Richard Clark wrote:
On Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:11:49 -0400, Michael Coslo
wrote:

I have even considered an acid flux bath, followed by a long water
rinse, but that's always been verboten for electrical work.

Hi Mike,

It seems you've been out of electronics production for a verrry
loooong time. Acid flux is commonly used for environmental reasons.

35 years to be exact. We just about had it beat into us that you don't
use acids near electronics.

But it does stand to reason that a good water rinse will remove acid
flux very well. Certainly the flux removers for rosin can be
environmentally and health unfriendly.


Try dipping it into a small portion of Coca Cola overnight. The
Phosphoric Acid in it will strip anything....


Probably take about 3 liters for a Bugcatcher coil - around 6 inches
diameter, and about a foot in length.

But Thanks for the tip, I'll give it a try tonight. Might use Pepsi
tho' ;^)

- 73 de Mike N3LI -

Michael Coslo wrote:
I have even considered an acid flux bath, followed by a long water
rinse, but that's always been verboten for electrical work.

FWIW, I "pickle" the heavily oxidized copper antenna
wire I have to solder by wrapping a paper-towel sheet
around the joint, pouring a tablespoon of "Lime Away"
on it, waiting half an hour and then unwrapping and
rinsing it throughly with tap water. The copper has
a reddish, 'blistered' look and soaks up solder like
a sponge. I make it a point to tin all of the "pickled"
copper on either side of the joint as well as the joint
itself.

The prohibition against using 'acid-core' solder on
electronics was that the acid flux was actually a solid,
would remain on the connection and be activated
by moisture later, eating away the connection and
the wires. The active acid in "Lime Away" is good
old sulfuric, which is washed away in this case by
liberal amounts of applied water or later rainfall.

Jim, K7JEB

"Michael Coslo" wrote in message
...
Certainly the flux removers for rosin can be
environmentally and health unfriendly.

Ethyl alcohol works for me. Maybe mass fumes are bad in a production
setting but I just dunk a cotton swab in it to clean up after a little
soldering job.