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Hints, Tips and Solutions (Do NOT post requests for help here) If you have any useful general hints and tips for vintage technology repair and restoration, please share them here. PLEASE DO NOT POST REQUESTS FOR HELP HERE! |
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7th Feb 2019, 3:47 pm | #1 |
Nonode
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 2,117
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Liquid Rosin Flux
I have said it before: the use of liquid rosin flux for successful soldering and re-soldering is not widely recognised, and I had not encountered it until I started work in manufacturing industry. If you feel you cannot improve on your soldering with your favourite brand of rosin-cored solder read no further, but if you have ever been frustrated trying to tin a stripped wire or trying to solder to the nickel-plated terminals of a Phono-socket or Jack-plug, treat yourself to a small bottle of Liquid Rosin Flux and a "Needle Bottle".
I have just bought a needle bottle and it far exceeds the performance of any other flux bottle I used at work. These do not leak and cannot be spilled but allow the precise administration of minute quantities of the sticky stuff. Search eBay for >Needle Bottle for Rosin Solder Flux< where you will find two sizes, 50 and 30ml. I bought the 50ml but 30 would be more convenient on the workbench. Search also for a small quantity of the flux, and for some IPA (Isopropanol) for cleaning off flux residue. I apply liquid flux to any and every solder joint. I normally set my iron to 260-300°C for normal-fine work. I now use these needle bottles for the IPA and for white spirit
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- Julian It's good here Last edited by Julesomega; 7th Feb 2019 at 4:04 pm. Reason: PS |
7th Feb 2019, 5:29 pm | #2 |
Heptode
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Chatham, Kent, UK.
Posts: 964
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Re: Liquid Rosin Flux
Hi i make my own liquid flux using rosin from music shop desolved in ipa
100gram rosin to 1ltr or so ipa works well |
7th Feb 2019, 6:04 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Lynton, N. Devon, UK.
Posts: 7,088
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Re: Liquid Rosin Flux
I used to use violin rosin years ago! However, as it is intended for applying to bows, its efficacy as a flux, freedom from corrosive residues, etc is unassessed and likely to be a bit variable from batch to batch.
The general spirit of this thread, though, agree completely! Liquid rosin fluxes are sold in various broad categories, R (Rosin); RMA (rosin, mildly activated) and RA (rosin, activated) according to how aggressive the flux has to be. Great for surface mount, too! |
7th Feb 2019, 7:22 pm | #4 |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oban, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 1,129
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Re: Liquid Rosin Flux
I started using liquid flux a couple of years ago after watching hot air reworking videos on SM components. Not looked back since. I was initially concerned at how freely some users 'poured' it around but that can often make the difference between the soldering job working easily or being a bit more difficult.
A bottle of IPA to clean up afterwards is also recommended. |
8th Feb 2019, 12:39 am | #5 |
Nonode
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 2,117
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Re: Liquid Rosin Flux
Re the grades of rosin flux, I'm not sure what I'm using, most likely RMA. It was being thrown out of Stores 25 years ago for exceeding the use by date, I can only read "Ersin Multicore Rosin Flux Type 5381 1L" so I have several lifetime's supply. We later used a pale blue water-based flux which left no residue and was slightly more 'activated'. This was brilliant and if I had to buy flux now I'd look for something similar - but beware, most are corrosive and for plumbing or soldering steel or stainless. The clue seems to be to look for rosin-free, halide-free, Lead Free
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12th Feb 2019, 2:22 pm | #6 |
Heptode
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 632
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Re: Liquid Rosin Flux
I find a flux pen very useful for PCB rework and SMT work
https://www.pcb-soldering.co.uk/sra-...SABEgJ7DfD_BwE |
12th Feb 2019, 3:36 pm | #7 |
Heptode
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Lincoln, Lincolnshire, UK.
Posts: 583
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Re: Liquid Rosin Flux
I have just got into surface mount assembly (using standard soldering iron and solder soldering technique), and have found the liquid flux indispensible. It is not practical to use standard solder with an iron directly, having to use tweezers to hold the components (hence needing three hands), but I was amazed how easy things go with a prior application of flux.
