Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

In one of the posts about solder, somebody mentioned CVS Drug Store for
91% isopropyl alcohol.

I just called a CVS, it's $2.79 for 16 ounces and $2.99 for 32 ounces.
That's 20 cents more for double the 16 ounce size. (This is in southern
California).


A mildly related question: In thinking about other uses for rosin, it
occurred to me that I haven't seen any pitchers using a rosin bag for
years.

Maybe it went the way of the vanishing caboose. :)

--- Joe

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

I just called a CVS, it's $2.79 for 16 ounces and $2.99
for 32 ounces. That's 20 cents more for double the
16 ounce size. (This is in southern California).

Even the quart size is overpriced. If you're willing to wait for a sale, you
should pay no more than about $1 per pint.


A mildly related question: In thinking about other uses
for rosin, it occurred to me that I haven't seen any pitchers
using a rosin bag for years.

I can just see a pitcher tossing a roll of solder at the batter. grin

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

"Joe" wrote in message
...
In one of the posts about solder, somebody mentioned CVS Drug Store for
91% isopropyl alcohol.

I just called a CVS, it's $2.79 for 16 ounces and $2.99 for 32 ounces.
That's 20 cents more for double the 16 ounce size. (This is in southern
California).


A mildly related question: In thinking about other uses for rosin, it
occurred to me that I haven't seen any pitchers using a rosin bag for
years.

Maybe it went the way of the vanishing caboose. :)

--- Joe

91% IPA is not usually considered to be 'electronics grade', which should be
99.7% minimum. It's also not the most appropriate stuff for cleaning a lot
of flux, which requires a proper defluxing agent such as Electrolube Deflux
160

Arfa

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

On Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:57:25 +0100, Arfa Daily wrote:

"Joe" wrote in message

...
In one of the posts about solder, somebody mentioned CVS Drug Store for
91% isopropyl alcohol.

I just called a CVS, it's $2.79 for 16 ounces and $2.99 for 32 ounces.
That's 20 cents more for double the 16 ounce size. (This is in southern
California).


A mildly related question: In thinking about other uses for rosin, it
occurred to me that I haven't seen any pitchers using a rosin bag for
years.

Maybe it went the way of the vanishing caboose. :)

--- Joe

91% IPA is not usually considered to be 'electronics grade', which
should be 99.7% minimum. It's also not the most appropriate stuff for
cleaning a lot of flux, which requires a proper defluxing agent such as
Electrolube Deflux 160

Arfa

91 leaves a bit of residue in certain cases. After reading the
ingredients on a can of Flux-Off spray flux stripper I thought why not
just use 91 isoprop. It usually does work in conjunction with a
toothbrush. But like I said can leave a residue.

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

On 7/26/2010 10:30 AM Meat Plow spake thus:

On Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:57:25 +0100, Arfa Daily wrote:

"Joe" wrote in message
...

In one of the posts about solder, somebody mentioned CVS Drug Store for
91% isopropyl alcohol.

I just called a CVS, it's $2.79 for 16 ounces and $2.99 for 32 ounces.
That's 20 cents more for double the 16 ounce size. (This is in southern
California).

91% IPA is not usually considered to be 'electronics grade', which
should be 99.7% minimum. It's also not the most appropriate stuff for
cleaning a lot of flux, which requires a proper defluxing agent such as
Electrolube Deflux 160

91 leaves a bit of residue in certain cases. After reading the
ingredients on a can of Flux-Off spray flux stripper I thought why not
just use 91 isoprop. It usually does work in conjunction with a
toothbrush. But like I said can leave a residue.

Why mess around with isopropyl alcohol at all, since all of it contains
*some* water? Use denatured alcohol (methanol) instead, in a
tightly-capped container to guard against absorbing moisture.


--
The fashion in killing has an insouciant, flirty style this spring,
with the flaunting of well-defined muscle, wrapped in flags.

- Comment from an article on Antiwar.com (http://antiwar.com)

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

In article , David Nebenzahl wrote:
On 7/26/2010 10:30 AM Meat Plow spake thus:

On Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:57:25 +0100, Arfa Daily wrote:

"Joe" wrote in message

...

