Want to Clean PCB

[Rov]

I would like to clean the Rosin solder,an oxides off a few PCB from a project.What can I use,in a home mix solution to apply.
I dont want to purchase the expensive Aerosol stuff.
Thanks!

[Unregistered]

Hello Rov
I use acrilic paint thinner to clean my board (acrilic P.T. is more expensive but better in quality.http://www.geotech1.com/forums/images/icons/icon7.gif
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paint_thinner

[Rov]

I tried White Spirit,100%hydrocarbon solution,got the residues off,but also the component lettering,color codes an starts disolving some plastics an rubber parts?on some things the other side of the board!probably damaging the carbon tracks on the trimpots too!

[Qiaozhi]

I tried White Spirit,100%hydrocarbon solution,got the residues off,but also the component lettering,color codes an starts disolving some plastics an rubber parts?on some things the other side of the board!probably damaging the carbon tracks on the trimpots too!

This is what you need to use ->
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=27521

[Rov]

Yes this is Aerosol PCB cleaner spray,I know.
Anything I can use as a home preparation?Xylene for dryclean preparation or such? that I can use in a small home pump spray bottle,an evaporates quickly on the board an takes the Flux residue Off.
I try Acetone ,but it wants to dissolve some plastic components on the other side of pcb like trimpots etc.not good!

[Max]

Yes this is Aerosol PCB cleaner spray,I know.
Anything I can use as a home preparation?Xylene for dryclean preparation or such? that I can use in a small home pump spray bottle,an evaporates quickly on the board an takes the Flux residue Off.
I try Acetone ,but it wants to dissolve some plastic components on the other side of pcb like trimpots etc.not good!

Hi,
the best you can get in good quantity is maybe the isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol) you can find in stores aka walmart and similar things... mall etc and even some paint store.

It's extremely clear and volatile stuff... and very good to clean from dirt, grease and rosin core... (many industrial processes still use it too... in combination with e.g. ultrasound waves etc).

You can get it in electronic shops too... cause it's employed e.g. as tape head cleaner fluid (yes, also you can find same at walmart and other places... for e.g. old VHS stuff or audio tape things... and other garbage).

You need some care when clean stuff with it... do not smoke, do not breath etc all very common sense... work outdoor if possible to let vapours dissolve in the free air not your home...

You can use cotton with it or other stuff... e.g. plastic made brushes too... very effective, then let gravity do the rest: clean fluid will drop from pcb and you'll get it clean very easy with 2-3 applications.

Another thing you may (maybe) find is starter fluid... made of diethyl ether and similar things... starter fluid you'll find in e.g. car products shops, walmart and similar places like e.g. filling stations cause it's a product employed in cold climate places... or during winter. If you live in a cold place you'll probably already know it.

Same stuff... do not breath (unless you like some extraordinary trip... ) do not smoke (very dangerous with that stuff near your pants... ) work outside.

Acetone is good but not much, copper oxides are common after using it and also solder (tin/lead or other alloys) suffer from acetone contact reactions. I don't suggest using it unless you're in a hurry and desperate a bit.

Better e.g. pure diethyl alcohol with lot of care... will clean enough and make not much damage to components than acetone will surely do.

Kind regards,
Max

[Rov]

Hi,I tried Lighter Fluid as in B/Bqs for outdoors,was cheap an worked a treat!Your right Max ,no smoking an strictly well ventilated!
Thank you very much for your replies,Great!

[1843]

Same stuff... do not breath (unless you like some extraordinary trip... )

Where to travel ?!

Hi,
the best you can get in good quantity is maybe the isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol) you can find in stores aka walmart and similar things... mall etc and even some paint store.

Thanks a lot! I'm going to buy some...

[joecoin]

I know ROV wants an inexpensive solution, but just for any one else who may want to know, this is what I use:

http://www.chemtronics.com/products/...p?r=1&m=2&id=4

[jackflash43]

A handy and safe cleaner

You can mix a 1000 cc of industrial thinner with 2 full spoon of table salt (NaCl) crude without additives, not Morton salt. This mix clean resin core solder and corrosion of copper tracks. Only for metal parts or electronic components not for plastic.

[PICON]

Cleaning assembled PCBs

Hi ROV,

I use methylated spirits and shellite to remove the solder flux from newly assembled circuit boards. I scrub the board with methylated spirits using a old tooth brush and then rinse in shellite to remove the methylated spirits. I then blow any remaining shellite off the board with an air gun and then let dry. The used shellite and methylated spirits can be re-used a number of times.

[technos]

Professional circuit assemblers recommend that you do not try to clean Rosin and no clean type flux. But instead use a water soluble flux. The only problem with the latter is that it is very important that you clean the whole board thoroughly. If you try cleaning the rosin, you end up with a mess. And if you use a harsh solvent, then you end up in a situation like Rov where the board starts to disintegrate as the solvent attacks it! I'd stick with a professional formulation from chemtronics if you must clean rosin/no clean from boards.