How important is it to clean off all the flux?

ceasless

So I haven't done much soldering outside of the LXR. I've read some conflicting reports on whether cleaning flux off is a necessity or a cosmetic choice. Obviously it is much simpler to clean off before it hardens, but it's too late for that. If I really scrub at it I can get some removed but it is slow going (using denatured alcohol, as the Netherlands doesn't seem to believe in isopropyl).

Is this something I need to take care of or else risk the machine dying on me in a few years? Or is the (seemingly protective) coating on the PCB going to make it a non-issue?

This is all complicated by the fact that the silver solder that was sold to me didn't have any packaging, so I can't tell whether the flux is of a more or less corrosive variety.

nightworxx

Flux is absolutely uncritical. I have some DIY stuff here, which is more than 20 years old and still working like a charm.

ceasless

Thanks for that nightworxx. As long as my LXR is gonna keep kicking for some decades to come, I'm all good

Patrick

Please check Google for fsw32.
You find there Infos on Wikipedia about this thematic.

Some solderthins have to many flux - in some circumstances you get black points on the solderpoint or pcb.
The lxr pcb isnt good to clean..
have tried this in 2 devices.

tsv

I used Kester 245 no clean solder. Works great and I have no issues on my build with it. I have used the standard Rosin 44 for years though and never had any issues with it. It's just messy by comparison

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Kester/24-6337-8809/?qs=/ha2pyFadujnrjyvwJOvPUpQXqQNLve9X3uOfD/OoFgsPId54hZZOg==

ceasless

Please check Google for fsw32.
You find there Infos on Wikipedia about this thematic.

Some solderthins have to many flux - in some circumstances you get black points on the solderpoint or pcb.
The lxr pcb isnt good to clean..
have tried this in 2 devices.

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll keep it in mind for the next project.