Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Porama6400
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 03:01:31 am
content: I got AMTECH flux from the local storeI suspect that it is a counterfeit oneIt has typo "reproductine" and the word "Made in USA" seem to be written with plain fontI'm not sure as I can not find the matching image on GoogleCould anyone help me confirm that is this a counterfeit one or not?

author: Wirehead
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 05:55:20 am
content: If you didn't buy it from Amtech - it's fake...

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 06:05:49 am
content: I have a real amtech here : no shiny sticker on it. the whole sticker is greenish, not white.you really have a counterfeit one...like Louis says : "rebranded vaseline" ...

author: llkiwi2006
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 06:07:18 am
content: I find it quite funny how they try to pass it off as "Made in USA" but then puts writing in chinese right next to it.

author: Augustus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 07:41:15 am
content: It's as fake as fake can be. The genuine ones also have a production and expiration date printed on the label. And no fancy shiny holographic stickers. Bin it, you never know what nasty chemicals they put in. Or if they sold you pure vaseline as flux as it once happened to me on Banggood

author: Porama6400
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 09:52:04 am
content: Quote from: llkiwi2006 on April 09, 2018, 06:07:18 amThat's the part that I get really confused

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 10:02:31 am
content: No chance to be genuine.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 10:06:24 am
content: It's fake, but it's flux, unless you are in industry where you need to strictly control your process it will be just fine.I've always found this chinese "amtech" stuff to be pretty good, but of course there's no assurance that one batch is the same as the next... but flux is not exactly rocket science.I used to import, relabel so nobody would say "it's fake", and sell it locally in NZ no complaints ever, and of course used it myself. I stopped because I'm a goody-two-shoes and we had some hazardous substances law come in and I couldn't be bothered working out what might be required (not like I'd ever be able to get legit documentation for it anyway).

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 10:16:41 am
content: Quote from: sleemanj on April 09, 2018, 10:06:24 amI don't disagree with you that it should be completely fine, but importing a fake product, purposely re-labelling it to appear genuine (knowing that someone might spot the fake), isn't that breaking all kinds of fair trading laws or being fraudulent? At the very least some moral values?I mean if I purchased a product with a fake label, it's really my fault for not doing my homework well enough to spot the difference. But if there is no real way to tell between the fake and the real deal and you're passing it off as genuine, how is that fair?

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 10:28:40 am
content: DIY soldering flux, get an IPA and mix with violin's rosin as its already cleaned and filtered, all of these ingredient are cheap and easily sourced. Works like charm & once used at soldering board, easily cleaned too.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 10:38:07 am
content: Quote from: BravoV on April 09, 2018, 10:28:40 amFWIW such flux has no chance even against counterfeit tacky flux.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 10:50:06 am
content: Quote from: wraper on April 09, 2018, 10:38:07 amI guess the "dodgy" flux that probably part of it contained dissolved/cooked flour,rice or corn powder for making it jelly like or gelatinous form, is good for your pcb and components.Yep, local here there are such product sold, and labelled Amtech too, cost approx. one dollar or even less for one big fully filled tube.Sorry, not for me.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 11:39:18 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on April 09, 2018, 10:16:41 amYou misunderstand. I relabelled it to be simply "Electronics Soldering Flux", not branded.Indeed I still have the label file...

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 11:42:52 am
content: Quote from: sleemanj on April 09, 2018, 11:39:18 amMy mistake.

author: Porama6400
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 12:08:14 pm
content: Quote from: kripton2035 on April 09, 2018, 06:05:49 amYou mean Louis Rossman?

author: Augustus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 12:33:54 pm
content: It's not a joke, I'm the proud owner of a 100g jar so called "Amtech RMA-223-UV" Flux which really is nothing more than pure vaseline. If you want something to benotsoldered, this is the thing. It's basically a release agent for solder (if that's the right word in English), it prevents molten solder from wetting your components or the pcb. Bought it from Banggood just out of curiosity, I knew it would be a fake. The reviews on their website were excellentedit: Pics added. They weren't even lying about the excellent anti wetting capabilities of their flux

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 02:26:59 pm
content: Quote from: Porama6400 on April 09, 2018, 12:08:14 pmyes !

