can I dunk the whole flashlight body tube in water and wash it with soap?

I wipe out the threads the best I can with a paper towel and then run a stiff tooth brush all around the threads. Wipe again and lube.
Simple.

If you want to dunk (just) the tube, no problem. Obviously, be sure it's dry before reassembly.

I don't like Q-tips for cleaning because some of the fiber invariably gets left behind and you then have to clean that stuff out.

I just use paper towel to wipe the threads and then I relube. Many here will recommend deoxit and progold or isopropyl alcohol for electrical contacts. I just use some electrical contact cleaner someone gave me. One of these days I'll get around to buying some better stuff.

Searching will bring up quite abit..

anyway,i use isopropyl alcohol, q-tips, microfiber cloth, and tissues. I use my finger nail to wedge either the tissue or cloth in the individual threads and "unscrew" the threads.

Crenshaw

See post # 150 (by precisionworks) in this thread:


https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/185789



_

Crenshaw said:

Searching will bring up quite abit..

anyway,i use isopropyl alcohol, q-tips, microfiber cloth, and tissues. I use my finger nail to wedge either the tissue or cloth in the individual threads and "unscrew" the threads.

Crenshaw

Click to expand...

i do the same thing with my fingernails..just stick it in the groove and unscrew and you really see all the black stuff

I just remove the o rings and dab a microfibre cloth with methelyted spirits and clean all the black crap away, then rinse in water(body only), dry off, put orings back and lube up.

For the heads and tails i just use the micfibre cloth and clean as best i can, re lube then done.

Get a rag or makeup sponge (not a paper towel or q-tip, these leave little fibers everywhere) and some common household rubbing alcohol or WD40; remove the o-ring and rub the threads as clean as you can with the rag, then move to another part of the rag and soak it with the alcohol/WD, and wipe down the threads again. When they're properly clean, they'll look like shiny metal, similar to the bare aluminum of a soda can. Put just a drop or two on each thread segment and rub it in/around with your finger, and a drop on the o-ring, ensuring it's coated thoroughly on all sides. Reassemble and twist a few times to make sure it's distributed evenly, and wipe off any excess that squishes out. That's it, you're ready to go for another several months :thumbsup:

Disassemble flashlight, remove O-rings and take hot water, dishwashing liquid and a firm toothbrush to the the threads. Rinse clean and dry, apply contact enhancer and thread lubricant, replace O-rings.

With a new light, after removing the O-rings, I use a Q-tip soaked in Alcohol, followed by another soaked in a dry cleaning spot remover. The Alcohol gets rid of most organic residues and the dry cleaning solution strips any remaining grease from the threads. I then take rounded wood toothpicks soaked it in the same solvents. I run the pointed end between the threads to get any aluminum grit that may been left behind during the manufacturing process. I keep replacing with fresh soaked toothpicks until the end of the last new toothpick looks clean. After all this, I relube with Nyogel 760. Plain less expensive Silicone lube also works well for most lights, but not as well as Nyogel 760 with lights having tight O-rings.

Zenster said:

I wipe out the threads the best I can with a paper towel and then run a stiff tooth brush all around the threads. Wipe again and lube.
Simple.

I don't like Q-tips for cleaning because some of the fiber invariably gets left behind and you then have to clean that stuff out.

Click to expand...

+1

This is the method that I use, too.

adamlau said:

Disassemble flashlight, remove O-rings and take hot water, dishwashing liquid and a firm toothbrush to the the threads. Rinse clean and dry, apply contact enhancer and thread lubricant, replace O-rings.

Click to expand...

Watch out ! Dishwashing liquid often contain sodium hydroxide wich will "eat" any aluminium body, anodized or not. I would personally not recommend.

Alcohol Swabs like the ones that the nurses/doctors use to clean your arm before a injection, simple cheap and effective with easy clean up.

You can get them in Boxes of 100 for cheap at most chemists...