PSA: Cleaning flux off boards with isopropyl alcohol changed my repair success rate big time

For about 8 months I was doing board repairs and getting random failures after a few weeks. I finally realized the flux residue was causing leakage paths. Switched to a 99% isopropyl alcohol scrub after every rework. My success rate went from maybe 70 percent to over 90 percent. I also started using a dental pick to get under chips before rinsing. Has anyone else noticed a huge difference from just cleaning better?

3 comments

3 Comments

craig.olivia3d ago

Worked with an older tech who swore by scrubbing with an old toothbrush and acetone instead. Tried his method once and it worked fine but the smell was brutal. Still, the alcohol approach is way less harsh on your hands and lungs long term.

viola_garcia563d ago

Did you try the fume mask trick or just raw dog it?

sean483d ago

@viola_garcia56, does anybody actually get a perfect seal with those fume masks, or is it mostly for show?