Flux helps solder flow better, and keeps it out of places you don’t want it. Don’t even try to solder without copious amounts of this magic goo.
For the past few weeks used a freebie EDSYN FL-22 flux syringe from Farnell. 5ml is about $15 in Europe, US availability is limited. The flux showed up in two prototype soldering videos: PICqueno32 build, and PICqueno32 repair. It’s easy to judge flux because we use it every day. We used the FL-22 on a dozen surface-mount prototypes prior to this review.
Long time readers know we use a syringe of flux from a surplus store that expired in 1991. Nothing else seems to compare. It still works great, but the tip started to crust shut. The alternatives we’ve tried were disappointing.
FL-22 worked great, a welcome surprise. It will even replace our old flux in the workshop. The viscosity is nice, it’s easy to control the flow and spread it around. It worked fine for hand soldering a dozen SMD prototypes.
A lot of flux breaks down during hot-air rework and releases nasty black fumes. The datasheet says this is stable to 420 degrees. It was totally smoke free when replaced the PIC on the PICqueno32 board.
It claims to be low solids and no-clean when “carefully applied”. Maybe for small repairs, but we use a lot of flux. The board definitely needed a cleanup with acetone. We don’t expect any flux that works well to be no clean, we don’t see this as a negative.
The only down side is the plastic applicator tip. We didn’t have any problems, but it might melt while adding extra flux to a hot part. Something to look out for.
We also got tub of Fry Powerflow Flux. It’s actually intended for heavy-duty soldering and is too corrosive for SMD work. It might be helpful for removing crud from old through-hole parts to help with repairs. Remember to clean well. Unfortunately we didn’t have a situation to use this one, but we’ll pass the freebie to a commenter in this thread.
Recently we tried out a springy metal soldering iron tip dry cleaner that we purchased in a separate Farnell order. This wasn’t a freebie. You can also see it in action in the PICqueno32 soldering videos too. Thanks to the commenter who pointed out we should stab into it instead of wipe, that works great. We’re really happy with the cleaner. It doesn’t cool the iron after cleaning like a wet sponge, and we’re never tempted to solder with a dirty iron just because there isn’t any water handy. If you solder a lot, it might be worth trying for only $5.62.
Both the EDSYN FL-22 flux and the iron cleaner are now fixtures in our workshop, and landed a place on the tools page.
As far as we can tell, EDSYN GMBH does not have a website.
I’m going to look around for that type of syringe. I think I could get a case of them for less than $89 dollars.
Useful info! :)
I still have about 60% of syringe full of Chip Quik’s flux left (works great!), but i’ll be sure to try the EDSYN one out when this one’s used up.
BTW, apart from not cooling the iron, the wire tip cleaners also have the advantage of prolonging your iron’s tips’ life as well. “Attacking” a hot tip with a cold sponge isn’t very healthy for it, both due to thermal stresses the coating has to endure, as well as enabling (much faster) oxidation.
I’ve been looking for some flux and copper dry cleaning sponge. Both are expensive and hard to find in hardware/electronic stores here in Portugal.
Sending them from abroad is always a lottery and the shipping also gets expensive.
These posts are useful to know if that specific brands works or if is just crap.
Damn, we need more online electronic stores in Europe.
I use Goot paste http://i00.i.aliimg.com/photo/v1/117062242/goot_Soldering_Paste_BS_15_Japan.jpg
It works really nicely on SMDs as well, and doesn’t leave messy residues.
So it’s very goot, then.
Yes, lol.
I use that paste too, it just works well and is very cheap, shame it takes so long to get here :)
The zephtronics flux is good and like most zeph stuff overpriced, its like honey. We use it to custom mix solder paste and other stuff. Unfortunately the guy who runs zeph is a bit of a dick.
http://www.zeph.com/zephlux.htm
other than that kester, chipquik is ok.
I used to use edsyn soldering irons before switching to metcals, their offices are close by in LA and they have a mini store, but they dont have that flux on their website, i’ll check the store next time i’m in there..
I also have the Edsyn flux as it is easily available in Germany (from Reichelt). It is my standard flux. But for special occasions I use Amtech RMA-223-LFTF. That works even better but is more expensive. Maybe it is better available in the US. Beware of cheap Chinese ripoffs, usually ebay is full of fakes of Amtech fluxes.
I’ve been using the FL-22 for quite some time now. It’s available for 12,85€ over here in Germany(reichelt.de). As you said, it’s great for normal soldering. When using hot air, I even managed to get “white” smoke – i.e. it starts to burn at about 440-450 °C. Nasty when you want to reflow big connectors… The tip *does* actually melt when it accidentally gets some hot air, but you can easily recycle it with a small knife.
Oh, and by that way: They have a website(http://www.edsyn-europa.de). AFAIK it is only in German and seems to be left over from the 1990’s ;)
I have always preferred the “no clean” liquid fluxes like the ALPHA NR215
That was me who recommended stabbing instead of wiping with the no-water soldering iron cleaner. I was really just passing on the advice that I got when I purchased my own over the counter at http://www.vetco.net/ – they have some serious veterans of electronics on staff.
I also use the no watering solder cleaner. Pretty good and best part is I don’t have to remember wetting the sponge before soldering. However, I think it’s best to use the sponge from time to time, sometimes the tip accumulates stuff that those metal shavings cannot clean.
For flux I use Goot BS-65B (http://goot.ocnk.net/product/559). It is a low remainder type with a brush on the cap so application is really easy. After all soldering is done, the board looks messed up because of the flux, so I clean up the board with an ESD safe brush and IPA, comes out looking really good!
Edsyn doesn’t have a website? What about:
http://www.edsyn.com or http://www.edsyn-europa.de/
They also still have the FL-22 flux:
http://www.edsyn-europa.de/Sites/PRO77.htm
and according to edsyn.com they invented the worlds first suction pump desoldering thing.
Most of these syringes are compatible to the Luer taper system. Therefore you can use ordinary hypodermic needles as sold by nearly every pharmacy in connection with the syringe. I just bought a few, cut off the sharp end with a rotary tool and was left with a nice, sturdy and stainless dispensing tip.
According to Edsyn, their flux pen FL88 uses the same flux as FL22 syringe, if you prefer a flux pen.
Oh – and the FL88 pen is available in the US on their website:
http://www.edsyn.com/index.php?Mode=piw&pn=FL88
Regarding FL-88 liquid flux vs. FL-22 paste flux…
I’ve been using the flux pen for a couple of years now. Today I got my first FL-22 syringe, which works much much nicer for SMD parts. The liquid flux isn’t actually bad, but it evaporates all too quickly. At least for chip packages I constantly have to re-add liquid flux for good results, whereas I could solder a TQFP-32 with just a single helping (just a little bit) of paste flux.
If FL-22 smelled like the ChipQuik paste flux I’d be completely happy, now just 99.9% ;-)