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Water souble flux — Parallax Forums

Water souble flux

NewzedNewzed Posts: 2,503
edited 2006-08-26 20:32 in General Discussion
Does anyone know where I can get water soluble paste flux.· I've searched everywhere I can think of but can't find it.

Sid

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Sid Weaver
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http://hometown.aol.com/newzed/index.html

·

Comments

  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2006-08-26 00:58
    water-soluble flux

    https://webvia.techni-tool.com/VIA/index.jsp
    1. one gallon: 488CH2235·
    2. pen dispenser: 488CH450·

    Good ol' Techni-Tool!
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2006-08-26 10:24
    A gallon! that is a lot of SMDs.

    I would be interested in the water-soluble flux being included in the solder core, but that seems unavailble.
    Currenty, I am cleaning rosin flux from boards with 3M General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner.
    I am sure that it is not doing my liver any good and may even cause liver cancer.

    I was using alcohol, but found out that alcohol is actually corrosive to metals.
    It immediate begins to oxidize solder.

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  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2006-08-26 13:35
    · Y'know... I just don't get this hobbyists "pretty-fying" boards stuff.· [noparse][[/noparse]Actually, I don't get·the mental process here at all·-- it's d**b.]

    · The flux/rosin is in the solder for a reason.· "Cleaning" it off is a cosmetic consideration, but counter-productive at that: it's·the equivalent of·leeching.· The rosin protects the solder on the shelf and [noparse][[/noparse]watch this, kidz]·with proper technique, on the board, too (if you're going to heat/cook the joint till the flux turns black, then forget it.)

    · The only validation for removing it is to coat the assembly afterward.· Some RF/HF·circuits·can be·adversely affected by rosin (when it gets betwixt and between·IC and transistor pins.)
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2006-08-26 14:37
    PJ,
    For "No-Clean" flux I would agree.
    However RA (rosin active) and RMA (rosin mildly active) I think corrosion can occur if the flux is left on.
    I'm not sure about water soluble flux, I can't think bathing your circuit in water would do it any good either ?

    Bean.

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    ·
  • NewzedNewzed Posts: 2,503
    edited 2006-08-26 14:47
    I have a small container of water soluble paste flux I bought from Radio Shack before they stopped carrying it.· I use it for all thru-hole and SMD soldering.· When the board is finished, I was scrub both sides with in warm water, then with soap and water.· Afterwards I dry the board in a 125 degrees oven for thirty minutes.· I have never had a problem with residual flux "interference" or with corrosion.· When this little container is gone, I will have to go back to rosin paste, which requires scrubbing with anhydrous alcohol.· So I can get by - it's just that the water soluble is· less troublesome.

    Sid
  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2006-08-26 14:59
    Newzed said...
    When this little container is gone, I will have to go back to rosin paste, which requires scrubbing with anhydrous alcohol.
    Why?· I gave you a link with a gallon and a pen of water-soluble flux.· Too much, too little?·
    It's not paste?· Well, look around there, they probably have it.
  • Bruce BatesBruce Bates Posts: 3,045
    edited 2006-08-26 15:02
    Sid -

    Good grief man, don't use the anhydrous alcohol for CLEANING, try it on the rocks with a twist of lime smile.gif <HIC>

    Regards,

    Bruce Bates

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  • NewzedNewzed Posts: 2,503
    edited 2006-08-26 15:11
    PJ, a gallon is way, way to much.· I could handle a pint or smaller, but not a gallon.

    Bruce, the alcohol is 91 percent isopropyl - you can't drink the stuff!!

    Sid
  • Kevin WoodKevin Wood Posts: 1,266
    edited 2006-08-26 15:54
    I worked as an assembler for awhile, and we used liquid water soluble flux. After the boards were assembled, we washed them off with water and dried them with a hose connected to an air compressor. Nothing was ever damaged.
  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2006-08-26 15:54
    A pen dispenser is·less than a gallon; it's less than a pint, too.

    488CH450 -- Kester Flux Pen

    Designed to dispense the right amount of liquid.· For rework and soldering touch-up.· Formula 2331ZX Water soluble flux.· Lead Free Approved.

    $3.85 ea

    Oh well.·

    You can lead a horse to water...
  • NewzedNewzed Posts: 2,503
    edited 2006-08-26 16:13
    PJ, I have a flux pen.· It just doesn't seem to work as well as the paste.· I guess maybe the paste is more concentrated, but I'll try the flux pen again.· Perhaps I'm not getting enough of it at the solder point.

    Sid
  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2006-08-26 20:22
    OK, OK,...

    I was at Ace Hardware and they have water-soluble paste flux in, like,·margarine containers.· Maybe it's not suitable for electronics work.

    Cleaning PCBs in water is OK, so long as they aren't energized --·you just need to bake them out, like you're doing, or leave them out for a few days (use distilled water.)

    I'll keep looking around.
  • NewzedNewzed Posts: 2,503
    edited 2006-08-26 20:32
    Thanks, PJ.· The stuff at Ace is for plumbing soldering.· Probably acid - I would be afraid to even try it.· Finishing up a board on SuperMill - I'll try the flux pen again and really compare it with the paste flux.

    Sid
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