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back to article Defective PCB cleaner cans could inflict eye injury

Reg readers should postpone plans to clean printed circuit boards, after cans of Electrolube were found to have a defect that could see the containers rupture “causing the contents to be ejected at high pressure”. If that happens, the recall notice issued in Australia warns of “serious eye injury” as a possible consequence. …

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  1. Anonymous Coward
    Mushroom

    oh boy!

    Sounds like the perfect Chrismas gift, or at least a close second.

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    1. Neoc
      Reply Icon

      Re: oh boy!

      Well, it'd be better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick!

      ...oh, wait...

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  2. Anonymous Coward
    Facepalm

    Safe headline day?

    Fixers get immense lube discharge on face, didn't see it coming.

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  3. David Neil
    Terminator

    Electrolube?

    Sounds like a prop in a robot porno

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    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Electrolube?

      And why is this kind of stuff often billed as lube when it is normally used as cleaner? Electronics workshops more exciting than they let on? ;)

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      1. Anonymous Coward
        Reply Icon
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Electrolube?

        It's usually intended to be used on potentiometers and switches, so it is a cleaner (removing the old, dried up no-longer-lubricant), an oxidization remover, and a lubricant.

        Yes, I wouldn't use Electrolube as just a cleaner for a PCB, as it would leave behind residue - I'd either use a canned cleaner/solvent only, or just use 90% isopropyl alcohol (preferably NOT the 70% stuff you get in the store, because that other 30% is water. Even the 90% should be kept in a tightly sealed container, as it will absorb water from the air.)

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  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Just wear suitable eye protection

    and avoid the hassle of returning it. I doubt that many of the possibly faulty cans are actually going to rupture anyway.

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  5. unitron
    Boffin

    Electrolube is the overall brand name

    Apparently they started in the '50s with a switch contact lubricant and have developed other products for the electronics industries since, including various cleaners.

    Almost chose pedant icon, went for boffin instead, but who's the guy with the long face, top hat, and sideburns? Is it a UK specific reference?

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    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Electrolube is the overall brand name

      Yes, it's a stereotypical English Schoolmaster, from the last century.

      The sort that screams "How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat!"

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      1. John Brown (no body) Silver badge
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        Re: Electrolube is the overall brand name

        I've always assumed it was the childcatcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

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  6. Frank Bitterlich
    Boffin

    Messy affair

    I once had a can (same stuff of a different brand) exploding due to corrosion on the bottom edge of the can (apparently caused by the leaked stuff slowly eating away on the can's paint.) Anyway, the artful pattern on the wallpaper in my living room was a thing to behold.

    It happened at night, though, so my eyes are still fine. Anyway, since then I keep that can in a plastc bage when not in use, just to be sure.

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