Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!hplabs!hpfcdc!hpfcdj!myers
From: myers@hpfcdj.HP.COM (Bob Myers)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Rosin remover
Message-ID: <17660004@hpfcdj.HP.COM>
Date: 1 Aug 89 17:34:22 GMT
References: <10167@boulder.Colorado.EDU>
Organization: Hewlett Packard -- Fort Collins, CO
Lines: 20


Just a quick word regarding rosin/flux removal:  You may note, in looking
at the insides of various pieces of gear, that some of the bigger names in
the electronics business (especially some Japanese manufacturers with a 
reputation for quality products) are no longer bothering to wash the flux
off their PC boards.  Yes, it *looks* bad - but often, the wash process is
more of a problem as far a quality/reliability goes than the flux is.  Most
fluxes used in PC assembly are reasonably good insulators, and it doesn't hurt
anything to simply leave the stuff there.  Certain washes, on the other hand,
can be damaging.  One thing to pay particularly close attention to is NOT
to use cleansers containing halogens (such as fluorine or chlorine) on boards
containing aluminum electrolytic capacitors.  If the seal on the caps isn't
perfect, and some of the cleaning solution gets inside, you can kiss your
caps goodbye after a fairly short time.  (Unfortunately, NOT short enough
for the problem to show up before you ship the board off as "good"!)


Bob Myers  KC0EW   HP Graphics Tech. Div.|  Opinions expressed here are not
                   Ft. Collins, Colorado |  those of my employer or any other
myers%hpfcla@hplabs.hp.com               |  sentient life-form on this planet.