This is probably the best way to clean carts. I use this method successfully too. I use an eraser like this:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qKQSiuXkzYw/S … er2_lg.jpg

Removes all dust and makes the contacts really clean.

This has to be one of the nerdiest threads I've ever seen.

Yeah that's normal, I even have to reposition my PowerPak from time to time.

I did the lockout chip mod and it works perfectly! Although, sometimes games need a little 1cm of repositioning after being turned on. Is this typical?

Games like Star Tropic work without any repositioning.

i always assumed it was less about dusty contacts and more about the position of the contacts. like, it's more about taking the cartridge out and putting it back in, in a slightly different spot, and not about the blowing.

since i did the lockout chip mod, every cart works perfectly the first time for me.

no prob   i've got a bunch of unmatched bits and pieces from the last button run, so i'm just giving away bits with orders for a little while, when peoples orders seem relevant enough they'd have a gameboy to fit the bits

open up the carts and clean the contacts with brasso then wipw off with 99% alcohol and you should be golden

Yeah,guess I missed that, sorry. It sounds like a typical failure caused by things not being clean enough though. It's the curse of the original NES, they need to be cleaned almost constantly. Also, alcohol works kinda for cleaning, but ideally you might want to get some contact cleaner. The q-tip + alcohol cleaning isn't always clean enough. I dunno what else to say.

Just as an aside, when I'm doing alot of work with my NES I can wind up having to clean the contacts on the 72 pin connector almost once a month just from normal accumulations of dust and stuff, as my workbench isn't the cleanest working environment in the world, and I tend to leave the cover off my NES as well.

In my original post, I mentioned cleaning every game I put in thoroughly with alcohol.

no prob   i've got a bunch of unmatched bits and pieces from the last button run, so i'm just giving away bits with orders for a little while, when peoples orders seem relevant enough they'd have a gameboy to fit the bits

You broke the #1 rule of new 72 pin connectors. If you hadn't cleaned your cartridges before using them in your brand new 72 pin connector you may have already gummed up your shiny new connector badly enough that it will need to be cleaned or replaced already. Get some 99% rubbing alcohol or a can of contact cleaner and clean clean clean.

What kind of alcohol? You need to use 99% isopropyl alcohol. Others might leave a residue or dry tacky, making the situation worse. You can get some locally at Fry's electronics or possibly radio shack.

if you use the eraser trick... make sure its a good eraser... one that doesnt create much residue

There is alternative to blowing - sucking.

I've used a rubber eraser to clean edge connectors, it works nice, but you need to disassemble cartridge to do this.

if you install a new NES edge connector, then proceed to stick dirty games into it, you'll have a dirty edge connector once more. 

so, if you have a new one of those, without cleaning the contacts of your games the grime will soon build up on the edge connector, and you'll end up with similar problems as before. 

the universal law re: the transference of dirt