removing flux from boards

[adledlad]

as above how to cheaply remove flux residue after a board is soldered? i wasted £15 on chemtronics flux off! all it did was pick up the flux and then spread it all over the board so now looks even worse!! i presume its important to remove flux in the same way you always should in plumbing(my trade) as its acidic and eats the copper/lead given time?? cheers guys/gals

 

[DUG]

I use Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) 99%+ pure.

A toothbrush helps.

Plumbing flux is still acidic at room temperature...electronic fluxes are significantly not so.

Boards do look better after cleaning but you don't have to. (IMHO)

 

[richie00boy]

You need to liberally douse the PCB and sheet off the flux cleaner. If you just give it a blast to a confined area it will just spread it around.

If the board is in equipment then you need to spray the area then dab it clean with paper towels. It may take a few goes.

 

[adledlad]

cheers guys. i did try ipa and i think thats basically the ingredient of flux off. sounds like a good dousing is the key then.

 

[JonSnell Electronic]

Flux off is excellent but you must soak the board as you scrub with the supplied brush to flow the residue off the board.

 

[Salas]

Cover with Kimwipes or similar, then soak with isoprop, then rub. The tissue takes the residue in and it does not spread.

 

[adledlad]

i suspect the price of fluxoff was the reason i didnt use enough! ha! i think the wipes soaked in ipa will work well as it will pick up the flux rather than spread it. cheers all.

 

[Salas]

Done that before, the wipes helped a lot. Need be fine and strong wipes, not the kind that will tear and leave fibers about when you will rub with the soaked brush in ipa or flux-off. Kimwipes are best, Johnson's not that good but still useful.

 

[adledlad]

aye, luckily have a supply of baby wipes to hand so will give them a go later.

 

[counter culture]

Don't bother. Use a standard Ersin multicore such as savbit. Forget wash. Life's too short.

Seriously. I used to make archive-quality black-and-white enlargements, I know what I'm talking about. Now they really needed washing.

 

[richie00boy]

Baby wipes contain other things and will leave a residue.

 

[sofaspud]

If the components are allowable, you can use an IPA>water>IPA wash.

 

[tomlang]

Acetone and q-tips. Easy, quick, don't look back.

 

[adledlad]

aye just ordered some acetone.

 

[mill23bay]

Since we are talking about cleaning flux...should I use the alcohol or acetone to clean up boards that are very dirty. I am fixing up a Pioneer TR-707 that is very dirty. Anything else someone would suggest.
Thanks
PeterC

 

[mill23bay]

That's RT-707!!

 

[JMFahey]

Baby wipes contain other things and will leave a residue.

Er ...... you should use new wipes, fresh out of the package.

I'm all for recycling, hug a tree, save the dolphins, etc. but reusing baby wipes after they had a close encounter with your beautiful baby is a little too much
















Ok, don't shoot me , I'll go back inside of my hole

 

[crispycircuit]

I use those brown plastic take out food containers, usually 4" X 6". Fill the bottom of the container to cover the ribs with Paint thinner (Recordsol)(for oil base paints). Let the circuit board soak for 5mins, then use toothbrush to remove Flux. Curcuit boards look great!

 

[sofaspud]

Trichloroethane, anyone?

 

[DUG]

Trichloroethane, anyone?

Works great, but not good for you:

http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927305