In one of the posts about solder, somebody mentioned CVS Drug Store for
91% isopropyl alcohol.

I just called a CVS, it's $2.79 for 16 ounces and $2.99 for 32 ounces.
That's 20 cents more for double the 16 ounce size. (This is in southern
California).

91% IPA is not usually considered to be 'electronics grade', which
should be 99.7% minimum. It's also not the most appropriate stuff for
cleaning a lot of flux, which requires a proper defluxing agent such as
Electrolube Deflux 160

91 leaves a bit of residue in certain cases. After reading the
ingredients on a can of Flux-Off spray flux stripper I thought why not
just use 91 isoprop. It usually does work in conjunction with a
toothbrush. But like I said can leave a residue.

Why mess around with isopropyl alcohol at all, since all of it contains
*some* water? Use denatured alcohol (methanol) instead, in a
tightly-capped container to guard against absorbing moisture.


That would be fine if you used it in ZERO humidity.
Its not worth the trouble using 99.99%
95% is a very good figure. I actually use the NON-denatured stuff.
I don't buy it, but the medical labs buy it.. Its safer than 99%
stuff due to dryers contamination as far as drinking. The
The denatured stuff probably has more residue.

Seems to me methanol has the ability to harm some materials
its used on.


I also have a 4L bottle of isoproypal 99.5% .001% residue
which is nice. I will ALWAYS have water on the board
after cleaning just from room humidity. I usually take
a hot air gun or pistol to heat dry the board
or put it under an incandesant light bulb.

A possible source for cleaning boards, gas tank alcohol, "dry gas"
probably mostly isopropal alcohol, probably 98% or better.

greg

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

GregS wrote:

95% is a very good figure. I actually use the NON-denatured stuff.

How about the drinking stuff? (95% "grain" alcohol).

Here I can by a "fifth" (750ml) for less than 250ml of 70% Isopropyl.

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson N3OWJ/4X1GM
To help restaurants, as part of the "stimulus package", everyone must order
dessert. As part of the socialized health plan, you are forbidden to eat it. :-)

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

On 7/26/2010 11:49 AM Geoffrey S. Mendelson spake thus:

GregS wrote:

95% is a very good figure. I actually use the NON-denatured stuff.

How about the drinking stuff? (95% "grain" alcohol).

Here I can by a "fifth" (750ml) for less than 250ml of 70% Isopropyl.

Well, that's ethanol, which should also work fine, so long as you don't
mind the 5% water.


--
The fashion in killing has an insouciant, flirty style this spring,
with the flaunting of well-defined muscle, wrapped in flags.

- Comment from an article on Antiwar.com (http://antiwar.com)

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

In article , wrote:
GregS wrote:

95% is a very good figure. I actually use the NON-denatured stuff.

How about the drinking stuff? (95% "grain" alcohol).

Here I can by a "fifth" (750ml) for less than 250ml of 70% Isopropyl.



Yes I was reffering to the ethanol drinkable stuff that is not taxed.
Been used for years in medical parties.

greg

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

GregS wrote:
Yes I was reffering to the ethanol drinkable stuff that is not taxed.
Been used for years in medical parties.

For some strange reason, the cheapest booze you can buy in Israel is the
95% it costs about 25 NIS a fifth, around $6 INCLUDING TAXES.

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson N3OWJ/4X1GM
To help restaurants, as part of the "stimulus package", everyone must order
dessert. As part of the socialized health plan, you are forbidden to eat it. :-)

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

David Nebenzahl wrote:
On 7/26/2010 11:49 AM Geoffrey S. Mendelson spake thus:

GregS wrote:

95% is a very good figure. I actually use the NON-denatured
stuff.

How about the drinking stuff? (95% "grain" alcohol).

Here I can by a "fifth" (750ml) for less than 250ml of 70%
Isopropyl.

Well, that's ethanol, which should also work fine, so long as
you
don't mind the 5% water.

