Re: [Repeater-Builder] cleaning electronics

[Fred Townsend]

skipp025 wrote: Hi Fred, Fred Townsend <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I'd like to second Skipps comments and add one of my own. At the factory we used ordinary dish washers (until we got the commercial washers) to clean PC boards. Also guilty of doing said... although I don't use the dishwasher for electronics parts any more. Spic and Span is a little harsh. For general cleaning, including automatic dish washers, useArm and Hammer baking soda. I use Palmolive Liquid Dish Soap in warm water for the more sensitive stuff. I've tried and used Spic and Span, TSP, Pine-Sol (or equiv) and 409 on the more mechanical items. It's hard to beat the grease cutting power of original powder Spic-and-Span. "Why that micor cabinet looks almost new... " Spic and Span contains TSP and is slightly acidic. Never checked Pine-Sol. 409 is quite basic so it cuts grease well but can be hard on some things. For some sensitive electronics items (like variable caps), a tumble in crushed Walnut shells does the trick. Now the shells are replaced with plasitic cleaning media bought from local gun stores. And if it doesn't work when you are through you pull out the shot gun and blow it to hell. I have been tempted a few times. If you think someone has used an acid flux (sometimes necessary to solder nickel or steel) clean with ammonia before the baking soda. Finally if you have rosin flux isopropyl alcohol works well. Don't use rubbing alcohol (contains water) or use alcohol in the automatic dish washer (it will burn). Fred AE6QL Thanks Fred... for dry solder flux I've been using Acetone on a sturdy Q-Tip. Tilt! Have you noticed a white film on the PCB? I have taken acetone off several assembly lines because it effects plastics, particularly polystyrene. Since many capacitors use plastics for either case or dielectric it can cause latent defects taking years to show up. All these hints are very handy to know. Want to know my trick for quickly removing components from scrap PC boards? Fred, AE6QL 73's skipp Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Text inserted by Panda Platinum 2006 Internet Security: This message has NOT been classified as spam. If it is unsolicited mail (spam), click on the following link to reclassify it: http://127.0.0.1:6083/Panda?ID=pav_18492&SPAM=true --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS  Visit your group "Repeater-Builder" on the web.    To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]    Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.