Homebrew PCBs

Hi!

I have following solder paste:
http://alphametals.com/products/product.asp?ID=OM-5002
which has expired year ago. It's too hard for printing. Is there any way 
to soften the paste? May I use any of "normal" solvents, like ethanol, 
aceton etc.. to make it softer?

Marko

I tried, with no luck at all!

Whenever i tried to thin SMD paste it turned into explosive paste ;-)
What i mean to say is the components were catapulted right off the PCB
as soon as i heated it.

I tried alcohol (ethanol and isopropyl), and glycerine. Same result.

Did not try acetone, possibly it could evaporate before the heat is applied.

Did not try propylene glycol, may do so at some point.


I would also like to know a solvent/softener. My research has led
nowhere, the manufacturers say toss it out.
If you find anything let me know.

ST

On Feb 17, 2008 5:27 PM, Marko Pavlin <mp@...> wrote:
> Hi!
>
> I have following solder paste:
> http://alphametals.com/products/product.asp?ID=OM-5002
> which has expired year ago. It's too hard for printing. Is there any way
> to soften the paste? May I use any of "normal" solvents, like ethanol,
> aceton etc.. to make it softer?
>
> Marko
>
>

I have had great results using a Flux Pen, type SMF12P, manufactured by 
Electrolube, to soften dried out solder paste, Marko.  It would be 
useful to know just what the solvent used in that product is.  A tub of 
it would be very handy on the work-bench.

Bill

Marko Pavlin wrote:

> Hi!
>
> I have following solder paste:
> http://alphametals.com/products/product.asp?ID=OM-5002
> which has expired year ago. It's too hard for printing. Is there any way 
> to soften the paste? May I use any of "normal" solvents, like ethanol, 
> aceton etc.. to make it softer?
>
> Marko
>
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs 
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Bill Maxwell <wrmaxwell@...> wrote:
>
> I have had great results using a Flux Pen, type SMF12P, manufactured by 
> Electrolube, to soften dried out solder paste, Marko.  It would be 
> useful to know just what the solvent used in that product is.  A tub of 
> it would be very handy on the work-bench.

I've read up the safety description of the SMF12P Flux Pen - see
http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/60861.pdf .

It lists Propan-2-ol (Isopropanol) - should be easy to get.

-Michael

Well i tried IPA and it popped the components off.
But IPA is notorious for containing water, so maybe that's the culprit.

ST

On Feb 18, 2008 9:31 AM, michael_haberler <reg5612@...> wrote:
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Bill Maxwell <wrmaxwell@...> wrote:
> >
> > I have had great results using a Flux Pen, type SMF12P, manufactured by
> > Electrolube, to soften dried out solder paste, Marko.  It would be
> > useful to know just what the solvent used in that product is.  A tub of
> > it would be very handy on the work-bench.
>
> I've read up the safety description of the SMF12P Flux Pen - see
> http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/60861.pdf .
>
> It lists Propan-2-ol (Isopropanol) - should be easy to get.
>
> -Michael
>
>
>
>
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>

Most Isopropanol that you buy in a drug store is 70%, the rest water. Check
with the pharmasist, he/she may have some 90%. In a last resort, you can
purchase anhydrous (100%) for a chemical supply company. But keep the bottle
closed as it will absord water form the air.

Myc

On Feb 18, 2008 3:54 AM, Stefan Trethan <stefan_trethan@...> wrote:

>   Well i tried IPA and it popped the components off.
> But IPA is notorious for containing water, so maybe that's the culprit.
>
> ST
>
> On Feb 18, 2008 9:31 AM, michael_haberler <reg5612@...<reg5612%40mah.priv.at>>
> wrote:
> > --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com <Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>,
> Bill Maxwell <wrmaxwell@...> wrote:
> > >
> > > I have had great results using a Flux Pen, type SMF12P, manufactured
> by
> > > Electrolube, to soften dried out solder paste, Marko. It would be
> > > useful to know just what the solvent used in that product is. A tub of
> > > it would be very handy on the work-bench.
> >
> > I've read up the safety description of the SMF12P Flux Pen - see
> > http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/60861.pdf .
> >
> > It lists Propan-2-ol (Isopropanol) - should be easy to get.
> >
> > -Michael
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
> Photos:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> 
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

----- Original Message ----- 

From: "Myc Holmes" <mycroft2152y@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2008 1:34 PM
Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Softening solder paste


> Most Isopropanol that you buy in a drug store is 70%, the rest water. 
> Check
> with the pharmasist, he/she may have some 90%. In a last resort, you can
> purchase anhydrous (100%) for a chemical supply company. But keep the 
> bottle
> closed as it will absord water form the air.

99.7% IPA is available in the UK, supplied by Electrolube, and available 
from most electronic suppliers. I've got a can of it.

Leon
--
Leon Heller
Amateur radio call-sign  G1HSM
Yaesu FT-817ND transceiver
Suzuki SV1000S motorcycle
leon355@...
http://www.geocities.com/leon_heller

I know, and i didn't buy it at a drug store as rubbing alcohol, but i
still don't trust it.

Maybe someone else will try, i'd like to know something that revives
old paste, even if it's only for an emergency, when i need it _now_.

ST

On Feb 18, 2008 2:34 PM, Myc Holmes <mycroft2152y@...> wrote:
> Most Isopropanol that you buy in a drug store is 70%, the rest water. Check
> with the pharmasist, he/she may have some 90%. In a last resort, you can
> purchase anhydrous (100%) for a chemical supply company. But keep the bottle
> closed as it will absord water form the air.
>
> Myc
>

Come to think of it, Electrolube's  Isopropanol  is what I use to clean 
off the boards after soldering, so I should have recognised the smell 
and thereby,the solvent...Put that down to sinusitis.

Bill

Leon wrote:

> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Myc Holmes" <mycroft2152y@...>
> To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Monday, February 18, 2008 1:34 PM
> Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Softening solder paste
>
>
>   
>> Most Isopropanol that you buy in a drug store is 70%, the rest water. 
>> Check
>> with the pharmasist, he/she may have some 90%. In a last resort, you can
>> purchase anhydrous (100%) for a chemical supply company. But keep the 
>> bottle
>> closed as it will absord water form the air.
>>     
>
> 99.7% IPA is available in the UK, supplied by Electrolube, and available 
> from most electronic suppliers. I've got a can of it.
>
> Leon
> --
> Leon Heller
> Amateur radio call-sign  G1HSM
> Yaesu FT-817ND transceiver
> Suzuki SV1000S motorcycle
> leon355@...
> http://www.geocities.com/leon_heller 
>
>
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs 
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>