Next To Godliness

Using any flammable liquid on a monitor screen is just begging for trouble. Sure, you can turn it off and unplug it, but it's still a fire hazard. Think about what just the smallest static spark can do when it ignites the excess alcohol that dripped down inside the bezel, or just ignites the fumes as you turn it on. Don't say it can't happen because I have pictures of the result. I've seen with my own two eyes a monitor go up in a mini fireball when someone used rubbing alcohol to clean the screen with it turned on.

As for Formula 409 for a glass cleaner, better check the label. Formula 409 and Fantastik both used to carry warnings against using them on glass. I found out why one day when a friend tried to help me at work. I used to be a service manager for a vending and amusement company. My friend “helped” me by using Fantastik to clean the glass tops on 20 new pinball machines we had on our display floor. The Fantastik ETCHED a rainbow lattice pattern into the glass on all 20 machines. All the glass had to be replaced at a cost of $45 each (this was in the early 80's).

Using flux remover (ie: Flux-Off) to take of “board varnish”. Yes, it'll work, and it'll also dissolve some types of plastic, particularly the plastic used for most LEDs and IR links. Lastly, the suggestion that aluminum foil be used as a substitute for anti-static bags… Try it and watch how many boards you fry when the capacitors discharge to the foil and who knows where else. And let us not forget that nice battery that's keeping your CMOS alive. They make a pretty good mini space heater when you short the terminals. [B.W. Behling]

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