Kimwipe alternative? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: FireHazard
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2023, 11:29:43 pm
content: I'm down in the depths of the world in New Zealand, and Kimwipes are expensive and currently have a massive lead time.Use case is for cleaning up boards pre/post soldering, flux cleanup with IPA etc.Is there an alternative that I may be able to source / repurpose from another source? I've heard suggestions that coffee filters might work? Or a reusable or cheap lint free cleaning cloths?Any suggestions most appreciated.

author: thermistor-guy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2023, 12:34:17 am
content: Quote from: FireHazard on August 03, 2023, 11:29:43 pmAmazon AU has them, AUD 8.65 EA in stock:https://www.amazon.com.au/Kimberly-Clark-Kimtech-Kimwipes-Delicate-Disposable/dp/B008UB6IKCTo ship them to NZ, I suggest a freight-forwarder like Aramex Shop and Ship, who charges by weight only:https://www.shopandship.com/Using its free account type, shipping from AU to NZ is NZD 23 for 1 kg. The Kimwipes above are 160 g per box.I've used Shop&Ship to get some items from Amazon US.Last time I shopped for Kimwipes, many years ago, there were hard to get, too. Ended up placing alarge order with a camera store in rural NSW.So that's another idea - see if any of your local camera stores are selling them.

author: Weston
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2023, 12:41:42 am
content: A while back someone recommended nail wipe pads to me. Small pads for removing nail polish?I'm not sure if they have an exact name, or just a list of keywords. But here is an (american) amazon listing for reference:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TBJLKQT/?th=1I assume you should be able to find something similar in NZ.I have found them a lot better for removing flux than Kimwipes. A lot more durable. They absorb better and don't fall apart with the smallest about of scrubbing.

author: thermistor-guy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2023, 12:46:35 am
content: Quote from: Weston on August 04, 2023, 12:41:42 amAgreed, Kimwipes are not for scrubbing.My most common use at the moment is cleaning off old thermal paste, on CPUs and heatsinks.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2023, 01:08:22 am
content: I just ordered a pack of “cleanroom wipes” from aliexpress. Any opinions/predictions on whether they should be good for PCB cleaning?

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2023, 01:27:57 am
content: Quote from: FireHazard on August 03, 2023, 11:29:43 pmI would suggest looking for "dry medical wipes". They should be available conveniently and inexpensively from many sources.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2023, 01:36:11 am
content: Gun cleaning patches (different sizes available).

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2023, 03:12:52 am
content: You can scrub or wipe over Kimwipes a little with your flux brush to pickup residue. Can also use or use with foam swabs.

author: SmallCog
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2023, 03:26:56 am
content: Here in Australia I buy them from Winc (stationary supplier, think they're called Staples elsewhere) - not sure if I get a special price but they're cheaper than AmazonGoogle seems to indicate that Winc are called NXP in NZ and they're showing that they have them in stockWinc sells them individually but NXP appears to only list carton quantities... Hopefully you get through enough of them to be worthwhile buying a cartonhttps://www.nxp.nz/main-catalogue-productdetail/kimtech-kimwipes-delicate-task-wipers-1-ply-34120-white-280-sheets-30-boxes/18821277?feature=search&feature_ident=ident%3Akimtech%7Cmatch_mode%3Amatchall%7Cposition%3A1

author: donlisms
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2023, 03:40:09 am
content: Somebody mentioned clean room wipes, and I second the notion. I got something called "clean room wipes" from Amazon; I can't say that in my country they were any cheaper than KimWipes, but they're pretty okay. I trust them to not have little rocks and metal and chunks of wood or who knows what in them; they seem pretty pure and soft. They're a lot thicker than KimWipes. The goal, as far as I'm concerned, is they can clean things without scratching them up the way paper towels and facial tissues and so on can do.Maybe that will open up some options for you.The idea of coffee filters terrifies me -- they're made for filtering, cheaply, rather than cleaning stuff. Scares me.

author: TimNJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2023, 05:25:51 am
content: I like Kimwipes, but at work we just use…paper towels. Not the soft (often patterened) kitchen type but the more “papery” type that comes on a big commercial sized roll. I haven’t had any issues with it leaving fibers behind. I use them just like Kimwipes. (Blot through the paper with an “acid brush” and some IPA. Does the trick.)

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2023, 05:39:48 am
content: you can bake it and scrape most of it off with a sharp stick

author: FireHazard
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2023, 11:04:25 pm
content: Quote from: Weston on August 04, 2023, 12:41:42 amHehehe, my wife already has these ... I've taken a few for testing, they seem ideal ! Thank you.

author: FireHazard
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2023, 11:08:51 pm
content: Quote from: TimNJ on August 04, 2023, 05:25:51 amThe often green coloured stuff on a largish roll?

author: FireHazard
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2023, 11:10:56 pm
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on August 04, 2023, 05:39:48 amI have those 'orange wood' sticks that are used in nail salons, those are very handy...but I still have the need to wipe up/off residues.I have some great ideas and alternatives from this thread! Thank you.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2023, 11:19:58 pm
content: well the other thing too is the cleaning brush, but you are trading paper for alcohol. it also absorbs flux that you can clean off on a alcohol rag or whatever. not super clean but you can get most of it off too.Now if you distill your solvent to reclaim it, the transfer cleaning method has viability (and its kind of done, they do vapor phase cleaning).But honestly IMO alcohol is not that good, I buy the flux cleaner cans and pay for it dearly. that is to volitile to contain and reuse without some kind of ridiculous setup, for cleaning boards manually, you would need the whole machine.YOu are always trading something for time here with the clean up.haha, I also imagine some machine for rinsing kim wipes from flux with a alcohol flush that is redistilled, also crazy.

author: EPAIII
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2023, 07:38:41 am
content: The basic thing about Kimwipes, now also called Kimtech, is they are/were supposed to be lint free. Ordinary facial tissue, bath tissue, and paper towels will leave some or a lot of lint. That's it. Nothing magic beyond that. And they are just one brand of lint free wipes. Perhaps the best known brand and probably the most expensive, but there are others.Now, you need to ask yourself if your cleaning task really needs a lint free wipe. Often a quick air blast will do the same thing. If you do not really need lint free wipes, then buy paper towels or shop towels for much less. Frankly, what's a spec or two of lint on a PC board going to do? I use a small brush (tooth brush) and some 91% isopropyl alcohol to scrub them and then a final rinse with the alcohol and let them drip/air dry.If you really need lint free, then there are many brands:https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=Kim+wipe+substituteI have bought and used other brands and found them much the same. But usually less expensive. And often larger in size.https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&sca_esv=554015010&sxsrf=AB5stBiFmWavDh6YIA_eu6QJ6101kpr3AA:1691220803605&q=Lint+free+paper+towels&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiH9fC5gMWAAxXVlWoFHeJfDlYQ1QJ6BAgkEAE&biw=1277&bih=652&dpr=1.3#ip=1Note: In a quick internet search I saw hundreds of returns for "Kimwipes" and "Kimtrech". That tells me that Kimberly Clark is spending a ton of dollars on advertising and that alone says the price is going to be highly inflated. Can you say RIP OFF?