I use medical or denatured alcohol as a general-purpose cleaning
solution. When I need stronger stuff, such as on cruds of old and
hardened flux or when there's simply lots of it, I use automobile
paint thinner. Wiping with a piece of cloth or cotton wool is
usually enough and I rarely need to scrub with a brush.

The thinner can dissolve some plastics though. So some care is
needed, as is good ventilation. It looks and feels somewhat oily
but dries very quickly. A one-liter can costs about $3 US here.

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

In article , "pimpom" wrote:
David Nebenzahl wrote:
On 7/26/2010 11:49 AM Geoffrey S. Mendelson spake thus:

GregS wrote:

95% is a very good figure. I actually use the NON-denatured
stuff.

How about the drinking stuff? (95% "grain" alcohol).

Here I can by a "fifth" (750ml) for less than 250ml of 70%
Isopropyl.

Well, that's ethanol, which should also work fine, so long as
you
don't mind the 5% water.

I use medical or denatured alcohol as a general-purpose cleaning
solution. When I need stronger stuff, such as on cruds of old and
hardened flux or when there's simply lots of it, I use automobile
paint thinner. Wiping with a piece of cloth or cotton wool is
usually enough and I rarely need to scrub with a brush.

The thinner can dissolve some plastics though. So some care is
needed, as is good ventilation. It looks and feels somewhat oily
but dries very quickly. A one-liter can costs about $3 US here.


I got some spray heavy duty flux remover with freon like component,
methelyne chloride, ethanol, and another component.
Its useless for regular cleaning. It dries too fast. I never had the
need to use other than alcohol for flux remover. When I
worked in a factory "DEC" in 1969, they had like washtubs with
spigots, and turn on the spigot out poured "TRI",
trichloroethane. It worked well. I still have a can around saying safety solvent.
Sometimes we would try to fix their modules, for some forgotten reason,
to fix a computer problem.

I also remember fellow in our section, working on something new, computer
"terminal monitors". There was some kind of problem, and he was taking some
boards into the mens room to wash them off. i guess they worked after that.That
was an interesting section with monitors, modems, and UARTS, and the PDP 8i
About 7 people.

I remember they used to sell cans about the size of paint sprays filled
with trichloroethane , sold as fire extinguishers.

greg

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

On Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:04:22 GMT, (GregS) wrote:

In article , wrote:
GregS wrote:

95% is a very good figure. I actually use the NON-denatured stuff.

How about the drinking stuff? (95% "grain" alcohol).

Here I can by a "fifth" (750ml) for less than 250ml of 70% Isopropyl.



Yes I was reffering to the ethanol drinkable stuff that is not taxed.
Been used for years in medical parties.

Not a wise move. The un-taxed stuff (not for human consumption) often
contains benzene.

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

"pimpom" wrote in message
...
David Nebenzahl wrote:
On 7/26/2010 11:49 AM Geoffrey S. Mendelson spake thus:

GregS wrote:

95% is a very good figure. I actually use the NON-denatured stuff.

How about the drinking stuff? (95% "grain" alcohol).

Here I can by a "fifth" (750ml) for less than 250ml of 70% Isopropyl.

Well, that's ethanol, which should also work fine, so long as you
don't mind the 5% water.

I use medical or denatured alcohol as a general-purpose cleaning solution.
When I need stronger stuff, such as on cruds of old and hardened flux or
when there's simply lots of it, I use automobile paint thinner. Wiping
with a piece of cloth or cotton wool is usually enough and I rarely need
to scrub with a brush.

The thinner can dissolve some plastics though. So some care is needed, as
is good ventilation. It looks and feels somewhat oily but dries very
quickly. A one-liter can costs about $3 US here.


Hope you never use it on a board that's got a lacquer type coating on it
then ... :-\

What amazes me, and I can't understand, is why all of these 'substitute'
chemicals are used by people, when the proper ones, designed for the job,
are really not expensive in the first place

Arfa

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

David Nebenzahl wrote:

Why mess around with isopropyl alcohol at all, since all of it
contains *some* water? Use denatured alcohol (methanol) instead, in a
tightly-capped container to guard against absorbing moisture.

