I've found affordable PCB cleaning water-based liquid, literally no smell that's critical to me cause I work at home. 10 parts of 50-70C hot water for 1 part of XCY-1007($3 for 500mL), 3-5mins in ultrasound, next wash by water, and dry with a hairdryer. A perfect result virtually for free! However, XCY-1007 is available in China only.
For my test, I intentionally added extra flux(something like modded rosin from a solder wire core), also, I did burn it with overheated iron to carbonize the flux. As you can see such a complication isn't fully removed by XCY-1007. It seems, need to increase the ultrasound processing time or the concentration of XCY-1007.
For my test, I intentionally added extra flux(something like modded rosin from a solder wire core), also, I did burn it with overheated iron to carbonize the flux. As you can see such a complication isn't fully removed by XCY-1007. It seems, need to increase the ultrasound processing time or the concentration of XCY-1007.
The best fluid I used is comonly called MEK (methyl ethyl ketone or Butanone). Not too cheap but you use few milliliters each time (a brush wet in it) and let it evaporate alone. No need for US or future processing. All flux old or new is removed with little effort.
Isopropyl alcohol works, easily used with an old tooth brush, safe enough to clean wounds.
Unless your flux is exotic.
Unless your flux is exotic.
I use the same (99% isopropyl alcohol, NEVER use the 70% version) but it does not work that well with recent flux.
I agree with all this as far as not getting good results from flux cleaners. I used a flux remover solution also Isopropyl 90%. None of it results with a shiny clean board. Need an easy solution.
Good question, they had a kind of a xxxx solvent kind of name. Can't find any reference to those anymore. I once bought such a stock when it became forbidden to use here and used it for years. Funny smell and probably not very good for health but 100% clean boards contrary to using isopropyl alcohol.
I've found that denatured alcohol (methylated spirits for you in the UK) works very well, much better than isopropyl alcohol in removing flux on PCBs.
I have an industrial PCB cleaning liquid as well but the smell is so bad.. Also, to get the same clean result I need to spend a lot of that stuff, and I never go so far just getting 80% by moving residual flux to the corner. The water-based cleaner does 100.00% results automatically, with no smell. This is what I like. I know similar stuff from UK Electrolube SWAS, however, SWAS has a smell and 1:5 concentration.
Methylated spirits are ethyl alcohol denatured with methyl alcohol, the primary use is as a medical cleaner.
My state has Prohibition, and due to the many chemical industries in my state, some people tried to distill the ethyl alcohol from methylated spirits, with varying success.
It is difficult to obtain, you need a permit.
Most doctors use Isopropyl, no restrictions.
If really needed, try and get high strength clear vodka, that is nearly pure alcohol and water.
Look up flux solvents suitable for your flux, ask the supplier if it is possible.
My state has Prohibition, and due to the many chemical industries in my state, some people tried to distill the ethyl alcohol from methylated spirits, with varying success.
It is difficult to obtain, you need a permit.
Most doctors use Isopropyl, no restrictions.
If really needed, try and get high strength clear vodka, that is nearly pure alcohol and water.
Look up flux solvents suitable for your flux, ask the supplier if it is possible.
just out of curiosity, I did try to use 100% 1007 without ultrasound and room temperature 26C. I dropped that on the toothbrush and it works! Of course not as economical method like 10% and ultrasound, but I don't care about $3 for .5L at all 😉
PS: look at this, just brushed with the same soft toothbrush my coffeepot! Is it kinda supersoap or what?
PS: look at this, just brushed with the same soft toothbrush my coffeepot! Is it kinda supersoap or what?
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Can you provide a link to the XCY-1007? Google only finds this thread.
Another vote for the 99% isopropanol. At some pharmacies they keep it behind the counter, so you have to ask. I like to soak, scrub, then blow the board and brush dry with compressed air. Spray on fresh IPA (not the beer) and repeat until there's no unsightly residue when the board is dry and brush doesn't feel sticky. If compressed air isn't available, then shake the board dry as best you can without flinging it down the driveway, apply fresh IPA generously and repeat.
Another vote for the 99% isopropanol. At some pharmacies they keep it behind the counter, so you have to ask. I like to soak, scrub, then blow the board and brush dry with compressed air. Spray on fresh IPA (not the beer) and repeat until there's no unsightly residue when the board is dry and brush doesn't feel sticky. If compressed air isn't available, then shake the board dry as best you can without flinging it down the driveway, apply fresh IPA generously and repeat.
Used to be used for dry cleaning and you could buy a home stain remover using carbon tet called 'dabitoff'. I recall reading a few people passed out in their cars from the fumes. In the late 90s at work we started using orange oil based degreasants to clean boards when the good stuff got COSHH'd. Not sure if that is still popular . Certainly smelt better than the goop it replaced, but this was for just cleaning rework spots.
I use 90% isopropyl alcohol with a toothbrush to scrub away stubborn flux deposits. The board ends up much cleaner if you can immerse it in an excess of IPA for a rinse, otherwise the results might be a bit on the sticky side. A pie pan is your friend in this endeavor. Unlike some other solvents (read MEK or Acetone), the IPA is safe for plastics and electrolytics. Chlorinated solvents are an absolute no-go for electrolytic capacitors, as they seep in past the rubber seals and cause the innards to transform into mush. The company I used to work for learned this via sad experience - the caps actually caught on fire (it was a long, slow process) as a result of the boards being cleaned with trichloroethylene in a vapor degreaser.
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Maybe not. I searched with cleaner, not pcb; if I use pcb then some pictures from Taobao are included in the results, but only slightly better than nothing because there are no details. There are some PCB cleaners on Aliexpress, like MECHANIC 850 Water for Cleaning PCB Board, but it looks like those are intended to be used full strength. Anyway, for my present needs IPA is fine. It works on coffee pots too: I used it to clean up a thrift store moka pot (stainless steel, induction compatible, Forever "Miss Splendy" 2-cup model).
Carbon tet was used in those small brass fire extinguishers. Too bad it made toxic phosgene gas if it got too hot.
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