[sdiy] Better then Q-Tips

[Travis Shire]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David G. Dixon" <dixon at interchange.ubc.ca>
To: "'Rainer Buchty'" <rainer at buchty.net>; "'cheater cheater'" 
<cheater00 at gmail.com>
Cc: <Synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 6:34 PM
Subject: Re: [sdiy] Better then Q-Tips


> On a more serious note ("da-da-da-dummmmmmmmm!") I "HATE" using anything
> cotton-based on the back of a PCB, because all those little sticker-y 
> solder
> joints pull the fibres out and create a big mess.
>
> In my experience, the absolute best way to clean the back of a PCB is with
> an old toothbrush dedicated just for the purpose.  I keep a gnarly old
> toothbrush by the laundry room wash basin, and when I'm done soldering up 
> a
> board (but before I've plugged any chips or anything water-sensitive into
> it) I give the solder side a good scrubbing with the toothbrush and a 
> couple
> drops of dish soap and water.  Then I rinse, repeat with a bit of 
> isopropyl
> alcohol, then rinse again.  It's clean as a whistle then.  When I'm 
> "really"
> all done soldering, and after the board is clean and dry, I often spray it
> with something like "Trem-Clad" corrosion inhibitor to protect the copper
> from corroding.
>
>
Word. Q tips *are* awesome for cleaning 1/4" jacks....after you go thru them 
with onna these:
http://www.eabco.com/images/PS01.gif

They're gun cleaning brushes. The .25 caliber works best for 1/4" jacks. I 
chuck mine into an exacto knife handle intented for the larger blades. 
Quick....easy....cheap. The bore brush is like 2$ at yer local sport shop. 
Best 2$ I ever spent....