I order the cheapest solder flux I could find - why? I still do not know. Maybe because I get ripped off buying expensive stuff too. Anyway....
This week for my Chinese surprise delivery, I receive a little plastic make-up cup, with some chineese scribble-scrabble on it. Inside is a hard dense SOMETHING. My only guess is that it's dried up tree-sap.
I would attach pictures, but now the dialog is telling me I am violating security rules and regulations, to contact administrator. I really do not have time today to file complains to someone who does not care about attaching pictures on a forum. If someone wants a picture of this mess, I have them - just the forum won't allow me to attach the files today - I guess it's some type of terrorist threat to put pictures online now...
The dried up log-cabin maple syrup is hard, dense and somewhat amber color. I felt compelled to dive my soldering iron into the center. The hard glue melted and liquefied. I did not know what to do with it from there. I guess I am expected to put this in a tin cup and keep it on top of a solder pot? Put this in the microwave and quickly use it before it turns back into solid? I am confused.
Is this stuff a specialty flux ? Is this just dried up and bad? What use is this dense solid for?
It sounds like rosin, which you're supposed to dissolve in some solvent like isopropanol (AKA rubbing alcohol) to make it easy to apply.
Regarding the pictures, this is a good explanation of how to attach and embed: http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=364156.0
but it sounds like there's some kind of a problem preventing you from even getting to the attachment stage.
I attempt to attach a 385kb .JPG using the same "ATTACH/CHOOSE FILE" that I have done only about 100 times before:
There was a problem during the uploading of solderFlux1.jpg.
Your post has been made, however the above attachment was not attached. Please use the Back button to edit your post and submit any required changes.
Your attachment has failed security checks and cannot be uploaded. Please consult the forum administrator.
Yeah; solid rosin for formulating your own flux. Although I'm not sure how you achieve "activation."
I'm happy that it's available, but it's not what you want to buy if you were looking for ready-to-use flux!
westfw:
Yeah; solid rosin for formulating your own flux. Although I'm not sure how you achieve "activation."
I'm happy that it's available, but it's not what you want to buy if you were looking for ready-to-use flux!
I guess I ordered flux from a company that goes through a time portal, and sent me it from 1950 - when all flux came this way before paint thinner was invented. But since you put it that way, I guess I've just been invited to a nice game of Chinese challenge for me to get my whole $.12 back out of this. But the sample is so small, by the time I found the right mix - the fun science experiment is over. Banging a hole in a tree out back and tapping the sap that comes out would actually be more productive for me.
allanhurst:
Also suitable for violin bows.... but it may be the wrong grade.
Allan
I am convinced whatever they sent me is the rejected leftover of every possible industrial or hobby use. At this point, I would have to melt it and pour all over the fabric seats of someone's car that I did not like, in order to get an actual use out of it.
I think I ordered flux PASTE. Got it confused with liquid flux. Probably I was too cheap to spend the whole $7.00 for the liquid flux. I am very certain I did not pay over $1.00 for this container about the size of a used up roll of electrical tape.
I watch the video, the procedures are easy enough for me to do, without waiting for 10 other things to be delivered and re-ordered 2 more months from now. I will smash this up into a powder, stick into a jar with the alcohol and see what happens a day later. If it works, maybe I'll just do it this way if it's cheaper then buying liquid flux, for close to $10.00 for an ounce.
Oh, I found the link to the stuff once I searched eBay to find how much SOLID ROSIN actually costs:
DocStein99:
I order the cheapest solder flux I could find - why? I still do not know. Maybe because I get ripped off buying expensive stuff too. Anyway....
This week for my Chinese surprise delivery, I receive a little plastic make-up cup, with some chineese scribble-scrabble on it. Inside is a hard dense SOMETHING. My only guess is that it's dried up tree-sap.
I would attach pictures, but now the dialog is telling me I am violating security rules and regulations, to contact administrator. I really do not have time today to file complains to someone who does not care about attaching pictures on a forum. If someone wants a picture of this mess, I have them - just the forum won't allow me to attach the files today - I guess it's some type of terrorist threat to put pictures online now...
The dried up log-cabin maple syrup is hard, dense and somewhat amber color. I felt compelled to dive my soldering iron into the center. The hard glue melted and liquefied. I did not know what to do with it from there. I guess I am expected to put this in a tin cup and keep it on top of a solder pot? Put this in the microwave and quickly use it before it turns back into solid? I am confused.
Is this stuff a specialty flux ? Is this just dried up and bad? What use is this dense solid for?
That's standard rosin flux, as in the cores of multicore solder. Recognize the smell when it melts.
Rosin is based on pine resin, and mainly contains turpenes which melt at the right temperatures and
reduce metal oxides back to the pure metal without producing any corrosive by-products.
For electronics you never ever use acid flux (used for plumbing soldering), which eats through components
and PCB traces slowly destroying everything in its path.
MarkT:
That's standard rosin flux, as in the cores of multicore solder. Recognize the smell when it melts.
Rosin is based on pine resin, and mainly contains turpenes which melt at the right temperatures and
reduce metal oxides back to the pure metal without producing any corrosive by-products.
For electronics you never ever use acid flux (used for plumbing soldering), which eats through components
and PCB traces slowly destroying everything in its path.
Actually, Mark, all the liquid fluxes, except rosin, are organic acids that are activated by the heat of soldering. That includes the flux in solder paste used for SMD. That is why ALL the boards must be washed clean soon after soldering.
The flux is designed to be neutralized by the soldering heat held for long enough complete the soldering operation. Even "no clean" solder paste must be used with minimum amounts necessary so the flux will be all converted to non-acid.
Back when we still had a wave solder machine with a stainless steel flux tank, a new tank lasted only a few years before the flux had eaten the stainless steel and began to leak.
What type of time are we talking about? The oldest hand made circuit board by me is 12+ years old, I pulled out of a drawer. Just by sitting there, I can tell the copper disappeared and thinned out - could still be used if I actually wanted to - but it's more of a time capsule.
I am not repairing customer phones or computers, professional equipment. If I can wire it up and it works for 10 minutes, I assume it will do it long enough to break by a careless mistake before the circuit board has been used so long it is old enough to dissolve.
After watching the youTube video, I was impressed and feel happier to be able to make my own flux. The procedures looked as easy as brewing iced tea. I just paid $10.00 for two different bottles of liquid kester flux. If I had spent that on the rosin, it looks like probably over a year supply for me - considering I do not use it at all. I am still using up the stacked tins in my father's cabinet, this green toothpaste/waxy stuff that's made from anyone's guess. I have to heat it over a flame, suck it up with a syringe because it's so thick.
