Home to remove monumental grime? - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

12 Feb 2003

On Feb 12,  7:47, Philip Pemberton wrote:

...
  > Wasn't there a thread a while back in which
someone mentioned washing
...
   circuit boards
in a dishwasher?  I know Lee Davison's done it. Only catch is, you may have to
replace a few
...
  components after cleaning it - electrolytics, etc.

If you have to replace electrolytics after washing, there was something
wrong with the electrolytics before you started.  They're routinely
washed commercially.  There are other sorts of components that may be
damaged by washing, though.

...
  Electrolube "Fluxclene" and straight IPA are
quite good. I've used 70% IPA
...
  to remove light dirt from PCBs, Fluxclene is insanely
aggressive. It doesn't
...
  fizz or bubble, but it removes nearly anything -
it's intended to be used to
...
  remove solder flux. And it leaves most components and
plastics intact.

It will certainly work, but if the board is very dirty, you'll still
need to wash it in clean water (and possibly detergent) afterwards to
get rid of the residues, and then get rid of the water (IPA, compressed
air, whatever).  Kitchen worktop cleaner is much cheaper and works just
as well.

-- 
Pete						Peter Turnbull
						Network Manager
						University of York