[Elecraft] Cleaning a K3

[Don Wilhelm]

You may want to note that Elecraft does not recommend cleaning flux at all.
Those working in support and repair for the thru-hole legacy line may 
see a board we have to work on that is so covered with flux residue that 
it has to be removed.
Even then, we work with cotton swabs in a small area at a time with 99% 
iso alcohol.

I once had a K1 repair which had failed because the builder used 
something for a flux cleaner.  The residue had crept under the ICs, 
R-Paks, other components and the connectors.  After an extended repair 
time, it worked, but I heard a report about a year later that it stopped 
working again - I guess I did not remove enough components to clean 
under them!

Rosin Flux is better left in place, it is non-conductive if let alone - 
but when attempts to remove the flux are used, the flux and cleaner will 
produce conductive paths - so if you do remove flux, remove it and its 
residue completely or you are likely to have trouble later.

Use a solder with a mildly reactive rosin flux, Kester 285 is one of 
those.  It does not leave much flux residue and does not need to be 
cleaned.  Highly reactive flux solder (like the popular Kester 44) does 
leave a good deal of flux, but it too usually does not need to be cleaned.

We have morphed the original question - which was about cleaning a K3 
(of dust and dirt mainly), so further responses should change the 
subject line to something like 'cleaning flux from boards'.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 7/27/2016 5:11 PM, Clay Autery wrote:
> As I originally said, "NOT recommending this because it requires a great
> deal of
>
> care/experience"...
>
> I use 99% Iso. Alcohol when necessary.  And I'm not saying to flood the board with it.  Also not saying to get it near enclosed components...  One should use proper instruments and care when utilizing ANY solvent, TO INCLUDE water... which BTW, is the "universal solvent".
>
>