Perhaps it is different where you live, but here in the US, denatured
alcohol is not methanol; it is, instead, ethanol with a denaturant added.
The denaturant can be methanol, or it can be any number of other chemicals,
so long as it is sufficiently adulterated to prevent a person from using it
for ingestion.

Jon

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

Arfa Daily wrote:
"pimpom" wrote in message
...
David Nebenzahl wrote:
On 7/26/2010 11:49 AM Geoffrey S. Mendelson spake thus:

GregS wrote:

95% is a very good figure. I actually use the NON-denatured
stuff.

How about the drinking stuff? (95% "grain" alcohol).

Here I can by a "fifth" (750ml) for less than 250ml of 70%
Isopropyl.

Well, that's ethanol, which should also work fine, so long as
you
don't mind the 5% water.

I use medical or denatured alcohol as a general-purpose
cleaning
solution. When I need stronger stuff, such as on cruds of old
and
hardened flux or when there's simply lots of it, I use
automobile
paint thinner. Wiping with a piece of cloth or cotton wool is
usually enough and I rarely need to scrub with a brush.

The thinner can dissolve some plastics though. So some care is
needed, as is good ventilation. It looks and feels somewhat
oily but
dries very quickly. A one-liter can costs about $3 US here.


Hope you never use it on a board that's got a lacquer type
coating on
it then ... :-\

I do take care to use it only where it won't do damage. The "some
plastics" was just an example.


What amazes me, and I can't understand, is why all of these
'substitute' chemicals are used by people, when the proper
ones,
designed for the job, are really not expensive in the first
place

Some people use the substitutes because they don't know better.
Others have good reasons: The "proper" ones are not easily
available in many parts of the world, including mine. And the
thinner serves other useful purposes too. It's a good
general-purpose solvent.

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

In the US, denatured alcohol is not methanol; it's ethanol
with a denaturant. The denaturant can be methanol, or
a number of other chemicals, as long as it's sufficiently
adulterated to prevent a person from using it for ingestion.

"using it for ingestion" = "drinking it" You will soon be visited by
Jacques Barzun and put to death in a most unpleasant manner.

Methanol is wood alcohol. It _is_ drinkable -- but poisonous. Among other
things, it causes blindness.

I've never tasted denatured alcohol -- a few drops are harmless -- so I
don't understand why denatured alcohol is "undrinkable".

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

In article , " wrote:
On Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:04:22 GMT, (GregS) wrote:

In article , wrote:
GregS wrote:

95% is a very good figure. I actually use the NON-denatured stuff.

How about the drinking stuff? (95% "grain" alcohol).

Here I can by a "fifth" (750ml) for less than 250ml of 70% Isopropyl.



Yes I was reffering to the ethanol drinkable stuff that is not taxed.
Been used for years in medical parties.

Not a wise move. The un-taxed stuff (not for human consumption) often
contains benzene.

Thats the 99% stuff that contains benzene.

greg

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

On Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:50:11 GMT, (GregS) wrote:

In article , " wrote:
On Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:04:22 GMT, (GregS) wrote:

In article , wrote:
GregS wrote:

95% is a very good figure. I actually use the NON-denatured stuff.

How about the drinking stuff? (95% "grain" alcohol).

Here I can by a "fifth" (750ml) for less than 250ml of 70% Isopropyl.



Yes I was reffering to the ethanol drinkable stuff that is not taxed.
Been used for years in medical parties.

Not a wise move. The un-taxed stuff (not for human consumption) often
contains benzene.

Thats the 99% stuff that contains benzene.

Much of the untaxed ethanol uses the benzene process.

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

On Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:30:29 -0700, "Jon Danniken"
wrote:

David Nebenzahl wrote:

Why mess around with isopropyl alcohol at all, since all of it
contains *some* water? Use denatured alcohol (methanol) instead, in a
tightly-capped container to guard against absorbing moisture.

Perhaps it is different where you live, but here in the US, denatured
alcohol is not methanol; it is, instead, ethanol with a denaturant added.
The denaturant can be methanol, or it can be any number of other chemicals,
so long as it is sufficiently adulterated to prevent a person from using it
for ingestion.

