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Update: I was wrong about cleaning old circuit boards with just isopropyl alcohol
For years I'd just spray 99% IPA on a crusty board and scrub, thinking it was good enough. Then I got a batch of 80s arcade PCBs from a closed pizza place, and the flux residue was like glue. A guy at the local repair meet said to try a 50/50 mix of IPA and distilled water with a drop of dish soap, and it cut right through without harming the old silkscreen. It's a small change, but it saved me hours of picking. Anyone else have a go-to mix for really stubborn grime?
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sullivan.spencer2d ago
Oh man, I feel this. I used to be the guy scrubbing a single spot for twenty minutes, getting lightheaded from the IPA fumes, and just accepting that some boards were born dirty. My old method was basically just brute force and sadness. Adding a drop of soap feels like cheating, but in the best way. I tried it on a super gross Atari board that had what I can only describe as "brown syrup" on it, and it wiped right off. I owe that repair meet guy a coffee.
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grantp283d ago
That 50/50 mix is a game changer! I had the same thing with a Commodore 64 board last month, the gunk was like tar. I used a soft toothbrush with that exact soapy water mix and it just melted off. I was scared to add water at first, but it dries so fast with the IPA. Totally saved a board I thought was a lost cause.
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