Cleaning NES games with an eraser?

[Bandicat]

Hi everyone,

Normally when I clean my NES games, I use some solution that I got at Gamestop awhile back. About a month or so ago, I was trying to clean a game without much success. I used a Gamebit to open the cartridge. One of the contacts had some weird tar that the solution would not get.

I remembered hearing somewhere that you could use an eraser to clean the contacts, so I gave that a try. It removed the tar very well, however it looks like it also removed some of the gold on the contact.

How bad is this for the game? The game played perfectly after I did that. I also then cracked open one of my surplus SMB/DH carts and went to town on the contacts with the eraser, That also played without any problems.

[xaer0knight]

my friend and I used to do this with Atari 2600/7800, SMS, Genny, and NES/SNES games back in the day. As far as I know all my games still work (currently at my brother's house) and my friend still has his collection and plays his SMS and NES regularly. This was about 10 yrs back or so, but i dont remember if any of the Gold (brass/copper?) came off any of the contacts. I think i did try this once on TG-16 HuCards and GB Carts but they all worked fine as well.

... i must be following you.. i had no clue you posted this UNTIL now

[Mark30001]

I used to write my name with a permanent marker on my NES & SNES carts when I first got them years ago. It wasn't until I tried to sell some of them to the then 'FuncoLand' that I actually tried using an eraser, and hey, it came off!

[exit]

I use a white eraser to clean my games and it does wonders, especially on the badly treated games you'd find at Gamestop

[InsaneDavid]

I remembered hearing somewhere that you could use an eraser to clean the contacts, so I gave that a try. It removed the tar very well, however it looks like it also removed some of the gold on the contact.

The tar was probably what ate away the gold plating, not the eraser.

[Bandicat]

Thanks everyone,

I just cleaned another game with a white eraser and it looks like the gold stayed intact. Now I just need to find a decent gamebit....

@xaer0knight - just make sure you don't follow me off a cliff.