removing parts from PCBs - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

15 Nov 2005

A much better alternative to peanut oil is fusing or reflow oil used in
the printed circuit industry (used most probably in the smaller shops.)
It runs $84.30/gallon according to information on the DalPro website.
While they seem to have the supplies necessary to make PCBs, their
prices are ... high. I would try a local printed circuit manufacturer to
see if I could get some their first. My guess is that it shouldn't be
more than about $8.00/gallon.

http://www.dalpro.net/Page.html

BTW, peanut oil used to be used for reflow many many moons ago and was
replaced at least 25 years ago with synthetic oils.

...
  On 11/14/2005 at 9:32 AM Dwight K. Elvey wrote:

  I've used peanut oil and a fry pan. Then wash
the
parts in detergent to remove the oil. You need to wear
gloves and goggles as safety gear. Hot peanut oil
in your eye is not something I'd like to even think about.
 Make sure that the assembler didn't bend the corner leads
of the ICs. If they did, you'll need to straighten them
before the oil, using a soldering iron.
 It just seems to me that the oil method is a little more
controlled than a torch.  
 That's downright scary--oil fires are nasty.   And burns from oil that hot
 (I've had them from cooking) take a long time to heal. 

...
  Is synthetic automotive oil flammable at desoldering
temperatures?

 Cheers,
 Chuck 