/diy/ - Do It Yourself

Also, the flux is clear in color

Just add some to a bit of baking soda. If it fizzes it is acidic.

>>326717
>I also have access to a pH reader, can this be used to determine the type?

Yes. Anything below 7pH is acidic and anything above 7pH is alkaline. Going below 5pH would be a concern. 2.5ish pH is lemon juice for instance. Most soda and fruit juices are before 5pH (which is why they are bad for your teeths' enamel.)

I suggest contacting the company that manufactures the flux and asking them directly.

>>326717
If you bought it at a hardware store, it's probably acid-based flux for soldering sheet metal, not electronics, and it'll corrode any electronics you use it on. Take it back for a refund.

You can use acid flux as long as your solders are pretty much perfect an you clean all the flux off when you are done. But if any flux is left in the joint it will most likely fail eventually, same goes for if you do not get all the flux off. You should clean the flux from the board no matter what kind of flux you are using though.

captcha; nitric emocam

ok, take that flux, flux up an innocent capacitor's anode, flux it up thoroughly and all the way to the base, the bottom of our poor capacitor, then construct a very long metal structure with rubber feet so it can only redirect it to the air and mostly our to-be-punished fluxed capacitor, wait for lightning to strike the tower and see if it all turns to tachyons and arrive a plancks time unit in the past.

Why don't you get solder with the rosin core?

>>326821

Nope, flux wicks up the component leads, it'll fuck things up big time

>>326803

Spot on, and at the same hardware store, go to the automotive section, and get some cheap flux core solder. You won't need to apply flux, it's so easy to use.

>>326717
>it has some warning symbols, "environmentally unsafe" and "irritating"

You done goofed. That's acidic metal flux and it remain acidic even after it cools, ruining your electronics.

Get some colophony flux. AKA pine resin. AKA rosin.

You can even make that shit yourself by buying a brick of pine resin (guitar stores usually carry it in this form) and dissolving some in rubbing alcohol.

Thanks for the answers, guys.

I am aware that rosin/no-clean flux is what I need, but I can't find it anywhere. I ordered it online on september 16th and it still hasn't arrived yet, that's why I'm in such a hurry.

And I can't use flux core solder, I'm doing surface mounting

>>327233
If you have pine trees in your area you can go out and make a V slice in the bark and collect rosin that way for use as flux. I would also bitch and complain about an order that hasn't been received that was bought on Sep. 16th. That's ridiculous.

>>327246
I've been told there's a congestion in china post, which makes sense because a lot of orders recently have used well over a month to arrive..

After having to manually repair tens of boards that i used no clean/water soluble flux on....

ONLY USE ROSIN FLUX

the kester water soluble flux on sparkfun is nasty shit, it ate off most of my pcb copper in under 2 weeks

and yes I did clean it with distilled water right after i finished soldering

I have reflowed hundreds of boards with MG Chemicals 835-P rosin flux (it's a pen) from Mouser and had zero problems. A++++ woudl flux again

These guys work pretty well:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/NEW-1-pc-10ml-Amtech-RMA-223-BGA-PCB-Flux-paste-ROHS-/170857404882?pt=LH_Defa
ultDomain_100&hash=item27c7e519d2&vxp=mtr

10ccs lasts REALLY long.
Keep in mind they are fake knockoffs. Real Amtech flux doesn't come from china. Still a great deal though. Beautiful pine rosin smell.

>>327246
!!! have you tried that? I have plenty of flux but I also have plenty of pine trees and I want to try that now in the spirit of /diy/

Look up a " Flux Pen " Its like a Paint stick pen, but flux.

Kester is a good brand. Clean with alcohol and a toothbrush..

>>327233
>And I can't use flux core solder, I'm doing surface mounting

Your solder paste doesn't have flux in?