SMD soldering flux.

edbarx · 13th January 2021, 05:02 PM

What SMD soldering/desoldering flux do you use and suggest? I have watched YouTube videos by Louis Rossman doing literally next to impossible SMD desoldering/soldering work, but I have no idea what flux is used. I remember several years ago, I tried to repair an SMD PCB and failed miserably. The FLUX seems to be of paramount importance, and the internet is a nest of vipers ready to bite the innocent. The flux I ordered online was fake. It was much like wax used to steady components in old radios, rather than SMD flux!

SMD soldering would be a feat, but I am daunted by the thought alone!

rayma · 13th January 2021, 05:21 PM

Stay with major producers, like Kester. You can buy flux in small or large quantities. Use it liberally.
Solder Flux & Solder Flux Pens | Techni-Tool, Inc.

JMFahey · 13th January 2021, 05:54 PM

I always use simple homemade flux, just a "stone" of plain pine rosin, bought at the corner hardware store, inside an old jam jar and covered in alcohol which dissolves it in a few days.

I boight 1 kilo some 10 years ago, must have over 900 grams left.

Works like a charm, *bright shiny* solder joints every time.

JonSnell Electronic · 13th January 2021, 06:19 PM

Amtech NC-559 is by far the best. Low mess residue and easy to whipe up with Isopropanol.
I put some from the 100g tub in a small syringe for accurate application.

chris719 · 13th January 2021, 06:55 PM

I agree with the tacky flux in syringe recommendation, though I think I have some ChipQuik brand stuff.

Mark Tillotson · 13th January 2021, 07:54 PM

I've got 20g of "Termopasty", a Polish brand, comes in a little snuff tin as solid resin,
so for surface mount I scrape powder off the surface sometimes. But most of my SMT work
is toaster-oven reflowing of PCBs, for which I use ChipQuik lead-free no-clean solder paste SMD291SNL10 which comes in a handy 35ml syringe.

13th January 2021, 05:02 PM	#1
edbarx diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2018 Location: Maltese Archipelago	SMD soldering flux. What SMD soldering/desoldering flux do you use and suggest? I have watched YouTube videos by Louis Rossman doing literally next to impossible SMD desoldering/soldering work, but I have no idea what flux is used. I remember several years ago, I tried to repair an SMD PCB and failed miserably. The FLUX seems to be of paramount importance, and the internet is a nest of vipers ready to bite the innocent. The flux I ordered online was fake. It was much like wax used to steady components in old radios, rather than SMD flux! SMD soldering would be a feat, but I am daunted by the thought alone! __________________ Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of a genius, and a lot of courage, to move in the opposite direction. [Albert Einstein]

13th January 2021, 05:54 PM	#3
JMFahey diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Buenos Aires - Argentina	I always use simple homemade flux, just a "stone" of plain pine rosin, bought at the corner hardware store, inside an old jam jar and covered in alcohol which dissolves it in a few days. I boight 1 kilo some 10 years ago, must have over 900 grams left. Works like a charm, bright shiny solder joints every time. __________________ Design/make/service musical stuff in Buenos Aires, Argentina, since 1969.

13th January 2021, 06:19 PM	#4
JonSnell Electronic diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: The Jurassic Coast, England. GB	Amtech NC-559 is by far the best. Low mess residue and easy to whipe up with Isopropanol. I put some from the 100g tub in a small syringe for accurate application. __________________ Support for Fender, Marshall and all Valve Equipment; Audio Innovations, Audiorama FU29, Quad and Leak. www.jonsnell.co.uk

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13th January 2021, 05:21 PM	#2
rayma diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2011	Stay with major producers, like Kester. You can buy flux in small or large quantities. Use it liberally. Solder Flux & Solder Flux Pens \| Techni-Tool, Inc.

13th January 2021, 06:55 PM	#5
chris719 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Connecticut	I agree with the tacky flux in syringe recommendation, though I think I have some ChipQuik brand stuff.

13th January 2021, 07:54 PM	#6
Mark Tillotson diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2018 Location: Cambridge UK	I've got 20g of "Termopasty", a Polish brand, comes in a little snuff tin as solid resin, so for surface mount I scrape powder off the surface sometimes. But most of my SMT work is toaster-oven reflowing of PCBs, for which I use ChipQuik lead-free no-clean solder paste SMD291SNL10 which comes in a handy 35ml syringe.