Right. Methanol is a very poor denaturant. The idea is to make it
undrinkable, not lethal. Someone ralfing their guts out for an hour is
cheaper than blindness or death. Now, Sterno...

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

wrote in message
...
On Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:30:29 -0700, "Jon Danniken"
wrote:

David Nebenzahl wrote:

Why mess around with isopropyl alcohol at all, since all of it
contains *some* water? Use denatured alcohol (methanol) instead, in a
tightly-capped container to guard against absorbing moisture.

Perhaps it is different where you live, but here in the US, denatured
alcohol is not methanol; it is, instead, ethanol with a denaturant added.
The denaturant can be methanol, or it can be any number of other
chemicals,
so long as it is sufficiently adulterated to prevent a person from using
it
for ingestion.

Right. Methanol is a very poor denaturant. The idea is to make it
undrinkable, not lethal. Someone ralfing their guts out for an hour is
cheaper than blindness or death. Now, Sterno...

The treatment for Methanol poisoning is Ethanol and lots of it. Usually by
IV.

tm




--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ---

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

On Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:32:20 -0400, "tm" wrote:


wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:30:29 -0700, "Jon Danniken"
wrote:

David Nebenzahl wrote:

Why mess around with isopropyl alcohol at all, since all of it
contains *some* water? Use denatured alcohol (methanol) instead, in a
tightly-capped container to guard against absorbing moisture.

Perhaps it is different where you live, but here in the US, denatured
alcohol is not methanol; it is, instead, ethanol with a denaturant added.
The denaturant can be methanol, or it can be any number of other
chemicals,
so long as it is sufficiently adulterated to prevent a person from using
it
for ingestion.

Right. Methanol is a very poor denaturant. The idea is to make it
undrinkable, not lethal. Someone ralfing their guts out for an hour is
cheaper than blindness or death. Now, Sterno...

The treatment for Methanol poisoning is Ethanol and lots of it. Usually by
IV.

AIUI, this swamps the liver so it doesn't produce as much formaldehyde at
once.

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

In article ,
zzzzzzzzzz wrote:


Perhaps it is different where you live, but here in the US, denatured
alcohol is not methanol; it is, instead, ethanol with a denaturant added.
The denaturant can be methanol, or it can be any number of other chemicals,
so long as it is sufficiently adulterated to prevent a person from using it
for ingestion.

Right. Methanol is a very poor denaturant. The idea is to make it
undrinkable, not lethal. Someone ralfing their guts out for an hour is
cheaper than blindness or death.

Yup. Recipies for denaturing ethanol seem to vary a lot by country
and by intended application of the denatured alcohol.

http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/w...7cfr21_03.html lists a
bunch of different formulas that are specifically defined and
authorized in the U.S. for certain applications. Some of them seem
downright scary:

Formula 2-C: To every 100 gallons of alcohol add thirty-three pounds
or more of metallic sodium and either 1/2 gallon of
benzene, 1/2 gallon of toluene, or 1/2 gallon of
rubber hydrocarbon solvent.

5 gallons of methanol per 100 gallons of ethanol is Formula 3-A.

--
Dave Platt AE6EO
Friends of Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

In article ,
tm wrote:

Right. Methanol is a very poor denaturant. The idea is to make it
undrinkable, not lethal. Someone ralfing their guts out for an hour is
cheaper than blindness or death. Now, Sterno...

The treatment for Methanol poisoning is Ethanol and lots of it. Usually by
IV.

The same treatment is also used at times in cases of poisoning due to
ethylene glycol (antifreeze). If I recall correctly, the idea is to
saturate the liver's conversion-enzyme system with ethanol, thus
blocking the breakdown of methanol or glycol into toxic byproducts.



--
Dave Platt AE6EO
Friends of Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

In article , " wrote:
On Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:50:11 GMT, (GregS) wrote:

In article ,
" wrote:
On Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:04:22 GMT, (GregS) wrote:

In article ,
wrote:
GregS wrote:

95% is a very good figure. I actually use the NON-denatured stuff.

