http://nintendoage.com/forum/ -Sqooner http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=8&threadid=26600 2013-12-19T06:05:56 -05.00 RetroHacker 24 http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=8&threadid=26600 2013-12-18T22:53:54 -05.00 RetroHacker 24 Originally posted by: Alder

I remember using metal polish to clean my games many many years ago. I scrubbed the hell out of them and got the contacts to a silver color, so I'm guessing that's the nickel.

But, it worked? I did this with 15 or 20 games, and all of them work to this day, usually on the first try. I'm guessing what you're saying is that nickel corrodes over time faster than gold. If that's the case then exactly how long are we talking about? How long will it be until everyone's NES games will be worthless due to the natural disintegration of the contacts of the cartridge?


I was using "cleaner wax" a 3m product. It's a very light compound but seems to abrasive. I never got down to the copper like you said but it seemed like it might be wearing away at some of the plating. But those games have worked perfect for a few years now as we'll never a problem fire up on first try with a good 72 pin. The only problem I could guess is that the contacts might corrode faster but I've never seen any signs of that and I live in south florida with very high humidity. I've diluted the "cleaner wax" with ammonia and again have never had a problem with any of those games. I'm going to try a polishing wheel in my Dremel next. ]]> http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=8&threadid=26600 2010-07-07T08:01:03 -05.00 RetroHacker 24 ]]> http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=8&threadid=26600 2010-07-01T07:46:05 -05.00 RetroHacker 24 My local game store uses ammonia to clean their games. I assume that is bad?

Question 2. Has anyone tried using baby q-tips? Their cotton is a bit firmer, but if it's safe for babies I would think it could be safe for games...
Also, it is a bit flimsier, but when bent in half it's pretty ok.
]]> http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=8&threadid=26600 2010-06-30T04:33:46 -05.00 RetroHacker 24 - You forgot to mention bending back the pins on the 72pin connector. In my experience bent pins that do not make contact with the game cart cause more problems than dirt (though both are an issue, obviously).
- I wouldn't suggest using soggy cardboard to clean the 72pin connector; it's all too easy to gum it up.
If you don't have a cleaning kit I found the following works reasonably well: get a *very thin* cloth, dampen with rubbing alcohol, wrap it around the front of a cart and insert the game into the 72pin connector a few times. The game will push the cloth into the connector and clean the pins without the risk of gumming up the connector with bits of paper. ]]> http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=8&threadid=26600 2010-06-28T11:19:02 -05.00 RetroHacker 24 http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=8&threadid=26600 2010-06-26T14:31:44 -05.00 RetroHacker 24 ]]> http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=8&threadid=26600 2010-06-26T13:49:14 -05.00 RetroHacker 24 Originally posted by: xxtheenslavedxx

Very nice tutorial on cleaning up the NES and NES games! I'm gonna end up buying a whole new toaster NES though, as my old one is getting a bit yellow from my step dad's smoking :-/

Is smoking what causes the yellowing of the NES and SNES console?

I have seen it on quite a few on ebay. the ones we had never got any color (smoke free home)
I kind of always thought it was some properties of the plastic making it so with time
]]> http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=8&threadid=26600 2010-06-26T13:26:19 -05.00 RetroHacker 24 http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=8&threadid=26600 2010-06-26T12:02:28 -05.00 RetroHacker 24 ]]>