[ServinginEcuador]

What do I use to remove solder resin from solder joints? I will need to know both an applicator and chemical to do the job to clean up my amp and make it look nice for sale!!!


Thanks guys!!!

 

[zzz]

I use alcohol but water works just as well.

Ah yes, applicator. Q-tip.

 

[puppyslugg]

Or toothbrush.

 

[braillediver]

Q-tips/cotton swabs and isopropyl alcohol. The cheap cotton swabs don’t shed as much and get the highest purity isopropyl alcohol you can find >90%. Not rubbing alcohol.

 

[ServinginEcuador]

Thanks for the help guys!! you're awesome. I just spent the last 30 minutes hunched over my amp with a bunch of QTips and isopropyl alcohol rubbinh away at the resin. So far it has done an incredible job of making it look a lot nicer than before and cleaned it up real nice!!

 

[eric343]

Organic flux remover in an aerosol can, from the local electronics shop. It doesn't get it 100%, but the little that's left on is only cosmetic.

 

[ServinginEcuador]

For those who frequent Rat Shack, do they have anything along these lines to remove the junky stuff?? That's about the only thing really near here that might carry something like what Eric suggested.

 

[eric343]

They might, also try Fry's.

 

[puppyslugg]

I've tried many flux remover products in the past, and IMO, none worked better than alcohol and good old elbow grease. It's a lot less messy than using aerosol products.

 

[ServinginEcuador]

So far the isopropyl has done a good job indeed when combined with elbow grease!! It really took up a lot of the resin and made the insides of my amp look a lot cleaner and neat!

Thanks again for the help and clear up with the aerosol cleaners, I'm not sure I want to try it out myself, but we'll see....

 

[morsel]

I'm with PS, a toothbrush is much faster than a Q-tip and does not shed lint. I have one as a permanent item in my electronic toolbox.

 

[ServinginEcuador]

This may sound stupid, but what brand and size toothbrush do you use for cleaning?? This amp has some pretty tight spots and I would hate to bend or damage the components while trying to do cosmetic work!! I guess I'll go to the supermarket and see what they have in the way of really small headed toothbrushes. Hopefully they have a large selection of kids stuff to pick from!!!

 

[braillediver]

You can also get those cheap aluminum handle flux brushes then cut the brush to suit your needs. These also shed but hey.

The spray flux removers are better used on bare boards. You sort of wash the boards say from top to bottom. I wouldn't spray a can of that stuff inside a nice amplifier chasis. Some of them react/eat plastics so be careful using it on an assembled unit.

I'd also get a can of dry air to clean the unit out after all the work. It'll remove any stray lint or anything.

 

[morsel]

Full 60 soft Oral B, predating the freakazoid molded handle brushes that have taken over the market here in the USA.

 

[ServinginEcuador]

I think I'll go with the Oral B toothbrush and see if I can do some more clean up. The amp is already much cleaner looking, but I think those nylon brushes my do a little polishing that the QTips can't!!