A less toxic flux remover?

[12AX7]

I've only used one a few years back, but it was so nasty you needed a gas mask to use it. Does anyone today make a GOOD one thats not so toxic?

[sluckey]

I use mineral spirits, followed by denatured alcohol.

[The_Gaz]

99.8or9% alchohol. I can find at the Fred Meyer in my area for nothing.

[12AX7]

Why mineral spirits AND alcohol? What does one do that the other doesn't?

[sluckey]

Mineral spirits dissolves the flux and removes it. Alcohol removes the white film that is left when the MS evaporates.

[phsyconoodler]

You could drink mineral spirits and not dies and it has gentle cleaning properties.The Denatured alcohol degreases.they work really well together.Mineral spirits alone leaves a greasy film that the alcohol takes off.They don't harm components.a little elbow grease is required with a soft bristle brush.
  I'm with you on the toxic nature of the flux cleaning sprays.Nasty!

[12AX7]

Went to a couple places and all i found were gallon jugs of "thinner". Not called paint thineer, just thinner. And the salesman at the paint store i was at mentioned a govt agency having changed it to where any paint thinner or MS is now just sold under the name "thinner". Not to mention a don't need a $20 gallon of the stuff. I would likely die long before i get past 1 oz. So i was thinking....what about nail polish?

[sluckey]

And the salesman at the paint store i was at mentioned a govt agency having changed it to where any paint thinner or MS is now just sold under the name "thinner".

That ain't true!

Not to mention a don't need a $20 gallon of the stuff.

Go to Lowes. $13.58/gal or $7.64/qt.
MS is a very good degreaser and general cleaner, especially for any petroleum based products. Ever remove tree sap or road tar from your car? I always keep a gallon around for cleanups. I use far more MS for general cleaning than for paint thinning/cleanups. While your on that aisle, grab some denatured alcohol too. It's about the same price. Good for lot's of cleaning jobs. And one day you may even want to thin some shellac to put on your tweed cab.

So i was thinking....what about nail polish?

Say what??? Did you mean nail polish remover? That stuff eats plastic, will remove all the colors from your cc resistors, erases the writing on your caps, etc., etc, not to mention it stinks. Even the perfumed versions. Keep it away from electronics.

[12AX7]

Yes, i meant remover.
There are no lowes real close, but i'll have to just look around and check whenever i'm by a hardware or paint store.

[Willabe]

Anybody try a little dw-40?

Isn't dw-40 conductive?


                    Brad     

[12AX7]

Ohhh....WD40 melts all sorts of stubborn stuff away, i hadn't thought of that. I'll check to see if it's conductive and if not i'll try it.

[DummyLoad]

nail polish remover is acetone - as slucky says - DON'T use.

--DL

[Willabe]

I'll check to see if it's conductive and if not i'll try it.

I don't think thats a good idea.


                Brad     

[67polara]

WD40 is not conductive and works well to clean off resins.  I then use contact cleaner to remove the WD.  Takes a second and dries right away.  Back in the day we used to dry out the distributors with wd.  Spay it on shake it off and put it together and start it.  WD is great stuff only on thing people don't realize ... it is not a lubricant  LOL.


Tony

[PRR]

WD-40 is selected Kerosene.

When you put it on a squeaky hinge, it works for a month and then evaporates so you need more.

If you put it on a circuit board, it will be oily for a month and still oily a month later (just not oily enough to stop squeaks). Yuck!

I like Freon but they stopped selling the stuff.

Why do you want to clean flux? Mostly it does no harm. Anybody who peeps that far inside should not be shocked by flux. If you really have a lot of flux, maybe you have more solder than is needed? Solder should be a thin glue, not a bulk filler.

[LooseChange]

For a quick clean up, I use CRC QD Electronics Cleaner. No residue and cleans up just enough.
I really don't sweat the mess that much.

[Jack1962]

WD-40 is selected Kerosene.

When you put it on a squeaky hinge, it works for a month and then evaporates so you need more.

If you put it on a circuit board, it will be oily for a month and still oily a month later (just not oily enough to stop squeaks). Yuck!

I like Freon but they stopped selling the stuff.

Why do you want to clean flux? Mostly it does no harm. Anybody who peeps that far inside should not be shocked by flux. If you really have a lot of flux, maybe you have more solder than is needed? Solder should be a thin glue, not a bulk filler.

Excatly, if you have a bunch of flux you are using to much solder.

[phsyconoodler]

Quote:"Excatly, if you have a bunch of flux you are using to much solder."

Poo on that.solder has flux in it.Even a carefully soldered joint has flux spatter.cleaning your repairs so they look pristine is just a good practice to get into.