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From: Jon Slaughter on 15 Jan 2010 06:42
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?

From: John Larkin on 15 Jan 2010 06:46
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?

Check an LED first. Those transparent plastics aren't as tough
chemically or thermally as IC-type epoxy. Otherwise, should be fine.

John

From: Royston Vasey on 15 Jan 2010 06:55

"Jon Slaughter" <Jon_Slaughter(a)Hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:hipkai$h07$1(a)news.eternal-september.org...
> 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?

I'd say no and err on the safe side. Acetone can do nasty things to
plastics.

Just soak in methylated spirits for a few minutes, much milder on both the
hardwar and your lungs and fingers.

I'm not sure if the name methylated spirits is used globally - maybe you
know it as denatured alcohol ???



From: MK on 15 Jan 2010 08:14

"Jon Slaughter" <Jon_Slaughter(a)Hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:hipkai$h07$1(a)news.eternal-september.org...
> 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?

You really do not need to use nasty toxic organic solvents that may spoil
components.
You can buy proper pcb cleaning stuff from Farnell or anyone similar. I
recomend ( and use) Safewash which is water soluble. (You need to rinse
several times in de-ionised water and then dry). It comes in 5l packs or
400ml aerosols. If you want a solvent based system then they (Farnell etc)
sell those too but I can't recomend one. I gave up on the solvent based
methods when I got fed up with having to go outside every time I needed to
clean a board - the weather in SW Scotland may have something to do with
this..

Michael Kellett


From: Bob Eld on 15 Jan 2010 09:37

"Jon Slaughter" <Jon_Slaughter(a)Hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:hipkai$h07$1(a)news.eternal-september.org...
> 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?

I think acetone, MEK and similar solvents are too harsh. They can dissolve
or swell some plastics and may damage components.

I use 91% isopropyl alcohol or denatured ethanol both are mild and work
well. Use a small brush to loosen flux then wipe with a soft clean cloth.
Re-do if any residue remains.



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