Regarding mineral deposits, I took a tip from the Blacet assembly
instruction manuals and use distilled water from a bottle for the final
rinse (after I'm done brushing with the warm water).
Water isn't going to stay trapped for long. It evaporates! I put
washed boards under my warm work light for an hour or so before continuing.
Whether to solder capacitors before washing depends on the type. Mylar
and polyester caps are no problem. I leave polypropylene and
polystyrene for after the washing. As for electrolytic capacitors, they
are sealed well enough, but there is a question of whether flux would be
trapped underneath radials and not get fully washed. The Synthesis
Technology (MOTM) kit manuals at first did say to install the
electrolytic caps prior to washing, but then some of the later manuals
were the opposite and said to install them after washing with no-clean
solder.
The only problem I have actually noticed from inadequate washing was on
some transistor leads that I didn't sufficiently brush when water
washing. Over time they built up a bit of visible crust that must have
been from the organic flux. (Of course, I can't see under the radial
electrolytic caps. So I'd recommend using no-clean for them.)
Richard Brewster
http://www.pugix.comSteve wrote:
> I use alcohol because I'm afraid of the minerals from water being left
> behind and shortening the lifespan of everything- and of water getting
> trapped in places...
>
> Speaking of rinsing, how do people feel about washing after adding
> capacitors?
>
> FYI I'll summarize all the input on techniques and put up on
> http://modularland.com in a tech section soon... Modularland is my studio.
>
> --- In ModularSynthPanels@yahoogroups.com, Richard Brewster
> <pugix@...> wrote:
>
>> Kester 331 is water washable, so why use alcohol?
>>