Console Repair

564 readers

2 users here now

Anything and everything about retro and modern console repair.

If you've got a broken gaming console you are trying to fix, come here to talk about it. If you want to flex about a repair, post here. If you or your console's last lover did a non-destructive electronic mod to their console, or have a question about the options available or how to do it, you are welcome to post here.

If you suck at soldering, we still love you, but we might roast you.

If you did an extreme modification such as turning one of the few Nintendo Playstations into a Rubik's Cube, flex elsewhere. If you're trying to FIX a Nintendo Playstation that someone turned into a Rubik's Cube, post away!

Other great places:

Console Repair Discord

[email protected]

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

DarthBueller

v1605

Favorite flux? (self.consolerepair)

submitted 1 year ago by CuddlesMcBubblefun to c/consolerepair

10 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I recently picked up a syringe of Chipquik SMD291 tack flux to play around with, I'm just getting into doing smd stuff... and I find myself using it for just about everything because it's so easy to use, works a treat, and is fairly easy to clean up. What flux do you like to use? Do you have different ones for different uses, or do you tend to just use one for everything?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] DarthBueller 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I can tell you what NOT to use. I have Kester 186 No Clean Liquid Rosin Flux (it's amber/light brown colored), and while it works quite effectively for soldering and desoldering, it is a sticky mess that is about as far from what you and I would consider "no clean" to be a joke. Immersion in IPA works best to get it off, but the whole bath quickly turns from a cleaning bath to a "let's coat it in an atomically thin layer of rosin" bath. Now I put 99% IPA in a spray bottle and mist till dripping/blot with clean rag/repeat until clean. It would be far more convenient to get the clear no-clean Kester, but I can't bring myself to ditch the Kester 186.

[–] CuddlesMcBubblefun 3 points 1 year ago

I had a bottle of that stuff too, worked great but it was so awful to clean up I ended up tossing it... atomically thin coat of rosin is spot on what I always ended up with. Evil brown devil juice.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Ive seen Voultar recommending the MG Chemicals no clean flux. I have to wonder if that stuffs any better? Looks like its mostly alcohol though.

[–] DarthBueller 1 points 1 year ago

I’ve been meaning to try that clear stuff. Honestly, avoid the rosin no clean at all costs. If you really need the rosin, in my opinion you’d be better off with the old school flux jelly. Easier to clean off. I wish I was kidding.