[Elecraft] Mineral spirits OK for cleaning boards?

[kevin schuchmann]

On Wednesday 18 June 2003 03:05 pm, Dave Hottell wrote:
> Folks,
>
> Is mineral spirits OK for cleaning flux off the boards upon completion?  I
> thought I had some acetone, but when I look at the can, it is mineral
> spirits.   Will this clean off the flux and/or hurt anything if used or do
> I have yet one more trip to make to HD?
>
> Tnx es 73 de Dave
> ab9ca/4
>


Hehe, try the acetone it will clean the board real good... it will get the 
flux, the silkscreening and probably the solder mask, it will attack 
electrolytics and all sorts of parts....  mineral spirits would also leave a 
nasty mess...

Most will tell you don't clean the board and that it doesn't hurt a thing 
leaving it...  and thats true, but I think a board looks more professional if 
cleaned so I cleaned mine.. I did it with a cleaner made for doing it, and 
used a lot of  Q-tips, flooding the board with flux remover usually makes a 
mess and gets a thin film of flux everywhere, the real way would be in a 
vapor tank but since most people don't have a board fab facilities in their 
house, the next best thing is spraying the cleaner into a cup and then 
dipping Q-tips in it and then cleaning the board, it works well for me...
YMMV

Kevin WA6FWF