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29th Mar 2019, 2:40 pm | #8 |
Pentode
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 193
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Re: Liquid Rosin Flux
I just bought several lifetimes supply of flux from eBay, just need a few needle bottles.
I'll take some to work, give some to my mate then I've got 3/4 of a litre at home. 1 Litre MG Chemicals 835-1L Liquid Rosin Flux |
15th Jun 2019, 1:16 pm | #9 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 81
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Re: Liquid Rosin Flux
If like me you are an E-cig user (game up smoking about 4 years ago) ..or indeed you know someone who is .
Ask them to save the e-juice bottles for you. These make great dispensers and or storage for decanting small quantities of homebrew rosin flux. Dont forget to thoroughly clean em out first tho' rgds VS |
15th Jun 2019, 1:48 pm | #10 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Bognor Regis, West Sussex, UK.
Posts: 2,300
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Re: Liquid Rosin Flux
I use BLT 35-41 No Clean Flux Pens, got about half dozen from my old job as they were out of date.
Also picked this up at the car boot today, not sure if I would use it now though.... Peter |
15th Jun 2019, 1:54 pm | #11 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: East Sussex, UK.
Posts: 3,326
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Re: Liquid Rosin Flux
Don’t put that Fluxite near any electronic stuff, it’s for plumbing etc and needs to be cleaned off afterwards. It contains some acid.
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15th Jun 2019, 4:27 pm | #12 |
Octode
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Evesham, Worcestershire, UK.
Posts: 1,423
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Re: Liquid Rosin Flux
I use semi liquid flux in a syringe for surface mount work and for using with the solder wick when more 'suck' is needed, found a couple of big nuggets of Greek pitch in some old stuff, I guess those old boys must've splintered some into some meths to make a rough version of the same.
Greg.
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Picture, sound?, DOOR. Last edited by greg_simons; 15th Jun 2019 at 4:28 pm. Reason: spelling mistake |
15th Jun 2019, 7:26 pm | #13 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 14,007
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Re: Liquid Rosin Flux
There were two versions of Fluxite: one was a murderous acid gel, the other a much more electronics-friendly Rosin.
Must admit, it's been several decades since I've used a separate flux when soldering. |
15th Jun 2019, 8:14 pm | #14 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Bognor Regis, West Sussex, UK.
Posts: 2,300
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Re: Liquid Rosin Flux
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15th Jun 2019, 8:42 pm | #15 | |
Nonode
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK.
Posts: 2,198
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Re: Liquid Rosin Flux
Quote:
Martin
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16th Jun 2019, 7:06 am | #16 |
Octode
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Oxfordshire/Bucks borders, UK.
Posts: 1,604
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Re: Liquid Rosin Flux
I use a squirt of electrolube rework flux from time to time and often a flux pen.
With the liquid flux I squirt some in a small pot and dip the ends of wires in which I need to tin. The flux pen is great for fluxing up flat surfaces which aren't taking up solder well on its own.
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Avometer, vintage Fluke and Marconi collector. Also interested in vintage Yaesu and KW. |
16th Jun 2019, 3:02 pm | #17 | |
Pentode
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 193
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Re: Liquid Rosin Flux
Quote:
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16th Jun 2019, 3:06 pm | #18 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK.
Posts: 5,554
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Re: Liquid Rosin Flux
I can vouch for E-cig bottles too.
I always keep a few at the ready. |
17th Jun 2019, 1:49 pm | #19 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 81
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Re: Liquid Rosin Flux
I have to admit to liking the smell when using Rosin ..
It takes me back to my yoof when I first picked up a soldering iron. A very pleasant smell (slightly sweet) that todays fluxes simply dont have. No idea if it is harmful to health to sniff rosin..but I've been soldering since I was 9 and am now in my sixties. I suspect taking up smoking (now vaping) and breathing car exhaust fumes did farrr for damage. lol |
17th Jun 2019, 2:11 pm | #20 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 3,687
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Re: Liquid Rosin Flux
I only use it for SMD stuff. Haven't had any problems soldering anything else. I mostly use 62/36/2 solder though which seems to be far far easier to work with than 60/40
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