Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Accidental Discovery : PVC Cleaner=PCB Cleaner — Parallax Forums

Accidental Discovery : PVC Cleaner=PCB Cleaner

Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
edited 2010-02-10 03:23 in General Discussion
I was working on some cleanup of a PCB while I re-purposed it and discovered
a cleaner that worked better than my over-priced 99% alcohol, PVC pipe cleaner!

I happened to still have it on the workbench after doing some home repair last week.
Not only did it do a great job on clean up, but it left no residue behind! zero!

Cheap and effective!

OBC

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
New to the Propeller?

Visit the: The Propeller Pages @ Warranty Void.

Comments

  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2010-01-31 09:00
    Yikes, OBC! Maybe too effective! I sure wouldn't use PVC cleaner on PCBs. It contains both acetone and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), both of which are solvents than can dissolve or soften more than just flux. Besides that, it's just plain nasty stuff. Here's the dope on it:

    ····www2.itap.purdue.edu/msds/detail.cfm?MSDSID=2830
    ····www2.itap.purdue.edu/msds/docs/7701.pdf

    -Phil
  • ForrestForrest Posts: 1,341
    edited 2010-01-31 11:38
    Phil is correct - Acetone and MEK are bad for PCB's - unless you want to dissolve the solder mask and the epoxy in the laminate. MEK also has serious health risks.

    I've never had a problem using 'Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol 70%' from my local grocery store. The other 30% is just water. Cost is 99 cents for a 16 ounce bottle.
  • DufferDuffer Posts: 374
    edited 2010-02-01 01:56
    And in most cases, you can find Isopropyl Alcohol 90+% on the same shelf at the drug store. Less water, works better.
    Stay away from the MEK (that rhymes, so it's easy to remember). We used it as a "thinner' for epoxy paints and a cleaner around the 20mm gun ports on fighters in the Navy. It'll do bad stuff to your brain.

    Duffer

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Any technology, sufficiently developed, is indistinguishable from magic.· A.C. Clark(RIP)
  • VIRANDVIRAND Posts: 656
    edited 2010-02-03 13:07
    Any paint thinner works, just like auto fuel (toxic, and very flammable).
    The PCB itself doesn't dissolve unless its made of polymer plastic or has some plastic electronic parts on it.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    I should be typing in Spin now.
  • MikerocontrollerMikerocontroller Posts: 310
    edited 2010-02-03 15:07
    @Duffer.: F-14's? MEK is safe compared to asbestos, the flight deck on the carrier, turco and trichlor......· It does seem to not evaporate as quickly as acetone, though.
  • DufferDuffer Posts: 374
    edited 2010-02-03 23:30
    Think earlier....F-4 gun pods. Yeah, MEK is a good cleaner for gun powder residue, has a nice butterscotch smell in small concentrations, will give you a real buzz followed by a bad headache, may cause birth defects, but is not on the EPA's HAP (Hazordous Air Pollutant) list; go figure. But hay, there are so many other things on the flight deck that can kill you, eh? They don't call it the "most dangerous 4 acres in the world" for nothing.
    Duffer

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Any technology, sufficiently developed, is indistinguishable from magic.· A.C. Clark(RIP)
  • $WMc%$WMc% Posts: 1,884
    edited 2010-02-04 02:39
    On a side note.

    M.E.K. will soften up rubber.
    Like the 21.5 inch wide mickeys on the back of a Hemi powered Hotrod.

    I prefer Hoppes #9 powder solvent over M.E.K. But I wouldn't use ether on a circuit board.

    Most PVC cleaners are labled cleaner/primer, and·leave a purple tint.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    The Truth is out there············___$WMc%___···························· BoogerWoods, FL. USA

    Post Edited ($WMc%) : 2/4/2010 2:47:03 AM GMT
  • MikerocontrollerMikerocontroller Posts: 310
    edited 2010-02-06 10:16
    · Here's a close call.· This happened this Friday. Someone placed a wadded-up dropcloth next to this one gallon container of acetone.· The dropcloth began smoldering from a chemical reaction.· The smoke in the paint shop caught someone's attention and they extinguished it before the fire progressed.· While overhauling the charred remains this container was discovered nearby··· Probably seconds from exploding.......

    ··························································································· jumpin.gif
    100107_162028.jpg
    1280 x 1024 - 137K
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2010-02-06 16:08
    Wow... This thread prompted some great response!

    Thanks for the heads up on MEK. I've been around (sealed!) cans of PVC pipe cleaner all my life
    (Dad is a plumber, this might explain some things about dad.. "Just kidding, dad!" [noparse]:)[/noparse]

    In spite of it all, the board I used the PVC cleaner on is working very well and it really did the trick.
    I was soldering wires to coated (button points) contact points which needed to be scraped and
    cleaned before I could make a connection.

    OBC

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    New to the Propeller?

