Small Behringer Mixers and Coffee are a No Go

[ChrisWerner]

I use a small Behringer Mixer in live situations to monitor the laptop and keys input via headphones before I switch it to the public.
Today I figured out that those mixers don't like it when you drop a cup of coffee into it.

But now I have a great noise generator, at least something.
Damn... Always remember, no drinks around the workspace.....

[spacef]

did you dry it and removed the sugar ?
humidity should be easy to get rid of (sweep + hair dryer), but the sugar is what might kill the electronic. when it dries, it acts like glue.... i wonder if it can act as a conductor too (nothing is less sure, i know nothing about candy electrics.
then after that, a big bath of antirust spray (the things that improves old electronics)...
if all this doesn't work, the mixer's eletronic is to blame indeed.

[ChrisWerner]

Happily there is no sugar or milk in my coffees. I dried the mixer with frazzles of hankies tied around a small screwdriver through every corner. I think it is cleaner than ever before.
The main fader adds some crackles while rush movements but it is old anyway.

Mixer is fine again, another exciting studio evening

[spacef]

I'm sure a special electronic spray COULD be able to get rid of that fader crackles, as it also acts as a lubricant (well, for the ones i was used to use in my old hardware days)... I don't remember the price, it is worth trying if it is not overpriced . I think it is easly found in guitarist shops, or electronic shop. well , not hard to find, and I know GaryB knows them better than i do.

[ChrisWerner]

Around 4 euro, but I don't know if this will work, it is one of those cheap coal bed faders, it will die one day anyway.

[spacef]

I remember it used to do wonders on my guitar potis that were very old (i had a guitar i bought @14 year old and gave away for free when i was 35....a 99 euros guitar). the older it gets, the more often you have to use the spray, but you could win a year or two before replacing the mixer.
Well just an idea...

[ChrisWerner]

OK I will give it a pimp It served well so far, so he has deserved it...

[garyb]

yes, contact cleaner will make it work correctly, i would think...

[valis]

caig hopefully (or something similar). Caig specifically also offers 'fader grease' though many inexpensive faders (such as those on chinese mixers) will require a bit of care to disassemble as they're typically just bent metal tab style fastened together.