cleaning the gunk of circuits including  the flux after soldering - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: M0BSW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2013, 07:53:30 pm
content: HiCleaning the gunk of circuits including the flux after soldering is it ok to use nail polish remover it's alcohol based, thought I'd check before using , if this is no good what would any of you reccomend , Thanks in advance.Paul

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2013, 08:01:23 pm
content: 95%+ pure isopropanol.Readily available online and at some chemists.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 24, 2013, 08:06:15 pm
content: In the past I used ("ISOPROPANOL IPA" Isopropyl Alcohol) from a local chemist in Jersey, however some new law came-in, and stopped my supply... but can be purchase in the UK, e.g. Amazon, and possibly other suppliers.http://www.amazon.co.uk/ISOPROPANOL-Isopropyl-Alcohol-Courier-Shipping/dp/B003D8QFQO

author: M0BSW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2013, 08:14:34 pm
content: Thank you very helpful, before the internet I'm going to try our local chemist.Paul

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2013, 08:22:23 pm
content: It's also used for solve the rosin when working the wood, so you can find in wood-specialized shop.You can also use normal pink alcool. It's cheaper, but work ok.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2013, 08:30:57 pm
content: You can get 91% IPA at the corner drug store in the states. Just remember, the most important part of the cleaning is the post scrub rinse. It always feels like a waste, but you will end up with a film over the whole board if you don't rinse enough.I'd stay away from nail polish remover even if it is alcohol based. They probably have scents and dyes and all kinds of other stuff you probably don't want on your board.

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2013, 08:38:07 pm
content: Quote from: Smokey on April 24, 2013, 08:30:57 pmAgreed. I'm a propan-2-ol snob though, 99% or else!

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2013, 08:41:09 pm
content: I use Meths, works fine and if its very greasy I use lighter petrol ( benzine).

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2013, 08:41:18 pm
content: Quote from: ddavidebor on April 24, 2013, 08:22:23 pmPink alcohol? I'm not sure that's "normal"...I just take a little inventory of the materials on the board and use the harshest solvent I have that's not too harsh for the weakest plastic. If I have a lot of surface mount parts (so a metric shitload of flux), I'll often do just the SMDs first, rinse with acetone (a quick splash gets all the flux off, and none of the basic SMD parts seem sensitive to it). Then I do the few more sensitive items and rinse that with IPA.

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2013, 08:44:18 pm
content: Acetone... You exagerate!Pink alcool is the one you found in every supermarket, the one for clean stuff...

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2013, 08:45:32 pm
content: Oh, acetone dissolve some mark on resistor...

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2013, 08:47:43 pm
content: Quote from: ddavidebor on April 24, 2013, 08:44:18 pmNope! I know it's quite harsh, and I wouldn't recommend anyone use it without knowing what's on the board, but I've found that SMD chip components and the hard plastic semiconductors are quite resilient to it. I wouldn't soak the board, but a quick splash doesn't harm anything, and I've done it loads of times with good results. I do keep it well away from "open" items like trimmers and soft plastic like connectors.QuoteI've never seen that. Is it actually dyed pink?? All the alcohol I see is clear.Quote from: ddavidebor on April 24, 2013, 08:45:32 pmNot in my experience. TBH, I wouldn't care if it did. I can hardly read them at that size anyway...

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2013, 08:53:09 pm
content: Quote from: ddavidebor on April 24, 2013, 08:44:18 pmMethylated spirits?

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2013, 08:58:28 pm
content: Yes, denaturated alcool!That was the name in english!

author: eliocor
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 24, 2013, 09:00:31 pm
content: For "Pink alcohol" he meansdenaturated alcohol.Here in Italy (as for ddavidebor) it is very difficult to find pure ethanol because its trade is regulated by laws.Even IPA is by default denaturated (and difficult to get)! If you are looking for pure IPA (99%) you have to buy it from specialized distributors.Denaturated alcohol is sold in almost any supermarket.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2013, 09:00:45 pm
content: I've never seen denatured alcohol/methylated spirits in a supermarket around here, though they always have isopropyl alcohol. The hardware stores probably carry it, though.

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2013, 09:41:31 pm
content: Meths is sold in hardware stores for cleaning paintbrushes. Pretty easy to come by.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2013, 08:36:53 am
content: You need to be careful with acetone as it will attack the pcb substrate and soften it, blister any varnish paint etc.I have dunked the metal parts of large switches in gunwash or cellulose thinners though it is a very good degreaser.

author: DenzilPenberthy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2013, 08:52:08 am
content: I use the stuff in an aerosol can, it's very convenient and comes with a little brush for gentle scrubbing.http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/solder-flux-removers-cleaners/0283252/

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2013, 10:50:48 am
content: The other solution is to use a "no clean" solder to start with. It's a lot easier than using other chemicals to clean afterwards. We use "Multicore Crystal Flux 511" at work.