    Visit the: The Propeller Pages @ Warranty Void.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,260
    edited 2010-02-06 19:56
    OBC:

    Nice to hear you're alive & well, your deafening silence was quite ominous since your original post! Based on the many dangers and warnings listed here, I hoped you had not departed to the "big soldering station in the sky"!

    erco

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    ·"If you build it, they will come."
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2010-02-07 21:54
    Silent?? Me?? No one has ever accused me of that.. [noparse]:)[/noparse]

    Between Expo preparations and the Arcade Project I've been pretty loud.. [noparse]:)[/noparse]

    That NES interface in the Arcade project (second video) is the one I used the PVC cleaner on.. Worked. [noparse]:)[/noparse]

    OBC

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    New to the Propeller?

    Visit the: The Propeller Pages @ Warranty Void.
  • Tracy AllenTracy Allen Posts: 6,666
    edited 2010-02-08 00:48
    I wonder if anyone uses d-limonene, "citrus cleaner", "orange oil" to clean boards before or after soldering? It's effective on rosin residues, and it is relatively, but not 100%,non-toxic. Being an oil itself it has to be followed up with a rinse in isopropyl alcohol (or else, leave that orange aroma!). But would it be any more effective than isopropyl alone?

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Tracy Allen
    www.emesystems.com
  • DufferDuffer Posts: 374
    edited 2010-02-08 04:33
    I·would think that any "oil" based product would leave a residue that would attarct and hold dust, causing a long-term problem for circuit boards. I have used GooGone(sp), which smells like orange oil,·to remove adhesives from circuit boards, but I've always followed up with a good washing with 91% isopropyl alcohol.

    Wow, close call Microcontroller, that's why oily shop rags and drop clothes should go into a sealed container that every shop should have. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_do_you_store_oily_rags_in_a_tightly_sealed_container

    Even that old rag you use to wipe off your dipstick is a serious fire hazard in your garage/shop if not handled properly.

    Duffer

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Any technology, sufficiently developed, is indistinguishable from magic.· A.C. Clark(RIP)
  • skylightskylight Posts: 1,915
    edited 2010-02-08 08:29
    Mikerocontroller said...

    · Here's a close call.· This happened this Friday. Someone placed a wadded-up dropcloth next to this one gallon container of acetone.· The dropcloth began smoldering from a chemical reaction.· The smoke in the paint shop caught someone's attention and they extinguished it before the fire progressed.· While overhauling the charred remains this container was discovered nearby··· Probably seconds from exploding.......

    ··························································································· jumpin.gif

    This is a known hazard resulting in spontaneous combustion, contaminated cloths should not be stored or disposed of by stacking them in a bin or pile as reactions can start and build up considerable heat with possible ignition, recommendations are to dispose of singly or in water.

    extract:


    Fire hazard - Oil soaked rags
    Some paints cure by an auto-oxidative mechanism. In specific circumstances, such as when a large surface area of uncured product is confined to a small volume·and is in contact with air, this reaction can generate dangerous quantities of heat and lead to spontaneous combustion. Examples of such circumstances are balled-up cleaning rags; filters on spray booths and piles of semi-cured film scrapings or over-spray. Such waste should be disposed of under water to eliminate the hazard.

    The products most at risk are any solventborne products, Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and to a lesser extent Resene Waterborne Colorwood and Woodsman. The greatest danger exists with products with higher resin contents·as pigments tend to dilute and·dissipate the heat. Therefore the higher resin content Resene Qristal Clear Poly-Gloss has more potential danger than Resene Super Gloss, which in turn is worse than Resene Lusta-Glo. The inherent curing rate of the resin also impacts on the risk, which makes Resene HD Poly-Satin more prone than Resene Qristal Clear Poly-Satin.

    In all cases, be aware that oil soaked rags may spontaneously generate heat and catch fire. Fully wash contaminated clothing as soon as possible and rinse impregnated rags with detergent and water before safely disposing of them.
  • MikerocontrollerMikerocontroller Posts: 310
    edited 2010-02-09 02:54
    As a result of this near conflagration in the paint shop there is now a "NO SMOKING" sign tacked to the door. The lead man thinks it was smoking related. He is truly clueless. You know the type: He has the appearance of competence (sharp uniform, good work ethic, jack-of-all trades) but he has no book knowledge. He has never witnessed chemical spontaneous combustion so to him it doesen't exist. We are in the process of explaining to management that they just hired a "handyman" instead of a building engineer. Here is what he calls the
    southwest freight elevator: "the big elevator next to the parking lot...". No MSD literature, no paint lockers, no planned maintenance programs. I think he'll be let go soon!
  • DufferDuffer Posts: 374
    edited 2010-02-10 03:23
    Somebody should drop a stack of OSHA manuals on his desk (or his head). Just have him Google "OSHA". 7,880,000 results! Helpless, hapless, hopeless, clueless..... Not a good combination.

    Duffer

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Any technology, sufficiently developed, is indistinguishable from magic.· A.C. Clark(RIP)
Sign In or Register to comment.