Anyone used an SNES Cleaning Cart?

[Lodestar]

If so, is it effective or are there better ways to clean the pins on a Super Nintendo?





About how many uses can you get out of one? Do you need a special fluid for it or will alcohol suffice?

[Zing]

I believe the manual for the NES and SNES cleaning kits specify to use water! You can use alcohol, though.

[Hobie-wan]

There have been many discussion (and arguments) on cleaning carts and cart slots. Have search why doncha?

[Lodestar]

Yeah, I wouldn't feel safe using water, that would probably corrode the contacts eventually.

Well, I'll look into it further, because I've noticed some scrambling in certain games. Probably due for a good cleaning, just wanted some last minute insight into whether or not this shit's worth it.

[Hobie-wan]

Unless it is a brand new SNES cleaning cart at a non-stupid price, I'd say no.

[Redifer]

I've heard of people using old credit cards to clean the cart slots on various systems. I don't recall if they wrapped the cards with a layer of alcohol-soaked paper towel or whatnot. I've not tried it myself.

[Lodestar]

I've seen a few used ones on eBay for a few bucks, plus shipping. Reasonable enough?

[Ziggy]

I took a look at the official SNES cleaning cart, and it looks good. Seen it up on eBay for not too much.

If you end up using the cleaning cart, and there's no fluid left, just use rubbing alcohol. The higher the percentage the better. The cleaning fluid that you get with cleaning kits IS alcohol.

I've heard of people using old credit cards to clean the cart slots on various systems. I don't recall if they wrapped the cards with a layer of alcohol-soaked paper towel or whatnot. I've not tried it myself.

Well I wouldn't try it with paper towels, cause they'd break up and then you'd have quite a mess in the cart slot. But I've heard of people using something like an old cotton T-shirt. That should work well.

Also, I would think you would need at least 3 credit cards to get the thickness you want, maybe a few more. Others suggest the same method only using cardboard instead of credit cards (presumably card board that wont compact when you put it under pressure). Hobie has suggested using an old cereal box folded up.

About the thickness though, you want to try and match the thickness of the cart PCB. Maybe a hair thicker, so it'll scrub the pins a little more. Too thin and you wont be scrubbing the pins good enough, too thick and you might fuck up the pins.

[Hobie-wan]

I've seen a few used ones on eBay for a few bucks, plus shipping. Reasonable enough?

Try to get a (non blurry) picture of the cleaning surface before buying to make sure it isn't already brown and nasty.

[Michi]

I've never used the SNES cleaning kits. I've always used the 'credit card' method. Well, actually it's an only defunct membership card, but it's thick enough to do the job.