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Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Solderability and Etching

From: Philip Pemberton <ygroups@...>
Date: 2010-02-26

sailingto wrote:
> IPA = Isopropyl Alcohol... I think anyway. Doesn't do much for
> cutting my HP toner. After wiping good with acetone my board solder
> nicely - just be sure to use flux.

Chemtronics "Flux-Off No-Clean Plus". Part number ES896BE. Farnell part
number 7922493, though I'd bet my bottom dollar DigiKey, Jameco or
Mouser stock it too.

It's basically a highly concentrated hydrocarbon solvent -- acetone,
"hydrocarbons, C>=5, C5-6 rich" (whatever that means), a bit of CO2 and
a few drops of methanol. Strips photoresist and solder flux like there's
no tomorrow. Works even quicker if you use the (included) scrubbing
brush, or a cheap toothbrush. Also doubles as paint stripper, as I found
out to my cost... (hint: don't try and clean a PCB while it's locked in
a Panavise). Ah well, it's a cast-alu base so it shouldn't rust or
corrode (he says!)

It eats some plastics though, so don't use it near trimpots or
displays... For that sort of thing, ES7208BI (Flux-Off CZ) is probably a
better choice, but is basically unobtainable (it's been out of stock at
Farnell for weeks).

For something less "active", Seno do a few boot-polish style roll-on PCB
chemicals. There's a photoresist developer (which works REALLY well), a
photoresist stripper, and a flux dispenser. I use all three -- saves
mixing photoresist developer and such. To put it simply, I'm lazy :)

Cheers,
--
Phil.
ygroups@...
http://www.philpem.me.uk/