Aliexpress flux recommendations?  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: peps1
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2023, 09:51:29 pm
content: Got a bunch of soldering work coming up and looking for a recommendation for a cheap flux but seems Ali is full of fake Amtech, been using Kester for years, but want to look at some cheaper options.Found an excellent video by SDG Electronics that reinforced my belief that in this day and age, it's harder to find a bad flux than a good one, but thought I would ask here if anyone has recommendations while I'm ordering a bunch of stuff from Aliexpress as most the links on the video are dead now since the decline of Banggood.https://youtu.be/iKDAmY9Rdag

author: xavier60
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2023, 11:47:38 pm
content: I have hunted online trying to find reasonably priced flux that wasn't fake.Eventually found a very good flux at our local Jaycar store.It's by the company that markets Deoxit products.https://caig.com/product/caig-rosin-flux-rsf-r80-2/#

author: liaifat85
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2023, 01:01:57 am
content: This one has good reviews I can see:https://www.aliexpress.com/i/3256801899011459.html

author: agehall
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2023, 06:05:06 am
content: I honestly don’t see the value in paying less for no-name Aliexpress flux than getting AmTech (or other name brand). Sure, you might pay a bit less, but if you value your time and the end result at all, why take the risk?You may of course get something useful, but you may also receive crap. With name brands, you know what you get and you get the properties you paid for.

author: Faranight
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 09, 2023, 07:21:32 am
content: I tested the Green ReLife RL-422-IM flux from that video in the first post, and it sure smokes a lot when doing hot air soldering with it.The Hanwuyou NC-559-ASM type flux from aliexpress not so much.I also have the Yellow NT advanced soldering paste 150g (#1 on the video), but I haven't tested it yet.

author: EPAIII
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2023, 01:19:51 pm
content: WHY does anybody expect buying anything from Aliexpress to be a good idea.There is one and only one reason for buying from them - CHEAP!

author: peps1
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2023, 02:02:20 pm
content: Quote from: EPAIII on July 09, 2023, 01:19:51 pmCan only speak personally here, but:Safe purchasing platform for buying directly from manufacturers cutting out regional distributors, with the benefit of payment protection and one of the largest shipping lines in the world offering 15-day shipping that accepts all major forms of payment processing and automated taxation for import and getting to support the CCP.Quote from: EPAIII on July 09, 2023, 01:19:51 pmNot sure if you're implying that is a bad thing, or if I'm just picking up on a non-existing tone of Western exceptionalism based on seeing the flag next to your username.

author: peps1
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2023, 02:07:26 pm
content: Quote from: agehall on July 09, 2023, 06:05:06 amI think you're missing the point of my question, there are such things as Chines name brands.Watching that video will show there is really not a huge difference in quality among the fluxes tested in that video, but there is a huge difference in price.Wanting to buy a quality product from China is not an oxymoron.

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2023, 04:09:25 pm
content: Don't know why you need to get fakes from AliexpressTME.eu has fluxes at reasonable prices :https://www.tme.eu/ro/en/katalog/fluxes_100484/?s_field=niski_prog&s_order=asc&limit=20&currency=EUR&products_with_stock=1&page=1TK-50 from the SDG Video,2 euro for 50ml :https://www.tme.eu/ro/en/details/flux-tk_50/fluxes/ag-termopasty/art-agt-044/3.5 euro for 100 ml (rosin based, no-clean) :https://www.tme.eu/ro/en/details/flux-tk_100/fluxes/ag-termopasty/art-agt-045/3.7 euro for 100ml RF800 (different formula, less than 4% rosin, but still no-clean) :https://www.tme.eu/ro/en/details/rf800_100/fluxes/ag-termopasty/art-agt-109/14 euro for 500 ml :https://www.tme.eu/ro/en/details/flux-tk_500/fluxes/ag-termopasty/art-agt-075/-5.75 euro for the gel syringe :https://www.tme.eu/ro/en/details/topnik-zel_10/fluxes/ag-termopasty/art-agt-179/9 euro for 200 ml spray RMA flux :https://www.tme.eu/ro/en/details/10_200/fluxes/kontakt-chemie/74509-003/-and another option, 3.5 euro for 20g flux paste :https://www.tme.eu/ro/en/details/wel.lf25/fluxes/weller/t0054002699/You can get 500g of rosin for 5 euro :https://www.tme.eu/ro/en/details/kalafonia-500/fluxes/ag-termopasty/art-agt-094/Simple formula for flux (from the MSDS of that TK liquid flux) :20-25% rosin<80 % isopropyl alcohol as pure as possible (ex 99.5%+)<3% benzoic acid ex 5$ for 12 ounces herehttps://glycerinsupplier.com/products/benzoic-acid-uspor $41 for 5 pounds at wallmart :https://www.walmart.com/ip/Benzoic-Acid-5-Pound-USP-Food-and-Pharmaceutical-Grade-Highest-Purity/329419199or other places<3% adipic acid ex 9$ for a 8 ounce baghttps://www.amazon.com/ADIPIC-Ounce-Substitute-Citric-tartaric-Acid-Bulk/dp/B08RF3L2DH/The last two are optional.