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 02:29:42 pm
content: the real amtech stickers look like this one :

author: hermit
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 03:59:28 pm
content: I got a free jar of flux on sleazebay. The 150g container weighed in at 99g including lid (container lid was 7g all by it's self). He was redistributing various stuff from China and someone had probably already bought and re-labeled it prior to him getting it. I doubt he ever checked. So basically it was a 100g container that was still short He didn't dispute the resolution and didn't bother paying for return shipping.

author: Elasia
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 04:51:49 pm
content: Just out of curiosityWhere do most folk here source their legitimate AMTECH Solder Flux NC-559-V2-TF from? So much fake crap out there for this stuff

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 05:05:48 pm
content: Quote from: Elasia on April 09, 2018, 04:51:49 pmLouis Rossmann claims to have genuine ones, and explains why :https://store.rossmanngroup.com/index.php/amtech-nc-559-v2-30-cc-16160.html

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 06:42:26 pm
content: I'm pretty sure I used to get Amtech flux from HowardElectronics.com in the US. They don't list it any longer.I would buy MG Chemical flux from DigiKey.com.https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/mg-chemicals/8341-10ML/473-1117-ND/2233037

author: Augustus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 07:04:52 pm
content: Fellow Europeans may get it from ersa-shop.com, they sell only genuine stuff, guaranteed.https://www.ersa-shop.com/amtech-559asmuv-rework-flussmittel-clean-100g-p-12622.htmlhttps://www.ersa-shop.com/amtech-223tpf-rework-flussmittel-halogenhaltig-100g-p-12623.htmlJust make sure to ask them about the manufacturing date, because, to be honest, I doubt they sell much of this stuff

author: sstepane
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 07:05:24 pm
content: Hi,What would you say about this AMTECH flux? -https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=558656912479Somehow it has particular S/N and a dedicated site for checking S/N. Might that be some kind of China only Amtech flux? I mean - patented or allowed to be produced and sold in China only, but an original flux?Why so many hassle with S/N and stuff if not?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 07:14:53 pm
content: Quote from: sstepane on April 09, 2018, 07:05:24 pmPackage looks similar to original but sticker certainly not. If you think that you can buy genuine Amtech from China for less than in US or EU, you delude yourself. And AFAIK Amtech do not make anything in China as sticker says. Also why would amtech put jiyangsolder website on the stickerQuoteGenuine Amtech do not have serial number, LOT number only.Halogen Soldering fluxNo Halogen, LOL

author: sstepane
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 07:23:58 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on April 09, 2018, 07:14:53 pmThat's why I'm asking if that is possible. I'm not so sure that it is something out of the line, since there are many products you can buy in China for half the price and not only because it is produced there, but also because it's a different market, for some products it is huge and very competitive and as such might be managed differently for pricing and distribution. No other Amtech counterfeit producer is getting into hassle with serial-numbering their low-cost product and managing its genuity by web-site and that's why I wonder, if it something of reasonable quality compared to the original.

author: Porama6400
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 07:27:59 pm
content: probably just another chinese ripoff

author: Nusa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 07:58:02 pm
content: Quote from: sstepane on April 09, 2018, 07:05:24 pmThey're not even pretending to be the same Amtech. As for how good they are, who knows?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 09:57:54 pm
content: Quote from: sstepane on April 09, 2018, 07:23:58 pmSerial number may be the same on multiple items as it often happens with counterfeits. Also serializing may make some clueless idiots to think it's genuine stuff and costs virtually nothing. The only stuff you can buy in china for less is something with no brand or Chinese brand. You won't get 1st world stuff for less. Some components may be an exception but market is so ridden with counterfeits that it's better to stay away as well.

author: jmelson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 10:19:38 pm
content: Quote from: kripton2035 on April 09, 2018, 05:05:48 pm

author: gamalot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 10:43:30 pm
content: https://www.microsoldering.com/amtech-nc-559-flux-fake-versus-real/

author: Porama6400
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2018, 02:37:46 am
content: Quote from: jmelson on April 09, 2018, 10:19:38 pmMouser and Digikey both don't have Amtech Flux

author: Elasia
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2018, 02:55:57 am
content: i get mine offhttps://amtechdirect.com/