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2013, 10:59:22 am
content: Or water-based flux, so you only need water to wash the board (in theory, in practise sometimes don'twork)

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2013, 12:00:53 pm
content: Quote from: 8086 on April 24, 2013, 09:41:31 pmNope, that's turps (turpentine) for cleaning paintbrushes.Meths is sold as a cleaning solvent and as a fuel source for some portable lamps/stoves.Meths will work for cleaning pcbs but (depending on what additive they have used to stop you drinking it) it can leave a white film on your pcb.If iso is expensive you can do a pre-scrub and rinse in meths then a post rince in iso.That way your iso will last longer.

author: M0BSW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2013, 03:34:34 pm
content: Fantastic replies thank you all, just tryed a bit of meths, seems ok

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2013, 03:38:45 pm
content: Meths in the UK is mostly ethyl alcohol with some methyl alcohol added it is the methyl that is toxic the purple dye is often gentian violet or methyl violet.

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2013, 04:43:22 pm
content: Quote from: Psi on April 25, 2013, 12:00:53 pmMeths is used for cleaning paintbrushes too.But IPA is better for PCBs, as you say. It can be filtered and re-used a few times to save a bit of money if that's an issue.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2013, 05:11:36 pm
content: It used to be possible to get "washing alcohol" when I lived in Cambridge I had a friend who worked in the Cavendish laboratory, he would analyse each delivery of the alcohol that was used to wash the glassware to see if it was pure ethyl or was methyl or contained methyl alcohol. if it was pure ethyl he would make gin or vodka out of some of it.

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2013, 09:07:21 am
content: I use this stuffhttp://www.crcindustries.com.au/co-contact-cleaner1Seems to do the job quite good, kinda expensive for what it does though. IPA + a toothbrush works well too.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2013, 09:43:11 am
content: Flux off!http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/browse.jsp;jsessionid=3X3E2KBWZL4AOCQLCIPZMMQ?N=0&Ntk=gensearch&Ntt=flux+off&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&exposeLevel2Refinement=true&suggestions=false&ref=globalsearch&_requestid=377743

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2013, 05:21:04 am
content: Quote from: AndyC_772 on April 26, 2013, 09:43:11 amWHAT THE FLUX?!

author: MacAttak
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 27, 2013, 11:14:23 pm
content: Just curious - but how well would white lightning work? Aka, Moonshine?Isn't it pretty much 95% ethyl plus a splash of H2O?Obviously, a bit on the expensive side as compared to other options.

author: cwalex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2013, 04:15:31 am
content: Quote from: MacAttak on April 27, 2013, 11:14:23 pmwouldn't you be better off just buying methylated spirits? The bottle I got from the supermarket has written on the bottle 95% alcohol 5% water. It is probably not going to have as much impurities and it only cost a couple of bucks for a litre.

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 28, 2013, 07:18:04 am
content: Some years ago I bought a piece of equipment from a relatively large local electronics company. They tried various different options, and they found the best thing was regular commercial dishwashers. The owner (who was the one I was talking to and bought the equipment from) told me they added something to help cleaning off rosin flux, but that water soluble flux worked great with regular dish washing soap. I saw the boards, they looked impeccable.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2013, 09:18:55 am
content: The "dish washing soap" was probably the stuff used for washing dishes by hand.Typical dish washing powder is extremely corrosive, i wouldn't want to use it on a PCB.

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2013, 10:14:21 am
content: Quote from: cwalex on April 28, 2013, 04:15:31 amOf course, is very pure.The only impurities are the denaturant, but it's not a problem.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2013, 11:35:21 am
content: Triple distilled works well, just need to make sure the condenser pipe is very clean ( 316 stainless that has been pickled and rinsed well works best) and is not contaminating the final distillation. You can get up to 98% pure alcohol that way. You can buy it as an industrial solvent, though there is a massive excise duty on it. The duty is more than the cost of the white spirit.

author: lewis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2013, 12:10:00 pm
content: I Googled 'PCB Cleaning Machine' and found this:http://www.blundell.co.uk/products/cleaning/pcb-cleaning/system1000/.It looks exactly the same as our workshop tabletop dishwasher. I wonder....

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2013, 12:26:17 pm
content: Using an existing unit and modifying it is very common, though it may bite you if the original supplier discontinues the unit without notice, and there are no longer spares available. Very common on low volume equipment.