author: peps1
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2023, 04:20:33 pm
content: Quote from: mariush on July 09, 2023, 04:09:25 pmFirst, thank you very much for all those links, very much appreciated.Just to be clear was not looking for recommendations of what fakes to get, but rather Chines brand name flux.

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2023, 04:55:01 pm
content: Quote from: peps1 on July 09, 2023, 02:07:26 pmDefinitely not, but buying good quality from Aliexpress is for most products. Just like you wouldn't typically buy components off eBay or Amazon either if you want to avoid counterfeit parts and want proper ESD-safe procedures.

author: slavoy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2023, 05:11:51 pm
content: I will never buy flux and solder from AliExpress. There is no certainty about their composition and parameters, and no lab in Europe has verified them. I won't risk my health and the added difficulty during repairs, where these are items that are purchased infrequently and last for a long time. No price difference would justify buying chinese soldering chemicals (for me).

author: peps1
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2023, 06:28:35 pm
content: Quote from: alm on July 09, 2023, 04:55:01 pmOh, that is a totally fair and valid point, and would never say to someone to go buy a tube of fake Amtech on there and save a few quid. But, I'm surprised with the xenophobic attitudes of people on here regards the Chinese, think a few days in Shenzhen would reeducate a few people here.

author: SmallCog
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2023, 10:14:35 pm
content: I use and quite like a flux called ZD-170A quick google shows it as being available on aliexpress and ebayI pay approximately 3.7 Euros for a 100g jar

author: xavier60
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2023, 10:20:46 pm
content: Quote from: SmallCog on July 09, 2023, 10:14:35 pmWagner also stocks it,https://www.wagneronline.com.au/soldering-paste-flux/soldering/tools-test/zd170-11147/6643/pd/

author: xavier60
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2023, 10:31:32 pm
content: I can't find the specs for ZD-170. Someone needs to do a leakage test on it, in case it stays active after heating.

author: 5U4GB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2023, 12:17:56 pm
content: Quote from: liaifat85 on July 09, 2023, 01:01:57 amIt has positive reviews, but zero that are actually useful, at least until I stopped scrolling. They're all just some variant of "it arrived" or "nice product but I haven't used it yet".I ran into something similar a few months back when I bought an electronic module that had almost all positive reviews. When I characterised its performance while wishing I'd paid a bit more for a scope that did Bode plots, I found that while it worked as advertised the insertion loss, which wasn't advertised, made it essentially unusable. Absolutely none of the positive reviews mentioned this particular point.

author: SmallCog
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2023, 01:59:18 am
content: Quote from: xavier60 on July 09, 2023, 10:20:46 pmYeah saw that, but I suspect they're buying it from the same place I am ;-)

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2023, 11:21:11 am
content: Quote from: peps1 on July 06, 2023, 09:51:29 pmHow much is your time worth?! I went down the rabbit hole of researching fluxes, trying to make my own, etc., but in the end it was a huge waste of time when you can get a 10g syringe of name-brand flux for $10-20 that will last you for years.Not to mention the potential consequences of a lousy flux damaging your board (because it's more aggressive than labeled, so you don't clean it as well as was needed, resulting in corrosion down the line).Surely you occasionally order parts from a major distributor like Digi-Key, Mouser, or Farnell. You can get various name-brand fluxes there, and you'll be guaranteed that they're genuine, fresh, and stored and shipped properly.