How about the drinking stuff? (95% "grain" alcohol).

Here I can by a "fifth" (750ml) for less than 250ml of 70% Isopropyl.



Yes I was reffering to the ethanol drinkable stuff that is not taxed.
Been used for years in medical parties.

Not a wise move. The un-taxed stuff (not for human consumption) often
contains benzene.

Thats the 99% stuff that contains benzene.

Much of the untaxed ethanol uses the benzene process.

None of the 95%.

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

On Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:09:34 GMT, (GregS) wrote:

In article , " wrote:
On Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:50:11 GMT, (GregS) wrote:

In article ,
" wrote:
On Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:04:22 GMT, (GregS) wrote:

In article ,
wrote:
GregS wrote:

95% is a very good figure. I actually use the NON-denatured stuff.

How about the drinking stuff? (95% "grain" alcohol).

Here I can by a "fifth" (750ml) for less than 250ml of 70% Isopropyl.



Yes I was reffering to the ethanol drinkable stuff that is not taxed.
Been used for years in medical parties.

Not a wise move. The un-taxed stuff (not for human consumption) often
contains benzene.

Thats the 99% stuff that contains benzene.

Much of the untaxed ethanol uses the benzene process.

None of the 95%.

I wouldn't bet my life on it.

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

"GregS" wrote in message
...

I also remember fellow in our section, working on something new, computer
"terminal monitors". There was some kind of problem, and he was taking
some
boards into the mens room to wash them off. i guess they worked after
that.

Long ago (1980?) I remember having problems with leakage on a board that
stored voltages in polystyrene capacitors using CMOS switches and op-amps,
but the voltage would bleed off too quickly to be useful as a "memory". We
tried all sorts of flux removers and it still didn't work well enough. But I
had an idea that it might be ionic contaminants such as salt, so I took a
board into the mens room and scrubbed it with hand soap and flushed it with
hot water. Then I dried it with a heat gun, and "voila" it worked like a
champ rather than a chump.

I have had good results with isopropyl alcohol as a flux remover, applied
with a stiff "acid" brush with bristles cut short. It does leave a white
residue. But then I follow with a spray of detergent, scrubbing once again,
and the heat gun to dry it thoroughly. You need to be careful about
overheating, so I hold the board by hand on the edges and move the hot air
around. My fingers will hurt before I overheat the board. Seems to work very
well.

Paul

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

I remember having problems with leakage on a board that
stored voltages in polystyrene capacitors using CMOS
switches and op-amps, but the voltage would bleed off too
quickly to be useful as a "memory". We tried all sorts of
flux removers and it still didn't work well enough. But I had
had an idea that it might be ionic contaminants such as
salt, so I took a board into the mens room and scrubbed
it with hand soap and flushed it with hot water. Then I dried
it with a heat gun, and "voila" it worked like a champ rather
than a chump.

Interesting observation.

Question... Wouldn't distilled water alone flush off ionic contaminants?

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

"William Sommerwerck" wrote in message
...
I remember having problems with leakage on a board that
stored voltages in polystyrene capacitors using CMOS
switches and op-amps, but the voltage would bleed off too
quickly to be useful as a "memory". We tried all sorts of
flux removers and it still didn't work well enough. But I had
had an idea that it might be ionic contaminants such as
salt, so I took a board into the mens room and scrubbed
it with hand soap and flushed it with hot water. Then I dried
it with a heat gun, and "voila" it worked like a champ rather
than a chump.

Interesting observation.

Question... Wouldn't distilled water alone flush off ionic contaminants?

Probably. But there may be some sort of oily residue that will be removed by
the detergent. And hot water from the tap is much cheaper. It may be good to
do a final rinse with distilled or deionized water. I have heard that some
people stack their boards in a dishwasher. But my method works for me and is
is very practical for small quantities.

Paul

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

"Paul E. Schoen" wrote:

"William Sommerwerck" wrote in message
...
I remember having problems with leakage on a board that
stored voltages in polystyrene capacitors using CMOS
switches and op-amps, but the voltage would bleed off too
quickly to be useful as a "memory". We tried all sorts of
flux removers and it still didn't work well enough. But I had
had an idea that it might be ionic contaminants such as
salt, so I took a board into the mens room and scrubbed
it with hand soap and flushed it with hot water. Then I dried
it with a heat gun, and "voila" it worked like a champ rather
than a chump.

