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Post by Phil Sutton on Nov 8, 2004 20:21:51 GMT
I have been using Fluxite paste flux to solder bits on a brass loco kit,(used all my Bakers Fluid),But howdo I remove the residue?I've tried thinners but it doesn't seem to be quite strong enough to remove it all.Any ideas?
TIA Phil.
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jackrae
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,335
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Post by jackrae on Nov 9, 2004 16:45:46 GMT
The manufacturer, Fernox, recommends a wipe with a damp cloth From my experiences at DIY plumbing I think you may need to have the job reasonably warm for this to work.
However if you're applying paint, I doubt if this would leave the job clean enough. I suggest the damp cloth to remove the bulk and a hot soap solution to remove the residue. "Flash" powder mixed with a little hot water seems to be quite good at removing most things.
jack
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Post by Phil Sutton on Nov 9, 2004 18:59:37 GMT
Thanks Jack,I'll give that a try.
Phil
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Post by alanstepney on Nov 9, 2004 19:05:07 GMT
Its a while since I used it, buit as far as I recall, meths is the best cleaner for the residue.
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Post by the_viffer on Nov 10, 2004 10:49:25 GMT
Old ads for Fluxite recommend it for use in case hardening. Anyone know how that works? I tried heating up some steel and plunging it in Fluxite. I ended up with a cloud of foul smelling smoke and a soft piece of steel. I'd also have got a load of rusty tooling if I'd not done it outside.
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jackrae
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,335
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Post by jackrae on Nov 10, 2004 10:57:55 GMT
The process of case hardening requires you to first raise the carbon content of the surface of the mild steel. This is achieved by a process of cooking the steel in an oxygen free environment whilst it is wrapped in the material which offers up the carbon. Once the carbon content is elevated the mild steel now has a surface (only a few thou deep) of "non-mild steel" which is capable of being hardened
Don't know if Fluxite falls into this donor category, but hot plunging definitiely won't provide carbon migration.
Fluxite uses zinc-chloride as its active ingredient - corrosive ?
jack
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Post by the_viffer on Nov 10, 2004 12:15:38 GMT
I couldn't keep it hot when coated in fluxite because a) the fluxite melted and ran off and b) it was hard to see through the scar tissue that was forming on my eyes.
Is ZnCl2 corrosive? Do bears etc etc? Yep it is the active ingredient of bakers' fluid and quite capable of returning both ferrous and non ferrous metal to nature.
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IP
Involved Member
Posts: 72
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Post by IP on Dec 4, 2004 22:06:05 GMT
Gents,
Never used Fluxite as a case hardenning compound but would image that the surface to cased needs to be coated in the case hardenning agent and then baked at a temperature greater than 723 deg Cent bout 900 degs is better.
The treated material is then plunged in to cooling medium....as I say never tried it with Fluxite.
Regards, IP
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David Thompson
Active Member
Building 'Marquess', 3 1/2" gauge.
Posts: 46 
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Post by David Thompson on Dec 26, 2004 16:17:57 GMT
Don't use Fluxite, it really is dreadful stuff to clean. Flash or Jif and lots of rinsing and scrubbing with old toothbrushes will work. It's not impossible - I once won a cup with a model coach soldered with Fluxite, but once was enough. The stuff to try nowadays is Fry's Powerflow Flux for lead free solder. You can get it from the B&Q plumbing section in yellow tubs. Very active, but washes off with water. The washing must be thorough because any residue turns green.
For small work, the various Phosphoric Acid fluxes marketed by Carrs or Fourtrack Models are fine, but you need a lot for a big job.
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