Prev: Build your own Z80 CP/M homebrew computer
Next: Problem with LM3150
From: Archimedes' Lever on 15 Jan 2010 20:30
On Fri, 15 Jan 2010 05:42:06 -0600, "Jon Slaughter"
<Jon_Slaughter(a)Hotmail.com> wrote:

>Is it safe to soak a pcb in acetone for several minutes to clean it up all
>the flux? The board only has some QFN's, SMT LED's, and passive SMT's. I
>imagine the acetone won't harm these packages?

Do you think the epoxy used in making the PCB might react?

I would not "soak" anything in a solvent other than something like a
metal or other NON-porous material.

PCB material is VERY porous, even though it may not appear so.

It is epoxy and fiberglass.
From: John Larkin on 15 Jan 2010 22:44
On Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:30:01 -0800, Archimedes' Lever
<OneBigLever(a)InfiniteSeries.Org> wrote:

>On Fri, 15 Jan 2010 05:42:06 -0600, "Jon Slaughter"
><Jon_Slaughter(a)Hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>Is it safe to soak a pcb in acetone for several minutes to clean it up all
>>the flux? The board only has some QFN's, SMT LED's, and passive SMT's. I
>>imagine the acetone won't harm these packages?
>
> Do you think the epoxy used in making the PCB might react?

I've never seen a pcb be affected by a short time in acetone.

>
> I would not "soak" anything in a solvent other than something like a
>metal or other NON-porous material.
>
> PCB material is VERY porous, even though it may not appear so.
>
> It is epoxy and fiberglass.

If an little acetone did penetrate into the edge of the board - which
it won't - it will evaporate in an instant. And it's non-conductive.

John

From: Archimedes' Lever on 15 Jan 2010 23:49
On Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:44:42 -0800, John Larkin
<jjlarkin(a)highNOTlandTHIStechnologyPART.com> wrote:

>I've never seen a pcb be affected by a short time in acetone.


"...soak for several minutes" is NOT "a short time".
From: Robert Baer on 16 Jan 2010 03:37
John Larkin wrote:
> On Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:30:01 -0800, Archimedes' Lever
> <OneBigLever(a)InfiniteSeries.Org> wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 15 Jan 2010 05:42:06 -0600, "Jon Slaughter"
>> <Jon_Slaughter(a)Hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Is it safe to soak a pcb in acetone for several minutes to clean it up all
>>> the flux? The board only has some QFN's, SMT LED's, and passive SMT's. I
>>> imagine the acetone won't harm these packages?
>> Do you think the epoxy used in making the PCB might react?
>
> I've never seen a pcb be affected by a short time in acetone.
>
>> I would not "soak" anything in a solvent other than something like a
>> metal or other NON-porous material.
>>
>> PCB material is VERY porous, even though it may not appear so.
>>
>> It is epoxy and fiberglass.
>
> If an little acetone did penetrate into the edge of the board - which
> it won't - it will evaporate in an instant. And it's non-conductive.
>
> John
>
....but as acetone evaporates, the area gets cooler and water condenses,
adding to the water in the acetone.
From: Jon Slaughter on 16 Jan 2010 05:26
Alcohol worked pretty well. It left a small amount of residue in some
areas(white stuff which I have no what it is) and didn't get teh really
burned flux off well. I'd say it was about 97-99% effective in removing the
flux but not greating in making a pretty board. Luckily I only care about
looks with my women ;)

First  |  Prev  |  Next  |  Last
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5
Prev: Build your own Z80 CP/M homebrew computer
Next: Problem with LM3150