Homebrew PCBs

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/