How to Fix Scratchy Pots with DeoxIT (Guitar, Amp, Stereo)

A scratchy pot crackles because dust, oxidation and spent lubricant on its track and wiper interrupt the signal as you turn the knob. Most can be fixed in place: power down, spray a contact treatment into the pot’s opening, rotate it end to end many times, and repeat. CAIG, the maker of DeoxIT, recommends its D-Series (D5S-6, DN5S-6N or the 100% D100S-2 spray) for most rotary volume pots, and DeoxIT Fader F5S-H6 for slide pots and faders.

First, make sure it’s the pot

Noise only while you turn one knob: that pot.
Noise when you wiggle the cable or plug: the jack or the cable, which are metal contacts.
Noise when you flip a pickup selector or input switch: the switch contacts.
Noise in an amp even when you don’t touch anything: not a pot problem to spray away. Have a technician check the circuit.

Jacks, switches and plugs are metal-to-metal contacts, and CAIG’s D-Series is the product line it makes for those.

Which DeoxIT for which control

Control	CAIG’s recommendation	What we carry
Rotary pots: guitar volume and tone, amp knobs, stereo volume and balance	D5S-6, DN5S-6N or D100S-2	D5S-6, DN5S-6N, D100L-25C (100% liquid)
Slide pots and faders: mixers, graphic EQs	Fader F5S-H6, then FaderGrease if you want more tactile feel	F5S-H6, DFG-213-8G FaderGrease
Vintage gear with aging parts	No products with solvents; CAIG suggests the 100% D100S-2 spray	D100L-25C needle or D100L-2DB brush (100%, no solvents)
Jacks, switches, plugs	D-Series	D5S-6, DN5S-6N

The deeper D5 vs F5 question is covered in our DeoxIT D5 vs F5 guide.

Safety before you spray

Unplug the gear. CAIG’s directions start with “turn off, unplug the device.”
Mind flammability. DeoxIT D5S-6 and DeoxIT Fader F5S-H6 are extremely flammable aerosols until the solvent evaporates; keep them away from soldering irons and flames, and CAIG says to wait two minutes before turning the equipment on. DeoxIT DN5S-6N is non-flammable, 0% VOC and quick-drying.
Protect the finish. In CAIG’s compatibility chart, varnish rates “Poor,” and CAIG advises testing first on vintage equipment with aging ABS plastic. Use the extension straw, cover the guitar’s finish with a rag, or spray onto a lint-free swab first.
Amps hold dangerous voltage. Power supply filter capacitors can hold hundreds of volts, and Sweetwater’s amp-modding safety guide warns that leaving an amp unplugged for days doesn’t mean they’ve discharged. If reaching a pot means opening a chassis and you don’t know how to drain the capacitors, take it to a qualified tech. CAIG’s own data sheets say internal service should be done by qualified technicians.

Rotary pots, step by step

Turn the gear off and unplug it. Note the knob settings and pull the knobs if they block access.
Find the opening: usually a small slot or gap in the pot’s metal case. On a guitar you’ll reach it through the control cavity.
Set the L-M-H valve to low, put the straw at the opening and give one short burst.
Rotate the shaft fully from stop to stop, a dozen or more times. CAIG’s directions say to operate the part to help break up oxides and contamination.
Wait a few seconds, give one more short burst, and rotate again.
Wipe off any excess, wait at least two minutes, then power up and test.
For a badly oxidized pot, CAIG says you can leave DeoxIT on overnight, wipe away what it lifts, and repeat. If a green or black tint shows up on the surface afterward (it can take a few days), that’s dissolved oxidation, so treat once more.

If you can see the track, or you’re working on vintage gear, the DeoxIT D100L-25C precision needle dispenser puts a drop of 100% DeoxIT exactly where you want it. CAIG notes it has no flushing action, so it suits clean, accessible parts.

Slide pots and faders

CAIG describes the Fader F-Series as a precision lubricant for conductive plastic and carbon-based controls that replaces lubrication lost to wear and cleaning. Its F5S-H6 directions: pre-treat any oxidized metal parts with D-Series, apply one short burst of Fader onto the plastic track with the straw, operate the control, add one more burst, and wait two minutes before powering on. For a firmer feel, add DeoxIT FaderGrease. CAIG suggests treating one control, waiting a few days, and then doing the rest if all is well.

When cleaning isn’t enough

If the crackle comes back within days, or the control has a dead spot or a sudden jump in level after two or three treatments, the track is likely worn and the pot should be replaced with one of the same value and taper. Cleaning restores contact; it can’t replace missing material.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to remove the pot to clean it?

Usually not. CAIG’s advice assumes you can get the extension straw into the pot’s opening while it’s still installed.

DN5 or D5 for pots?

Both carry 5% DeoxIT D100L. DN5S-6N is non-flammable, 0% VOC and non-drip; D5S-6 uses an odorless mineral-spirits carrier and is extremely flammable until it evaporates. CAIG’s Dr. DeoxIT says he personally uses DN5 because it drips less.

Is DeoxIT safe on guitar finishes?

Don’t count on it. CAIG rates varnish “Poor” in its compatibility chart, so keep spray off the finish and wipe any overspray right away.

Bottom line

Confirm which part is noisy, use D-Series on rotary pots and metal contacts and Fader on slide controls, treat in short bursts while working the control, and give the solvent time to evaporate. If the noise returns quickly, replace the pot. Shop all contact cleaners and fader lubricants or the full DeoxIT range.

Sources

CAIG Laboratories, Q&A “Volume Pots: Which DeoxIT product do I use?” (2020): caig.com
CAIG Laboratories, Q&A “Cleaning volume potentiometers on vintage radios?” (2020): caig.com
CAIG Laboratories, DeoxIT D5S-6 data sheet and product page: caig.com
CAIG Laboratories, DeoxIT DN5S-6N product page: caig.com
CAIG Laboratories, DeoxIT Fader F5S-H6 data sheet and product page: caig.com
CAIG Laboratories, DeoxIT FaderGrease DFG-213 data sheet: caig.com
CAIG Laboratories, DeoxIT D100L-25C product page: caig.com
Sweetwater InSync, “Staying Alive While Modding Amplifiers”: sweetwater.com