Grease - acid - need a strong base. Base will take off the oil/grease.
It will nuke the acid.

Strong stuff in the house - sodium hydroxide IIRC.

Strong soap and the like would work.

Martin

Martin H. Eastburn
@ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net
"Our Republic and the Press will Rise or Fall Together": Joseph Pulitzer
TSRA: Endowed; NRA LOH & Patron Member, Golden Eagle, Patriot's Medal.
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Charter Founder
IHMSA and NRA Metallic Silhouette maker & member. http://lufkinced.com/

On 5/28/2010 1:31 PM, Tim Wescott wrote:
On 05/28/2010 09:12 AM, wrote:
On May 27, 11:17 pm, Tim wrote:
Oops.

After finishing soldering my Very First model airplane fuel tank, I went
to do the last step of any soldering project -- cleaning off the flux.

Unfortunately, while I know that the flux I use yields to scrubbing with
hot soapy water, I don't know what -- if anything -- will just take it
off. I'm experimenting.

I've got some in each of four cups, with lacquer thinner, mineral
spirits, isopropyl alcohol, and plain drinking water. None of them seem
to be having any effect except the mineral spirits, which appears to be
separating it into two components.

In the mean time, I'm checking here to see if anyone has any pointers.
It's "Top Line Quality Soldering Paste Flux". Bought over thirty years
ago (I don't go through flux very fast). It looks like bearing grease,
& it sizzles when the iron touches it. Works great, but leaves a
residue which I don't want inside my engines!

So -- anyone happen to know if there's a common soldering flux that
contains calcium chloride and has this consistency, and if so how to
clean out the inside of an itty bitty fuel tank made with it? If all
else fails I'll run really hot water through it along with dishwashing
detergent -- but that doesn't leave me 100% confident.

--
Tim Wescott
Control system and signal processing consultingwww.wescottdesign.com

Acid flux uses zinc chloride and should be washable with water. Rosin
flux can be taken off with alcohol or some really active dishwasher
detergent. Ammonium chloride flux comes off with hot water. Have
never seen any flux with calcium chloride in it, sounds like it would
turn into rock when heated. Try some vinegar. I would have used some
electrical soldering paste, myself.

Dangit, it is zinc chloride. I let half a minute pass between reading
what's in it and writing it in a post, and look what happens.

But it's in some sort of greasy carrier that resists water.

If I can't find a good cheap process to wash this stuff off I'll
probably get some liquid flux that I know will rinse off easier.