For the LOVE OF. . .Acid Flux brush that doesn't shed? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: DW1961
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2020, 04:49:52 am
content: I bought some HDX horse hair brushes from Home Depot and they are just garbage, shedding hairs everywhere.Same thing on Amazon, people saying abut the boars hair and horse hair brushes.Is it possible to use a nylon brush for cleaning flux? Or, would the flux melt the nylon?Any suggestions?Also, what type of alcohol should I be using? I tried the 70% iso, but it doesn't really clean that well. I mean, after a while, it does the job, but it doesn't really just cut right through it. Also, what type? Do I need "lab quality" $9, 000, 000.00 per oz, or can I just get some 99% iso from a beauty store for $8 bucks, and call it good?As always, thanks.

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2020, 05:15:57 am
content: The 5 for $1 bent metal acid brushes always shed hairs, it's the nature of the ferrule. If you want to spend slightly more, you can get wood or nylon handled brushes (a little like tooth brushes) with natural or synthetic hairs. Techspray, Chemtronics, Titan, Brush Research, etc.

author: DW1961
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2020, 05:22:17 am
content: Quote from: helius on August 29, 2020, 05:15:57 amCan I just modify a normal nylon bristle toothbrush?

author: Vgkid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2020, 05:57:21 am
content: I bought a bunch of cheap tooth brushes. I use 3-4 for different levels of clean.

author: westfw
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2020, 06:16:24 am
content: Nylon shouldn't be affected by most common solvents, but I'm not sure what the body of a toothbrush is made of, so it could be more soluble.

author: Quarlo Klobrigney
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2020, 07:22:33 am
content: Perhaps the Fuller Brush man hasn't hit your neighborhood yet. It's just a matter of time.What I use an older (80's) fiberglass in aluminum tube type paid for by the taxpayer. One side stiff, the other more flexible. It looks just like this one.This one is horse hair:https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/mg-chemicals/856/473-1049-ND/949491An more cheaperer:https://www.ebay.com/itm/MG-Chemicals-856-Double-Ended-Technical-Cleaning-Brush-4-1-2-Plated-Steel-Handle-/252276397446I guess someone complained of it scratching and went to horse hair. I've had mine for decades and it works a treat.I also use this stuffhttps://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/crc-brakleen-brake-parts-cleaner-19-wt.-oz.-05089/7060459-pfor stubborn flux. Not safe for plastic. I saw recently that Glasslinger was recommending it too, I don't know what that would add to my credibility, but it works. It's much more aggressive than what I used to use, FluxOff ES1035B which has a brush attached, worked but left a white residue and has become too expensive for the hobbyist in my opinion. I worked for a multi-billion dollar company so a few cases was just fine by me.

author: TimNJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2020, 11:42:49 am
content: The MG Chemicals brush changed my life.

author: DW1961
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2020, 05:34:43 pm
content: Quote from: westfw on August 29, 2020, 06:16:24 amOh, the body of a modern toothbrush is made of indestructible prototanium-copolymere with a half life of 20 million years. Should be fine.

author: DW1961
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2020, 05:37:05 pm
content: So you guys haven't had the MG chem acid brush shed hairs?Also, what about iso alcohol? What do you use?

author: Quarlo Klobrigney
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2020, 05:45:56 pm
content: I only have the fiberglass version. You can always return it as crapit it fails within the 30 days or so...I'll send you a photo of mine if I can find the surface of the workbench.Quote from: DW1961 onTodayat 02:37:05

author: phil from seattle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2020, 08:21:55 pm
content: Since our dentist gives everyone in my family a brush at every cleaning and we all use sonicare, I have piles of them. And they do last forever. Beats paying for crappy brushes.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2020, 08:49:11 pm
content: Quote from: DW1961 on August 29, 2020, 05:37:05 pm99.9% isopropyl alcohol

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2020, 08:50:42 pm
content: Sometimes toothbrush does not cut it, you need something stiffer.

author: DW1961
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2020, 11:38:36 pm
content: Quote from: Bud on August 29, 2020, 08:50:42 pmWhat I told my girlfriend.

author: HwAoRrDk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2020, 12:19:33 am
content: A tip I've seen to stop cheap brushes shedding hairs is to run a line of super glue across the root of the bristles on both sides.Obviously, not going to work if you're immersing the brush, though.

author: Vovk_Z
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2020, 01:28:36 am
content: Quote from: Bud on August 29, 2020, 08:49:11 pmMoisture of isoprop. alcohol plus clean gasoline (not such for the cars).

author: TimNJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2020, 01:30:38 am
content: No shed hairs on the MG chemical brush. It also keeps its shape very well, whereas the generic acid brushes tend to deform a little with use.

author: TimNJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2020, 01:33:28 am
content: ^talking about the horse hair version.

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2020, 07:33:52 pm
content: By some art brushes for painting. I use boar hair paint brushes. Entire set for under 10 dollars. I've seen the odd hair fall out once or thrice per brush, under the microscope, but nothing I'd call shedding. Jerry Q brand, if you care.Probably the best $10 I spent for soldering/PCB work. I end up using a few of these brushes in the garage shop, too. Awesome.The ferrules often work loose on the handle end. But that is easy to fix when it happens, if you're anything less than useless.;;;Since they're mass produced, it's apparently cheaper to just crimp the ferrules to the end of the wood handle, which makes them loose. Just pull the handle out and taper it for a proper friction fit to the ferrule.

author: DW1961
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2020, 10:54:32 pm
content: Quote from: KL27x on August 30, 2020, 07:33:52 pmGood idea. I'll try that.