Homebrew PCBs

Hi guys,
I'm new to the group.  I'm an electronics hobbyist with very little experience in electronics (enough to get by, but I learn fast), hoping to always learn new things from the smart people that make up these groups.  I primarily a video game guy, working on everything from building custom portable console game systems, to collecting, repairing and restoring arcade games and pinball machines.  I'm always running into something new that has something to do with PCBs or electronics.

Anyhow, when I'm repairing, or even just working on an old PCB, is there a safe and acceptable way to clean a dirty dusty board, obviously without compromising the integrity of the PCB or it's components?  I realize this is not "necessary", but sometimes very dirty boards are difficult to work with for obvious reasons.  And, restoring the luster of a beautiful old board can add to the overall enjoyment of the hobby.

Thanks in advance,
Scott




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You could put it in the dishwasher.

It's hard to get water out of some components, transformers for
example, so you mightn't want to immerse them.

You should also at least rinse with de-ionised water, to avoid ion
contamination.

ST

On Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 8:41 PM, scott zeiser <scott@...> wrote:
> Hi guys,
> I'm new to the group.  I'm an electronics hobbyist with very little experience in electronics (enough to get by, but I learn fast), hoping to always learn new things from the smart people that make up these groups.  I primarily a video game guy, working on everything from building custom portable console game systems, to collecting, repairing and restoring arcade games and pinball machines.  I'm always running into something new that has something to do with PCBs or electronics.
>
> Anyhow, when I'm repairing, or even just working on an old PCB, is there a safe and acceptable way to clean a dirty dusty board, obviously without compromising the integrity of the PCB or it's components?  I realize this is not "necessary", but sometimes very dirty boards are difficult to work with for obvious reasons.  And, restoring the luster of a beautiful old board can add to the overall enjoyment of the hobby.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Scott
>
>

> Hi guys,
> I'm new to the group. I'm an electronics hobbyist with very little
experience in electronics (enough to get by, but I learn fast), hoping to
always learn new things from the smart people that make up these groups. I
primarily a video game guy, working on everything from building custom
portable console game systems, to collecting, repairing and restoring arcade
games and pinball machines. I'm always running into something new that has
something to do with PCBs or electronics.
> Anyhow, when I'm repairing, or even just working on an old PCB, is there a
safe and acceptable way to clean a dirty dusty board, obviously without
compromising the integrity of the PCB or it's components? I realize this is
not "necessary", but sometimes very dirty boards are difficult to work with
for obvious reasons. And, restoring the luster of a beautiful old board can
add to the overall enjoyment of the hobby.
> Thanks in advance,
> Scott

Try this:

http://www.nedis.nl/Articles/Kontakt%20Chemie/PCC%26frasl%3B200.php

It could be expensive depending on where you are. But it gives the best
results I've seen so far.

Nuno T.

scott zeiser wrote:
> 
  > Anyhow, when I'm repairing, or even just working on an old PCB, is 
there
> a safe and acceptable way to clean a dirty dusty board, obviously 
> without compromising the integrity of the PCB or it's components? I 
> realize this is not "necessary", but sometimes very dirty boards are 
> difficult to work with for obvious reasons. And, restoring the luster of 
> a beautiful old board can add to the overall enjoyment of the hobby.

A kitchen dish-washing machine would suit your needs. Just give it a 
good cold water rinse after the cycle is done (before it has dried). If 
you have a fan forced electric oven capable of 80C~90C temperature 
setting then throw it in there for 0.5 hours.
The mild alkalinity of machine dish-washer cleaners won't harm solder, 
copper or gold surfaces.

Thanks for the suggestion guys - I thought a dishwasher would be too harsh of an environment, but I guess not!  I have an air compressor, so I guess I could give it a good thorough blow-drying afterwards.  I may try a can of that spray someone suggested too, though.  Just to compare the differences.  I have alot of boards to clean now!

One more question - would I have to remove socketed chips beforehand?

Thanks again,
Scott


A kitchen dish-washing machine would suit your needs. Just give it a 

good cold water rinse after the cycle is done (before it has dried). If 

you have a fan forced electric oven capable of 80C~90C temperature 

setting then throw it in there for 0.5 hours.

The mild alkalinity of machine dish-washer cleaners won't harm solder, 

copper or gold surfaces.



    
  

    
    




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I would not remove ICs from sockets, but i would not wash coils
(transformers, relays).
Also it can be problematic to wash switches because of the grease used on some.

Use a mild detergent only (like one for manual washing). Rinse well
and dry very well (long and warm), but make sure the dishwasher isn't
so hot in the drying phase as to distort plastic components.
Compressed air will get rid of the bulk of the water, but you still
need heat and time to get it out of narrow spaces, like IC sockets.

ST

On Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 2:20 PM, scott zeiser <scott@...> wrote:
> Thanks for the suggestion guys - I thought a dishwasher would be too harsh of an environment, but I guess not!  I have an air compressor, so I guess I could give it a good thorough blow-drying afterwards.  I may try a can of that spray someone suggested too, though.  Just to compare the differences.  I have alot of boards to clean now!
>
> One more question - would I have to remove socketed chips beforehand?
>
> Thanks again,
> Scott
>
>

> Thanks for the suggestion guys - I thought a dishwasher would be too harsh
of an environment, but I guess not! I have an air compressor, so I guess I
could give it a good thorough blow-drying afterwards. I may try a can of
that spray someone suggested too, though. Just to compare the differences. I
have alot of boards to clean now!
>	
> One more question - would I have to remove socketed chips beforehand?

Not if you use the spray I mentioned.

Guess that for a dish-washer that could be a good idea to avoid any water
from being trapped underneath
	
Nuno T.