How to use a bonkote flux pen? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: sn4k3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2017, 08:48:25 pm
content: I have buy some bonkote pens from aliexpress at +/- 5 EUR each, don't know if they are original or not, article say yes but we know how things are...The thing is i don't know if i use it properly.First pen i fill it with flux and leave the plastic tube inside, after some time it start to leak from the head screw so i use some tape to prevent the leakage, still it also leak from the tip brush so i had to place it in a vertical position heads up.After some time pen was covered in sticky flux and after flux gone i send it to trash.Second pen i fill with flux but this time i removed the tube from inside, no leakage but its hard for flux to flow, i have to push it multiple times, even heads down all the time.What are the correct way to use this pens?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 10, 2017, 09:21:59 pm
content: All these cheap bonpen are fake and do not work nearly as well as original ones. You will get exactly the same crap regardless if you pay EUR 2 or EUR 5. Genuine bonpen usually cost around EUR 15-20/piece. An they come in a pack of 5, unless seller wants to split it, and therefore come without manual if sold separate. Strange decision considering how much they cost. In USA you can buy Hakko 888D for a pack of bonpen.Cheapest genuine I've seenhttps://www.ersa-shop.com/bonkote-fluxpen-flussmittelstift-nylonpinsel-unbef%C3%BCllt-p-281.html?osCsid=teucdom0uhn76ke6aq9vs0u8s1Check manual on the attached photo. BTW looks like it is written on Japanese sort of Chinglish, it's indeed genuine and has Japanese on the opposite side.

author: sn4k3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2017, 11:00:19 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on October 10, 2017, 09:21:59 pmI know about ERSA selling them, i will get some when i order something from them again.Thank you for the manual, now i know my first attempt was correctHave you a good experience with this pens?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 11, 2017, 12:33:15 am
content: Quote from: sn4k3 on October 10, 2017, 11:00:19 pmThat is not by Ersa, even though website calling itself like this. This company has a habit doing this.https://www.braeunlich-gmbh.com/Yes bonpen is good although expensive. The most stupid thing which happens to them when you touch still hot pad/solder joint and damage the brush. I think I'm running through sixth bonpen. It is good to order a spare brush if you solder a lot, still cost more than half of the full bonpen. I had a luck to get 5 bonpens when guy in UK closed his repair shop and sold leftovers on ebay, So I got 5 pack for GBP 25 IIRC.

author: sn4k3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2017, 01:37:02 am
content: Quote from: wraper on October 11, 2017, 12:33:15 amFor the price they should perform well at hot pads...The price is very high for such product IMO

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2017, 02:11:14 am
content: Quote from: sn4k3 on October 11, 2017, 01:37:02 amBon-Kote's stuff isn't cheap, but it works well (as mentioned, Bon-Kote only sells them in 5 packs; singles are specific to vendors, and they're highly cloned).If you want to be able to apply flux immediately after taking the iron's tip off the pad (still hot enough to melt the nylon bristles), use a needle bottle instead (or a syringe).They happen to be cheaper too.Another inexpensive method, is to use an inexpensive natural bristle artists brush and dip it into a thimble sized container (reduces waste).Some optional methods vs. a Bon-PenNeedle BottlePen Tip BottleBrush BottleBrush Bottle, w/ brush fixed to cap (i.e. nail polish bottle)

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2017, 09:53:41 pm
content: I have had great success with 5 or 10cc syringe, with large gauge plastic needle with a bit of cotton stuffed into the end. (Actually I have just one size of small gauge plastic tips, and I cut them at a slight angle to make a big opening.) Make sure you use the luer lock syringes, so the tips screw on. The cotton doesn't make a "brush," it prevents the flux from squirting out uncontrollably... which will happen because flux is sticky and the syringe will not move perfectly smoothly.When I first use it for the day, the tip will be hard/dry, particularly if I neglected to put it back in the point-down stand. I just squeeze out a little flux (this is why you want luer lock; you can build a lot of pressure if/when needed) and then touch the tip to something (I have a little board for this) to spread out the flux over the entire tip to get it wet, so it works (flux wicks/spreads/flows over the entire tip, not just exit and beat out of one tiny point; and the hard deposits quickly dissolve).I usually just throw them out after one use, but you can refill a syringe with rosin flux maybe 3 times before the seal starts to stick to the side of the syringe and go a little wonky. 100 pack of syringes and plastic tips is peanuts.This syringe can apply a lot thicker of a bead/pool of flux, when desirable. You can also squirt out small amounts into a container or over a little board, if you want to apply it with a stick or a brush.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2017, 10:08:49 pm
content: Plastic vs. stainless steel tips won't matter for liquid flux, but you've a clear point regarding solder paste or paste flux.I definitely like the idea of just buying one size of plastic tip, and changing diameter with a razor blade of some sort.

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2017, 10:13:12 pm
content: I know peeps llke to use the long steel needles on flux bottles. But when they clog, they take longer to unclog. And if you use too much pressure, the flux just squirts and/or the bead falls off. The cotton plug is what makes it work; I suppose it would work in a short, large gauge steel needle, too.Larger area plugged with cotton works nicely. I cut at an angle, and the edge of the plastic acts like a fountain pen, sort of. It easily floods IC pads for drag soldering, where a brush spreads out the flux in a larger area and thinner layer.Plastic tips are also quite a bit cheaper in bulk. When they eventually wear out just toss 'em. (Removing the tip after it has dried rosin in the threads is a bit hard on the plastic; needle nose pliers recommended). But they won't clog like a long steel needle.