Sharing a lesson learned by a novice. I searched high and low for liquid flux in town and failed. Next stop, Amazon. Sure enough, there was liquid flux and I ordered a bottle and, with Prime, it showed up two days later. Unforunately, it leaked a little during shipment and the bottle was pretty tacky, literally. (Actually, it was down right sticky.) I decided to try and clean it. Dawn? Nope. Alcohol? Nope. Goo Gone? Yup. Unforunately, the first pass did not completely remove all of it, but it did soften it up enough that it got all over my fingers. Next thing I know, my fingers are getting stuck each other, really stuck. More Goo Gone on the fingers and the bottle and now everything is fine. (No question, just sharing.)
Edit: Oh yeah, and my hands still really stink of Goo Gone.
Richard
I remember that my father had a tin of Nokarode flux. It is the only tin of flux that he ever had in the 30 years that we lived in Merrick. It was very good flux, and building radios and televisions was his hobby, so one thinks that he might have used it up, but he did not. It was always in excellent contition.
I bought a jar of flux at radio shack, and it was horrible stuff. I still have it, but I am going to toss it long before 30 years are up.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Richard,
At my previous job I used a product made by Chemtronics called Flux Off. Not inexpensive for a 10 oz. aerosol can but it works really well. I have a can at home and spray it on a Q-tip to clean off any residual flux from my decoders after I've solder wires to them.
For a less expensive alternative, lacquer thinner works well. It will dry a lot quicker, too.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
BroadwayLion I remember that my father had a tin of Nokarode flux. It is the only tin of flux that he ever had in the 30 years that we lived in Merrick. It was very good flux, and building radios and televisions was his hobby, so one thinks that he might have used it up, but he did not. It was always in excellent contition. I bought a jar of flux at radio shack, and it was horrible stuff. I still have it, but I am going to toss it long before 30 years are up. ROAR
I hear ya on the Radio Shack flux. Use the same flux my Dad used, too. There are times I do use the Sta-Bright Silver Solder and flux when I want a really stong joint. It's acidic, so after you solder, you need to neutralize the soldered areas with a baking soda water solution. Really good stuf for soldering piano wire and brass tubing, channels, etc.. I have use it on wiring and electronics in the past and at times still do depending on what is being soldered. After 40 plus years there's no corrosion on the electrical work I did and the soldered connections are still strong as ever. Just make sure you clean everything good to neutralize the flux. Of course it's always to each their own.
Willy
Hey Richard, I wrote a reply and it ended up on the Railtracker thread above. I love electronics. Doug