Sal Ammoniac (WAS: [Elecraft] Hakko 808 tips)

[Bob Nielsen]

On Oct 7, 2005, at 7:38 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:

> Steve, AA4K wrote:
>
> I'd be very reluctant to use a soldering iron tip cleaned with sal  
> ammoniac
> on electronic equipment. For some manufacturers, it will void the  
> warranty.
>
> ----------------------
>
> Now that's an interesting thought. What possible harm does a common  
> salt
> (NH4)Cl do, especially if it's used as a cleaner that is long gone  
> before
> the iron ever approaches an electronic component, not as a  
> soldering aid.
>
> It's been a long time since I fiddled with that strange stuff, but  
> Jerry
> reminds me that it is an excellent de-oxidizer. One of its interesting
> properties is that it is NEVER a liquid. It is either a solid or a  
> gas,
> depending upon the temperature. It's the gas boiling off of the solid
> material when heated that provides the cleaning action.

How sublime (sorry, I couldn't resist).

Bob, N7XY