[sdiy] Flux residue removal

[Jay Schwichtenberg]

The best method I've seen and done is (there's a YouTube video somewhere on this):
* Scrape as much of the flux off as you can.
* Use a isopropyl alcohol with a brush to dissolve the flux.
* Then use isopropyl with brush and something like a Kimwipe to wick up the residue. If you don't do this you're just dissolving the flux and spreading the flux over the board.

If you can just use water soluble flux. It is so much easier to clean than any other flux. Down side is you can only use it for 'washable' parts and you want to clean the board as soon as you are done soldering.

Jay S.

-----Original Message-----
From: Synth-diy [mailto:synth-diy-bounces at synth-diy.org] On Behalf Of KA4HJH
Sent: Friday, May 18, 2018 11:49 AM
To: SDIY
Subject: [sdiy] Flux residue removal

What's the consensus on removing rosin flux residue these days? What chemical(s) to use, how much elbow grease? I have acetone and denatured alcohol (ethanol) on hand. I can't find any 99% IPA locally, only 91%.

Back in the mid-Eighties I worked on cable TV amplifiers and we used spray cans of some sort of CFC to remove flux residue. The stuff blasted it off the board in half a second. We went through cases of it. So much for the ozone layer—we did our part in damaging it.


Terry Bowman, KA4HJH
"The Mac Doctor"