Dear Fellow Members-Harbor Freight has a great 5 piece tube brush set for cleaning paint guns which is great for cleaning Loctal and Octal pin sockets-only $1.99 a set! Item # 97591
Gearhead:)

So how wide are these brushes?

Brush sizes: 12mm, 20mm, 23mm, 25mm and 30mm; Length: 4"

Apparently, the O.D. is given in MM, 12mm is nearly 1/2", Isn't that a little large for even octal socket contacts?

Chas

Don't know why they advertise the brush length but not the OD. The brush OD's go from about 1.5mm to 5 mm. Then again, if you go to Harbor Freight you will see-Gearhead

Use pipe cleaners, the ones with the plastic bristles woven in them.

You are all welcome!:)

A worn down .17 caliber rifle cleaning cleaning brush of the brass bristle type works good for cleaning the large pin tube sockets. Just chuck it in an electric drill and make a couple passes thru the tube pin holes in the socket and you are good to go. Dip the brush in Hoppes #9 first if you want to get rid of the mouse pee smell in the set.
Curt

Curt, do you bathe in Hoppes when the pipes are frozen?;)-Gearhead-PS-How are the squirrels?

Well, yesterday my cold water was froze up in the morning, but I had hot water. It thawed out during the day. I did not think it was going to get that cold the night before, so I did not let them drip.

But I reserve my last bottle of the old formulation of Hoppes #9 to when I have a date, which is not too often any more.

About six inches of snow last night and the squirrels are battling the crows for the peanuts this morning.
Curt

Hey, gearhead. Thanks. I was in Harbor Freight yesterday and found a set. Those are slick little brushes and I like the price, too.

Cool, Texmac. Glad someone got off of the couch, dropped the remote and checked them out!;) My Lockhart Elmer about creamed in his drawers when I gave him a set;)
Curt, glad to hear that you have some Hoppes left over for that special woman!;) Be sure to leave out enough peanuts for all of the critters:)-Gearhead

The gas torch cleaning files have been mentioned before, but not on this thread.

Thanks Gearhead ,going to harbor real soon I will pick up a set , I have also used dental flossing brushs

Anyone ever tried pipe cleaners?

I'm sure they'd work fine for the larger sockets.

I have used contact cleaner soaked pipe cleaners, but they will not be abrasive enough for tough corroded socket contacts or "put a shine" on the contact. I use an appropriately sized round needle file, after which I use the soaked pipe cleaner.

Chuck

Thanks Gearhead, got mine today as it sounds like a good idea. Course I can't go in a place like that and only get out that cheap! John

Harbor Freight in Billins Mt never heard of the cleaners. Must depend on the area or store size.
Joe

One nice thing about Harbor Frieght is they are on the web and ship real fast with resonable rates

Joe- it more depends on who you talk to if you call them on the phone. Some people who answer the phone have no idea of what they carry in stock or have on hand at the time. And if you don't word it exactly like it would show up on their computer, you will surely get an answer like that.
Curt

Tnx Curt I went to the store twice with the same luck.
Joe