Board cleanup: Solder, flux and IPA?

Community Projects
1

Hi,

I do two types of hand soldering … repair on old equipment from the around the 1980’s (give or take) and some little projects I make PCBs for. For both I have been using Kester SN63PB37 just because I pretty much always have. For the PCBs I sometimes need to use a flux pen of soldering paste for the SMDs. What do people use to clean their boards after sodlering, if anything? I use good tech grade iso-propal alcohol, but it seems to make the whole board sticky unless I clean it multiple times and leave it to dry for quite a while. I think I’m using the wrong approach … anyone?

2

If you’re using Kester 245, it uses a No-Clean flux, so unless you’re really anal about it, don’t clean it at all.

3

Thanks … yeah #66/245. I’m not particularly anal about it, but a few people I sold populated boards to mentioned that the board wasn’t “clean”. So I tried cleaning with IPA. I guess it does look nicer at the expense of a lot of cleaning and time.

I should look at my flux pen and/or paste syringe and see if I’m adding to my issue there…

4

Water? Some of the assembly houses I used to use would just put boards in a regular dishwasher. Alternately, you used to be able to buy spray bottles of PCB cleaner and the spray was powerful enough to wash the residue off. Try Circuit Specialists for that kind of stuff.