I get it—what I’m saying is I’d like something more than the opinions of keyboard jockeys on an internet forum (and I mean that lovingly, because I’m obviously one myself). even Selig, who I normally trust pretty implicitly, is couching his answer in indefinite terms (“everything I’ve ever heard”). everything I’ve seen looking around the ol’ interwebs is either an opinion in a forum, or an opinion in a blog post, which leads me to believe no one really knows what they’re talking about (again, including myself). the most definitive “answer” I found is on the WD40 website, which is obviously suspect, since they’ve got a bit of an interest in the answer.MrFigg wrote: ↑27 Oct 2020I can only advise you man. Don't use WD40 on pots. My next door neighbour builds everything from amps to compressors. He renovates vintage amps and he uses the method I've outlined to save original pots. WD40 drives out water (WD=Water Displacement). It breaks down the dust and grime and works in the short term. It also however breaks down any lubricant and leaves an oil residue which in turn binds grime. That's why you should use an electrical contact spray without oil. WD40 does not conduct electricity. Contact spray does. If you need a lubricant then Vaseline is good as it also conducts electricity and also protects against corrosion. All that said, if you want to use WD40 then sure...I wouldn't.
so yeah, I’d love to see something scientific—until then I won’t throw away 20+ years of personal experience and the expertise of people who actually used it in an actual professional studio.