Interesting observation.

Question... Wouldn't distilled water alone flush off ionic contaminants?

Probably. But there may be some sort of oily residue that will be removed by
the detergent. And hot water from the tap is much cheaper. It may be good to
do a final rinse with distilled or deionized water. I have heard that some
people stack their boards in a dishwasher. But my method works for me and is
is very practical for small quantities.


We used a citrus based cleaner in a commercial board washing machine
at Microdyne. It was a modified stainless steel industrial dishwasher
with a separate solvent tank and fresh water wash. Then the boards went
into a board drying oven for 12 to 24 hours. This was for small runs of
boards stuffed and reflow soldered in house.

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

In article , "Michael A. Terrell" wrote:

"Paul E. Schoen" wrote:

"William Sommerwerck" wrote in message
...
I remember having problems with leakage on a board that
stored voltages in polystyrene capacitors using CMOS
switches and op-amps, but the voltage would bleed off too
quickly to be useful as a "memory". We tried all sorts of
flux removers and it still didn't work well enough. But I had
had an idea that it might be ionic contaminants such as
salt, so I took a board into the mens room and scrubbed
it with hand soap and flushed it with hot water. Then I dried
it with a heat gun, and "voila" it worked like a champ rather
than a chump.

Interesting observation.

Question... Wouldn't distilled water alone flush off ionic contaminants?

Probably. But there may be some sort of oily residue that will be removed by
the detergent. And hot water from the tap is much cheaper. It may be good to
do a final rinse with distilled or deionized water. I have heard that some
people stack their boards in a dishwasher. But my method works for me and is
is very practical for small quantities.


We used a citrus based cleaner in a commercial board washing machine
at Microdyne. It was a modified stainless steel industrial dishwasher
with a separate solvent tank and fresh water wash. Then the boards went
into a board drying oven for 12 to 24 hours. This was for small runs of
boards stuffed and reflow soldered in house.

I noticed citrus based degreasers leave behind oil.
Thats a bad thing when you really want to paint something thinking
it will work. Bad for tape sticking also.

I think I allready mentioned mens room board cleaning.

greg

Isopropyl Alcohol for Cleaning Flux
 

GregS wrote:

In article , "Michael A. Terrell" wrote:

"Paul E. Schoen" wrote:

"William Sommerwerck" wrote in message
...
I remember having problems with leakage on a board that
stored voltages in polystyrene capacitors using CMOS
switches and op-amps, but the voltage would bleed off too
quickly to be useful as a "memory". We tried all sorts of
flux removers and it still didn't work well enough. But I had
had an idea that it might be ionic contaminants such as
salt, so I took a board into the mens room and scrubbed
it with hand soap and flushed it with hot water. Then I dried
it with a heat gun, and "voila" it worked like a champ rather
than a chump.

Interesting observation.

Question... Wouldn't distilled water alone flush off ionic contaminants?

Probably. But there may be some sort of oily residue that will be removed by
the detergent. And hot water from the tap is much cheaper. It may be good to
do a final rinse with distilled or deionized water. I have heard that some
people stack their boards in a dishwasher. But my method works for me and is
is very practical for small quantities.


We used a citrus based cleaner in a commercial board washing machine
at Microdyne. It was a modified stainless steel industrial dishwasher
with a separate solvent tank and fresh water wash. Then the boards went
into a board drying oven for 12 to 24 hours. This was for small runs of
boards stuffed and reflow soldered in house.

I noticed citrus based degreasers leave behind oil.
Thats a bad thing when you really want to paint something thinking
it will work. Bad for tape sticking also.

I think I allready mentioned mens room board cleaning.


Mention whatever you want, but it was a NASA approved process. We
built telemetry equipment for the aerospace industry. NASA wouldn't
approve of your method. We built millions of dollars worth of equipment
per year.