Clean a Platter

[beto]

Hy does any one if a Ultrasonic Cleaner could help to try to clean a platter from a hard disk wich was opened by another people and left some dust and finger print


Thanks

[pepe]

Hello Alberto,

I would use acetone with cotton swab and a brush.

pepe

[beto]

Hy does any one know if a Ultrasonic Cleaner could help to try to clean a platter from a hard disk wich was opened by another people and left some dust and finger print


Thanks

[Old Tech]

Hy does any one if a Ultrasonic Cleaner could help to try to clean a platter from a hard disk wich was opened by another people and left some dust and finger printThanks

I don't know if Pepe is kidding, but I wouldn't put acetone near anything. Not real acetone, anyway. It can dissolve plastic and is a pretty heavy duty solvent. I have used 99% alcohol effectively. I don't know about the long term effects because I have read some platters are designed with an in-built lubrication. I notice when I clean with 99% that it leaves a thin, oily film that can be buffed with a very soft , lint-free cloth. The dust can be blown off with a can of compressed air that's not held too closely.

I don't know how an ultrasonic cleaner can remove organic matter that a fingerprint would leave. It's pretty sticky, and smears. Any time I've cleaned with the 99% alcohol, the platter surface has been left really shiny and the heads don't leave tracks on them. Also, if the platters have any kind of glass in them, what are the chances of putting hairline cracks in the glass?

From my past experience with disk drives, many years ago, I have witnessed the accumulation of debris on the head itself. If it's been running over organic matter, you can bet it has a build up on the head suface. The question arises as to how to clean the heads....they are so fragile.

[aviko]

From my past experience with disk drives, many years ago, I have witnessed the accumulation of debris on the head itself. If it's been running over organic matter, you can bet it has a build up on the head suface. The question arises as to how to clean the heads....they are so fragile.

Thats right, use acetone and cotton swab. Proved for wd drives.

[Old Tech]

Thats right, use acetone and cotton swab. Proved for wd drives.

are we talking about the same acetone? It dissolves laquer-based paint. It's also used by women to remove nail-polish. In other words, it's a heavy-duty solvent. It could seriously damage a platter surface if the platter is made of a substance that reacts with the acetone.

If it is recommended for WD drives I don't know why. I'd like to know more about that. Do you have a URL?

99% isopropyl alcohol does a real good job with carbon-based, organic material and greasy substances. It also dries very quickly leaving little or no residue. If there is residue, it was something it dissolved, like oil on the surface.

[pepe]

are we talking about the same acetone?

Hi,

just give it a chance
It is important that U get really clean acetone, mine is over 99.5%, but there may be even more pure stuff.

pepe

[Old Tech]

just give it a chance
It is important that U get really clean acetone, mine is over 99.5%, but there may be even more pure stuff.pepe

hey, pepe, how's it going?

I'll check it out...thanks for the tip.