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Restoring ancient digital watch.

Jbrt

Feb 16, 2018
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I purchased one of the first available digital watches in RSA in 1978. I was in the army and the $3 I payed for the watch then was a fortune. I have kept the watch to show the younger generation what a digital watch looked like in the late seventies.
The watch displayed red numbers. As you can see on the pictures, all types of wonderful crystals grew on the electronics; I presume this was caused by leaving the batteries in for too long. Is there a way I can safely dissolve these growths and use the watch again? I will appreciate any advice.
 

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HellasTechn

Apr 14, 2013
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I think there may be a chance of reviving this artifact by using isopropyl alcohol spray. Personally i wouldnt risk cleaning it with a brush because you will certainly destroy the tine wires. the traces look okay under the growth. They knew how to build electronics that last for life back in these days !
Nice microscope you have by the way.
 

Bluejets

Oct 5, 2014
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I remember those things...had to find a shady spot to see the display and took 3 hands to operate the buttons.
 

Jbrt

Feb 16, 2018
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I think there may be a chance of reviving this artifact by using isopropyl alcohol spray. Personally i wouldnt risk cleaning it with a brush because you will certainly destroy the tine wires. the traces look okay under the growth. They knew how to build electronics that last for life back in these days !
Nice microscope you have by the way.

Thank you for your reply and advice. I understand that I have to be very careful with this 'work of art' :) Can I dip the electronics in alcohol or should I just spray it? I used a Panasonic Lumix FZ 28 with a Raynox Super Macro conversion adapter lens to take the pictures.
 

HellasTechn

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I think that you should spray it and allow time to dry. It might take several spray - dry cycles though.
P.S. It is indeed work of art. I used the term artifact and i meant it :)
 

HellasTechn

Apr 14, 2013
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Spraying helps clean a pcb right? does it not ?
I believe it is too fragile to be touched even by soft brush. As for diping it, im not sure.
What would you try if you where in his place ?
 

davenn

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Sep 5, 2009
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BobK

Jan 5, 2010
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I still don’t see how spraying with a solvent and letting it dry removes any residue. Can someone please explain it?

I can see how contact cleaner works on mechanical switches. It softens the residue and then operating the switch brushes it off. But that is not what is being recommended here.

Bob
 

Alec_t

Jul 7, 2015
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I have kept the watch to show the younger generation what a digital watch looked like in the late seventies.
Have you shown them the interesting flora/fauna/crystals that you've shown us in those excellent post #1 pics?
 

davenn

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I still don’t see how spraying with a solvent and letting it dry removes any residue. Can someone please explain it?

ohhh Bob ;)

because gently spraying it one of those cleaners I mentioned ( particularly the 2nd or 3rd one)
will dissolve and wash away the corrosion ... very straight forward, no black magic :)

Dave
 
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BobK

Jan 5, 2010
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Oh, so spraying it on really means flooding it with solvent, and letting it pour off. Not spraying it like spray paint and letting it dry!

That wasn’t clear to me.

Bob
 

HellasTechn

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Oh, so spraying it on really means flooding it with solvent, and letting it pour off. Not spraying it like spray paint and letting it dry!
That wasn’t clear to me.
Bob

Its all right, i thought you knew what we ment :)
 
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