Simple PCB Cleaning

[gtfields13]

I know there have been questions about cleaning up PCBs to remove flux after soldering, but I haven't seen this approach mentioned and I wanted to leave it as a very simple method that works well (at least with my solder) and uses safe, common materials you probably have at home.

My (not) secret sauce is to use a Sonicare Toothbrush, place a drop of dish-soap (I like the Dawn blue-stuff) and dip the head in 70% isopropyl alcohol, which is the standard rubbing alcohol you can buy at a store or pharmacy for cleaning scrapes and cuts. After running over the solder with the sonicare on, I just give a quick rinse under tap water. The key is probably the dish soap - 70% IPA has modest solvency, but it's good enough to get the flux to where the surfactants can trap the insoluble chemicals.

Now I just have to figure out how not to gouge my solder mask with the new tiny tips I bought for my Pinecil.

 

[Feral Feline]

Thanks for sharing your method.

I'll keep an eye out for Sonicare or similar at the local garage sales.

 

[jwin615]

Thanks for sharing your method.

I'll keep an eye out for Sonicare or similar at the local garage sales.

I don't know what's more messed up. Selling your used toothbrush at a garage sale, or buying a used toothbrush at a garage sale.
I bet you could haggle down to a price of free at an estate sale though.

 

[Erik S]

I bet that works great! I wouldn’t mind having a sonicare in my cleaning kit, but definitely not going to shell out for a new one. Could be an excuse to upgrade my tooth cleaning one I guess.

 

[falco_femoralis]

What worked really well for me is purchasing a pair of Hakko side cutters. They are so, so good. They are super sharp and accurate, you can trim the leads flush with the pcb if you want (!!) But the best thing is they don't leave sharp edges on the ends of the component legs. So if I need to clean the PCB, I can do it with Q tips and they don't snag on the component legs anymore. They were 8 bucks on amazon

 

[VanWhy]

What worked really well for me is purchasing a pair of Hakko side cutters. They are so, so good. They are super sharp and accurate, you can trim the leads flush with the pcb if you want (!!) But the best thing is they don't leave sharp edges on the ends of the component legs. So if I need to clean the PCB, I can do it with Q tips and they don't snag on the component legs anymore. They were 8 bucks on amazon

Link?

 

[jwin615]

I like the hakkos. Have used them for years. I recently bought a pair of Engineer NS-06 flush cutters on amazon.jp.co and love them.
Also. You shouldn't cut your solder joints flush with the pcb. Puts a lot of unneeded stress on the joint.

 

[falco_femoralis]

I meant that as an example of the closeness of the cut. I have a couple builds where I needed that kind of clearance

link

 

[xefned]

Great suggestion on the Sonicare.

I'm ready to ditch the hot solvent flux remover.

 

[Stickman393]

Sonicare 1100 is reasonably priced. 20 bucks.

But, also: ain't nothing special about the brand. About any electric toothbrush will do about the same job.

 

[xefned]

Oh, it's not like, "ultrasonic" cleaning. It's just an electric toothbrush. Got it.

I think I have one of those unused under the bathroom cabinet.

 

[Feral Feline]

I don't know what's more messed up. Selling your used toothbrush at a garage sale, or buying a used toothbrush at a garage sale.
I bet you could haggle down to a price of free at an estate sale though.

Well, aren't there replaceable brush-heads?
I don't have that big of a mouth , the only part of an electric-toothbrush that would fit in my mouth is the bristle-head, not the entire handle and motor.

What the hell do I know anyway? I've only ever had toothbrushes that require manual operation, ie the main motor is my arm and that sure doesn't fit in my mouth, well, not past my elbow anyway....


An aside, perhaps apropos — Truthfully: I keep a few old toothbrushes in my MTB backpack — for which I receive endless flack from my so-called friends "Hahaahah what're all the toothbrushes for?" — same with carrying spare brake-cables and derailleur-cables and spare water etc.

'Course, they're sure glad I'm their personal camel-mule when their chain and cogset gets jammed mid-ride, needs cleaning (toothbrush) and a spare few links, and they've broken a shift-cable, and then they're bonking and need an energy bar (I said bonking, not boinking — get yer minds outta the gutter — there's a difference you know), and "Gee Feral, you got any extra water left that we refused to help you carry on this hot-hot-hot-day? Sorry we laughed at you. Will you rehydrate us, feed us and fix our bikes now?" — and then some idget sprains or breaks something on themselves and suddenly those toothbrushes "sure make great splints!". Reminds me, I need to renew my Wilderness First Aid tickety-wickety...

My retired toothbrushes get used for cleaning grout in the shower, cleaning PCBs, scrubbing down carburettors ... so many uses!

I had no idea these electric-motored teeth-cleaners were only $20.
Never having bought one, I thought they were much more expensive and would rather not buy new just to use on PCBs...

... ALSO, FWIW, I indeed have seen electric toothbrushes at garage sales!

 

[xefned]

... ALSO, FWIW, I indeed have seen electric toothbrushes at garage sales!

!!! That's bonkers.

I, too, have only used arm-powered toothbrushes.

When I swap my mouth toothbrush for a fresh one, the impetus is usually that I need a garage toothbrush to use.

 

[bean]

I just throw the boards at the floor repeatedly until the flux breaks off. I don't recommend this method.

 

[Stickman393]

I just throw the boards at the floor repeatedly until the flux breaks off. I don't recommend this method.

Finally, someone who makes sense!!

 

[gtfields13]

I don’t actually clean boards anymore. A little light scraping on the top side stuff I solder but that’s it.

Getting in and out quick and using thinner Kester solder doesn’t leave much flux anyway and cleaning always makes more of a mess for me.

If my solder skills reach that point, I would probably be OK with this...

 

[Nostradoomus]

I don't have that big of a mouth

Well see, the thing is…

 

[szukalski]

you can trim the leads flush with the pcb if you want

I used to do this but stopped and started cutting above the solder joint.

You have a nice clean solder joint and then destroy it by cutting flush with the PCB. That’s got to be a bit of stress on the joint. I haven’t had issues with it but would rather avoid it if possible.

 

[falco_femoralis]

I like to trim the lead just above the top of the cone of solder. The solder blob guides the cutters nicely. My comment about being able to trim flush with the board is a reference to the quality of the cutters, how aligned the blades are, and their sharpness.

I like to trim the lead just above the top of the cone of solder. The solder blob guides the cutters nicely. My comment about being able to trim flush with the board is a reference to the quality of the cutters, how aligned the blades are, and their sharpness.

 

[HamishR]

In the UK, Australia and (probably) New Zealand "bonking" does indeed refer to the sexual act. Well, the main one anyway. Boinking? No, we don't do any of that nonsense here in Australia.