How do you clean tube pins?

The best stuff is Caig DeoxIT Gold, in the pen (http://store.caig.com/s.nl/it.A/id.1554/.f?sc=2&category=292) Wipe the pen tip around the pins a couple times, clean off with a rag, apply a little again and you're done. If you really want the cherries- Apply a touch of Walker Audio SST after cleaning off the Caig DeoxIT. (http://www.walkeraudio.com/sst.htm)

I've been using contact cleaners of varying discriptions on tube pins for 30 some years. All it takes is reading the instructions and a modicum of common sense to use them successfully, and without any sort of damage.

Any slight corrosion should get rubbed off the contacts when the tube is inserted, most are nickeled anyway. The ProGold or SST on the tube pin actually then somewhat seals(capillary action) the contact point, inhibiting oxidation. I've used small dental brushes(the kind that look like extremely small pipe cleaners for between the teeth) on tube sockets(of older equipment) in the past, with non-residue contact cleaner, to remove accumulated dirt.

The EXACT SAME principal(common sense) applies to the use of contact cleaners and contact enhancers, but neither of them will remove the very thin anti-corrosion plating(gold, nickel, etc) that most tube pins have. Steel wool(no matter how fine), working the tube in and out of the socket or abrasive cleaners will.