Tequila in the Mackie CFX 20 MKII

[Avalon93]

Hi there, it can be funny to read the problem I'm gonna write, but that's it...

A friend of mine gave me a Mackie CFX 20 MKII very-very-nice-built-like-a-tank mixer for preparing an FOH installation. I found the mixer so fantastic, except for the solidified Tequila (he told me it comes from a drunk friend at a party) that blocks the first five SOlO PFL buttons on the desk.

My question is if it's possible for me to open the desk and remove the Tequila without risk to damage the electrical plate or the mixer's chassis.

Thank you, bye!

Isaac

[Brian]

The question is - how much of a risk are you prepared to take?

 

My preferred solution in such situations is lots of clean hot water and a paint brush. But you might ruin something.

[tolley1466]

It's better to take the risk of fixing the problem than possibly not satisfying the client with a mixer that doesn't fully function.

 

How about a warm damp cloth and abit of elbow grease?

[Mixermend]

Ideally - the knobs should be removed and the whole PCB separated from the panel, but this will take some time, especially if you haven't done it before. The switch caps and the panel will then be fairly easy to clean.

 

Assuming that this isn't possible - you will need to apply warm water around the panel and switch buttons to dissolve the sugary deposits left by the spillage, but not too much, or else the mess will be washed through the panel onto the PCB. So - moisten, remove and repeat until the stuff is removed. This sounds vaguely homeopathic, so when the cleaning water no longer contains any molecules of the tequila - then you will have effected the 'cure'.......

 

In my experience of cleaning drink remains from Mixers - beer and lager and even some soft drinks can be successfully cleaned. But if the offending substance is a cola drink which has been allowed to dry - then just throw the item away, as the phosphoric acid content of these will quickly eat through anything metal, including tinned PCB tracks, making cleaning and repair really difficult. So never drink the stuff!