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Old 10th Jul 2017, 9:16 pm   #1
Phil G4SPZ
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Default Does 'Fluxite' degrade with age?

My early memories of Fluxite soldering paste are of a light brown coloured paste, which gave off a notably fresh Zinc Chloride aroma when heated.

I have tried two separate old tins recently, and in both cases the consistency resembles axle grease and the aroma is distinctly different from what I remember, albeit fifty years ago!

Has anyone else noticed this?

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Old 10th Jul 2017, 9:40 pm   #2
evingar
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Default Re: Does 'Fluxite' degrade with age?

It's still produced by Fernox.
https://www.fernox.com/solders-fluxes/fluxite-paste

Looking at the data sheet it says it's corrosive, which suggests it is not ideal for electrical work.

Quote:
Fluxite paste flux is classified as corrosive, which can cause burns; prolonged or repeated skin contact should be avoided. Active flux is harmful if swallowed, eye contact should be avoided and the product should be used in well ventilated areas to avoid inhalation of any fumes.
However, if you are using it for plumbing, you could buy a small tin and compare - or find a plumber that uses it.
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Old 10th Jul 2017, 9:41 pm   #3
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Default Re: Does 'Fluxite' degrade with age?

I thought I had an old tin, but it's "Telux" - not that old, but it does look like axle grease. Still works, but smells like the flux in ye olde GPO fluxed solder.
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Old 10th Jul 2017, 9:42 pm   #4
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Default Re: Does 'Fluxite' degrade with age?

No, but then I haven't used my tin for 40 odd years......

I think I know where it is- near Leominster somewhere in the pile that is currently the contents of my shed.
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Old 10th Jul 2017, 9:45 pm   #5
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Default Re: Does 'Fluxite' degrade with age?

Alot of plumbers flux is corrosive, it's fine if washed off the joint soon after use with alcohol. The latest lead-free flux is particularly powerful and will turn copper tracks green in a couple of weeks if left.
My pot of very old fluxite is a semi-transparent brown and grease-like, but it does still work. We had a newish tin at my old work and it was alot lighter, sort of tan or deep orange.
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Old 10th Jul 2017, 9:46 pm   #6
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Default Re: Does 'Fluxite' degrade with age?

Thanks for the comments, and that link to the manufacturer. Amazing that it's still in production after some 80 years! I wonder if it has the same formulation, or whether it's been toned down to meet the COSHH regulations? I don't use it for electrical work, only for soldering tin plate, brass and copper sheet.
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Old 10th Jul 2017, 9:58 pm   #7
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Default Re: Does 'Fluxite' degrade with age?

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Originally Posted by McMurdo View Post
Alot of plumbers flux is corrosive, it's fine if washed off the joint soon after use with alcohol. .
Explains why plumbers do soldering after dinner ( in pub)
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Old 10th Jul 2017, 10:11 pm   #8
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Default Re: Does 'Fluxite' degrade with age?

I've been using flux from a tin like that for more than 40 years for various soldering jobs and it certainly hasn't gone off or lost its effectiveness.

I think there were other paste fluxes which came in tins, but the names escape me.

I believe plumbers now use a different blue coloured flux, which may be down to the adoption of lead free solder.
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Old 10th Jul 2017, 10:16 pm   #9
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Default Re: Does 'Fluxite' degrade with age?

Old tins still work but I would think that COSHH regulations have meant a formula change. The water bylaws have a bearing on flux used, it all changed when lead was outlawed.
LaCo flux is better and not toxic, much less corrosive too. Works well on steel.
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Old 10th Jul 2017, 10:16 pm   #10
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Default Re: Does 'Fluxite' degrade with age?

Plumbers' flux for potable water service pipework should be water-soluble, and is supposed to leave no residue that can support the growth of Legionella Pneumophila or other nasty water-borne bacteria.
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Old 10th Jul 2017, 10:23 pm   #11
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Default Re: Does 'Fluxite' degrade with age?

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I think there were other paste fluxes which came in tins, but the names escape me.
I remember now. It was called "Solderine" and my father used to use it 50 or 60 years ago along with "Baker's Fluid". It took me years to get him to use an electric soldering iron, as opposed to one heated on the gas ring, and cored solder.
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Old 10th Jul 2017, 10:33 pm   #12
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Default Re: Does 'Fluxite' degrade with age?

Fluxite was not water soluble. Its use was mainly for soldering lead and copper, much loved by the Gas Boards. New tins must be a different formulation to comply.
One reason why lead was outlawed besides it being slightly soluble in soft water is that wiping joints was done with tallow and a moleskin. The moles objected and tallow is an animal fat, not soluble and a breeding ground for bacteria.
Funny that for so many years tallow and lead were used and there was no legionella.
I don't see any improvement in peoples' brain power since both were made 'illegal', lead was supposed to result in arrested development.
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Old 10th Jul 2017, 10:47 pm   #13
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Default Re: Does 'Fluxite' degrade with age?

According to the "safety sheet" the active ingredient is Zinc Chloride, which I thought it always was.
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Old 11th Jul 2017, 7:22 pm   #14
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Default Re: Does 'Fluxite' degrade with age?

AFAIK, its the use of plumbers hemp that was outlawed due to it being susceptible to breeding legionella. I'd have thought flux was a foul medium for any bacteria!
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Old 11th Jul 2017, 7:33 pm   #15
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Default Re: Does 'Fluxite' degrade with age?

Plumber's Hemp is still available.

I have a big hank of something similar, but it's called flax.
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Old 11th Jul 2017, 7:56 pm   #16
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Default Re: Does 'Fluxite' degrade with age?

Chuckle! It wasn't so much the Plumbers' Hemp, but the linseed oil-based Boss White jointing compound that they liberally smeared all over everything that was so palatable to the Legionella bacteria.
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Old 11th Jul 2017, 8:35 pm   #17
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Default Re: Does 'Fluxite' degrade with age?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Boater Sam
Funny that for so many years tallow and lead were used and there was no legionella.
Ah, but there probably was. The resulting infections were passed off as pneumonia. Fit young people develop antibodies to Legionella and may never experience any symptoms. It wasn't until all those American Legionnaires at a convention got ill all at once that the disease was recognised.

One speculates what name would have been given to the disease if it had first cropped up at a convention of some other group...
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Old 11th Jul 2017, 9:08 pm   #18
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Default Re: Does 'Fluxite' degrade with age?

Indeed. It could just as easily have been a comic book convention. Imagine going down with a case of batmanella, and then picking up a secondary wonderwomanosis infection while you were in hospital .....
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Old 11th Jul 2017, 9:39 pm   #19
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Default Re: Does 'Fluxite' degrade with age?

Or a Scouts or Girl Guides convention...

Scouts desease Dib Dib Dibella

Girl Guides desease Ipromisella

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Old 11th Jul 2017, 11:27 pm   #20
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Default Re: Does 'Fluxite' degrade with age?

I also have a tin of Fluxite here that was purchased 35 to 40 years ago. Mine is very dark brown and virtually odourless. I either read or was told that it was rosin based. In all the years I've been using it I have never seen any of the component legs or wires corrode. The instructions on the back of the tin make no mention of cleaning the joint after soldering.

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