Cleaning tools for platters

[infofaster]

Hi everyone,

I got a hitachi with the heads damaged and i swap the new heads for the drive, but when i'm going to close the drive i see some dust in the platters. So i use de air duster to see if it cleans the platters. Unfortunely the platters remain dirty. I use a synthetic cloth to clean but it makes worst, the dust have been spread to the surface... so my question is:

Any one knows some liquid to clean the platters without damaging the surface?
I have some cleaning swabs but it doesn't work without a especific liquid.
I have test already the IPA (Iso Propine Alchool) in other donor drives but only works to clean heads, when i try to clean the platters became tainted.

If any one know please tell me something.
Thanks in advance.

Best Regards

[Tawfeek]

i use pure " propyl alcohol " (80% pure ) with cotton swabs

[infofaster]

i use pure " propyl alcohol " (80% pure ) with cotton swabs

And it doens't tainted the platters?
I have propyl alcohol 100% pure to clean the heads its great but it's not good for the platters, i test it and the dust have been tainted.

[labtech]

If you have that much dust, then it is probably media damage.

If it is not media damage, my suggestion would be to do it in stages. Clean the first thick coat, then another coat with fresh swab and so on until it is clean.

[einstein9]

i use pure " propyl alcohol " (80% pure ) with cotton swabs

I know what you mean here, but there are also other options (did not try it yet)

[fzabkar]

i use pure " propyl alcohol " (80% pure ) with cotton swabs

I have never had to clean platters, but whenever I have cleaned heads, or cleaned the debris after a head crash, I have always used lint free cloth moistened with isopropyl alcohol.

Admittedly the drives I worked on were designed during the 1980s, but I would think that the use of cotton swabs would be even more inadvisable today.

[einstein9]

i use pure " propyl alcohol " (80% pure ) with cotton swabs

I have never had to clean platters, but whenever I have cleaned heads, or cleaned the debris after a head crash, I have always used lint free cloth moistened with isopropyl alcohol.

Admittedly the drives I worked on were designed during the 1980s, but I would think that the use of cotton swabs would be even more inadvisable today.

sorry but you are wrong, am using it and works fine with me with many cases
plus there are more alternative solutions. by asking any chemical engineer about this you will know exactly what i mean here

[infofaster]

plus there are more alternative solutions. by asking any chemical engineer about this you will know exactly what i mean here

Do you know other solutions einstein9? Because i have to clean the platter before turn on the drive to test the new donor heads.
I try with isopropyl alcohol 100% pure but it stain the surface.
If you can give me a tip i apretiate.

Thanks

[einstein9]

well to be honest, i discussed this subject with chemical engineers here
and now am use something which i got from the hospital i dono what they call it or name it

but sure used to CLEAN Injured places for operations.
start from here

i got small amount in bottle (no name) but again, ask any chemical eng. he knows very well

good luck

[Nick_CT]

I used to use 95% + isopropyl, but it's easy to get it wrong and make a worse mess than what you started with if you don't do things in the right order. After a fair bit of R&D I've found something that works extremely well now and it's not liquid which helps.

[infofaster]

Yes i know..tell me about it!:( So you can give me a tip about your R&D?
I apretiate that.

Thanks for reply

[einstein9]

I used to use 95% + isopropyl, but it's easy to get it wrong and make a worse mess than what you started with if you don't do things in the right order. After a fair bit of R&D I've found something that works extremely well now and it's not liquid which helps.

if not liquid, sure will be Air Blower or Spray

hehehe, am i correct..?

[infofaster]

This solution i tried already but Air duster doesn't help to much. It's good only when you have kind of superficial dust, when is trapped dirt is more complicated to clean withou making any damages in the surface.

[Nick_CT]

I used to use 95% + isopropyl, but it's easy to get it wrong and make a worse mess than what you started with if you don't do things in the right order. After a fair bit of R&D I've found something that works extremely well now and it's not liquid which helps.

if not liquid, sure will be Air Blower or Spray

hehehe, am i correct..?

Nope Airblower is only good for the stuff that's easy to get off. Sometimes you need something more physical.

[infofaster]

Nope Airblower is only good for the stuff that's easy to get off. Sometimes you need something more physical.

Yes in deed, so what is something more physical?

[labtech]

Cleaning with alcohol and cotton swabs is about the technique. Have to clean in a continuos motion while the swab is really wet with alcohol.

Now I am beginning to be more curious about what this platter looks like, so how about a picture, please?

[infofaster]

So here is a picture of the platter:

http://files.hddguru.com/download/Hard% ... atter1.JPG

It became in that way when i try to remove the dust with the air duster, pass a sintectic cloth and at last when i clean with 100% pure isopropyl alcohol. So in that stage is worst then the begining.

[loki]

Whats your thought on using ultrasonic cleaners?

Loki

[infofaster]

Whats your thought on using ultrasonic cleaners?

I never thought about that.. have any one test it?
Because this kind of machines is to clean metal, i don't know if there is a problem clean a hard drive platters of aluminum with magnetic substrate.

[loki]

http://groups.google.com/group/datareco ... 87419117ce