Flux remover

[Kipper4]

Anybody got any good products for flux removal.
They seem really expensive to buy, has anyone got any homebrew suggestions?

[Pyr0]

If you're in the uk you should be able to get Polycell Polyclens brush cleaner, that will work.

[Dave W]

Isopropyl alcohol and a toothbrush. Rinse and repeat as many times as necessary.

[R O Tiree]

I use acetone or pure methyl alcohol (not methylated spirits). Drizzle a bit on the board and then kind of "flick" it off with an old toothbrush. Repeat a couple more times and it's clean.

[Kipper4]

thanks guys i'll try some of them.
I've got isopropyl alcohol for cleaning the R2R heads.

[davent]

Stainless steel dental pick followed by a small short bristled brush to clean off the flakes, no chemicals involved and you'll find a myriad of other uses for the dental pick.

[Mike Burgundy]

@ Mike: could you explain why methyl alcohol (methanol), and not methylated spirits (methanol+alcohol and possibly others such as isopropyl and acetone, etc, aka denatured alcohol)?

[R O Tiree]

Methylated spirits have oils added, which make them unpalateable (so pi$$-heads don't try to drink it, 'cos it makes you blind).

[Vince_b]

What are the negative effects of not removing flux residue from a pcb?

[Seljer]

What are the negative effects of not removing flux residue from a pcb?

Flux tends to be slightly conductive, which usually makes the circuit emit a bunch of extraneous noise until you scrub it off the PCB

[Vince_b]

I never thought about that, from now on I will make sure to clean the board properly.

[J0K3RX]

If you ever use this you will never go back...Alpha Metals Pure Core is the BEST!!!

http://www.hisco.com/products/category/Soldering-Desoldering/Solder,-Wire/Water-Soluble

Most alcohols will make a gummy mess of flux... Back in the day we used trichloroethane and that stuff really cleans the boards but really dangerous stuff! Will get you high as a kite and probably kill your @ss if you are around it enough...   

Good stuff here
http://biochemsys.com/cleaning-technology-updates/printed-circuit-board-cleaning/

[Mark Hammer]

What are the negative effects of not removing flux residue from a pcb?

The negative effect I most frequently come into contact with is that the shinyness of the flux can make it hard to visually inspect a board, to find solder bridges or other shorts, cold joints, and ragged or broken traces.  If I need to debug a board, one of the first things I do is clean the flux off, so that I can look it over accurately, and check all of those possibilities off my list.

I used to use isopropyl alchohol and a toothbrush.  Now I use methyl hydrate.  Yes, it isn't especially healthy, but it doesn't stink, and gets the job done VERY efficiently.

[Ronan]

Does anyone use naphtha as a flux remover? I was given a bottle by a telecommunications electrician but have never been game to try it on a populated pcb, for fear of damaging components. It also has a strong smell.

[J0K3RX]

Whatever you do DO NOT use bleach and ammonia!!! Geesh, nearly killed me... 

[Kipper4]

I wouldnt have a clue where to get methenol.
I might be able to get the brush cleaner or acetete.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
anymore for anymore

[Kipper4]

ok Thanks for the tip i will avoid bleach and ammonia.

Naphtha. I googled it and it turns out to be a by product of the petro chemical industry.
Wiki had this to say about it

"Common products made with it include lighter fluid, fuel for camp stoves, and some cleaning solvents."

[Pyr0]

I use naphtha for degreasing enclosures prior to painting and also on PCB's prior to etching, great stuff. I find it works better than acetone.  It's just common lighter fluid.

[pinkjimiphoton]

Whatever you do DO NOT use bleach and ammonia!!! Geesh, nearly killed me... 

nothing like a little mustard gas, 'eh?



you are EXTREMELY lucky. that particular combo has killed a lot of folks.

[Mike Burgundy]

Methylated spirits have oils added, which make them unpalateable (so pi$$-heads don't try to drink it, 'cos it makes you blind).

I knew they had add-ons for exactly that reason (solvents that are poisonous and/or taste *really* bad, sometimes coloring as a warning), although oils are an unknown to me. 'Course, there are many different blends out there. Stuff to light the BBQ with has a different set of design goals than something to sterilise medical tools with. The latter I feel is designed not to leave any residue. (Edit: hang on - I know a chemical engineer... Hope I remember to ask ;P )