Quicksilver Gold Tips how to Apply


bought some of this through my dealer but a bit worried applying it
Anyone familiar with this contact enhancer and care to share some tips on do and don'ts when applying this to components
I read the instructions provided but a bit unclear on some of the terminology used
musicfile
I am not familiar with Quicksilver's enhancer, but, I would generally use such products very sparingly. I understand it consists of a liquid with suspended silver particles. The idea is that the particles will fill in the micro pits in a metal surface and thereby increase conductivity. My concern would be that the particles could migrate and create a short.

I saw the result of such a short on an Audionote amp that was being serviced at a local shop. The owner had used an excessive amount of contact enhancer (I believe from Walker) and perhaps because of the heat in such amps, the enhancer dripped where it was not supposed to go. The damaged amp had a retail price of $125,000 (actually it is $250,000 for a pair). Luckily, the short was reparable. In this instance, the enhancer was used on the socket/pins of tubes, which are particularly vulnerable to dangerous dripping/shorting. If you are using the enhancer on things like interconnects only, there would be little chance for big problems. A shorted interconnect would only mean no signal getting through, not a meltdown.

I have personally used too much enhancer myself on interconnects, which resulted in no signal getting through. But, this was the opposite of your kind of enhancer. The one I used actually was an insulator, not a conductor. It works by sealing the new metal-on-metal contact made when the interconnection is inserted against contamination by air. Too much was not good, but, isopropyl alcohol cleaned things up.

Again, go light on your application.
Find VIrtual Dynamics ad in " innerconnects" section here on Audiogon "The Oddiophile Episode 3" answers your questions.
I just bought this product and was wondering if anyone has any experience and results with applying it to HDMI cables? I want to do it, but fear the pins on the male end are too close and will cause an arc. Any ideas?
Hi I have used it, yeh dont use to much, you want it as though if you can only just see it, and give it time to settle down once applyed, as in my system it was terrible for weeks, there is light at the end just be patient.
K_rose
>>give it time to settle down once applyed<<

From an electrical standpoint, how does it "settle down"?

Thanks in advance.
Harris1204,

I definitely recommend against applying quick-silver on HDMI cables. I've done it in the past on two cables and the interaction of pins caused drop out in picture. Use something that's non-conducting like Craig Pro-Gold, Power Booster or something along the line.

Kenobi
I think I have heard it said that the oil based carrier is what causes break in.

I try to provide a very light dusting, due to this.