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General => General Technical Chat => Topic started by: Porama6400 on April 09, 2018, 03:01:31 am

Title: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: Porama6400 on April 09, 2018, 03:01:31 am
I got AMTECH flux from the local store
I suspect that it is a counterfeit one

It has typo "reproductine" and the word "Made in USA" seem to be written with plain font
I'm not sure as I can not find the matching image on Google

Could anyone help me confirm that is this a counterfeit one or not?
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: Wirehead on April 09, 2018, 05:55:20 am
If you didn't buy it from Amtech - it's fake...
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: kripton2035 on April 09, 2018, 06:05:49 am
I have a real amtech here : no shiny sticker on it. the whole sticker is greenish, not white.
you really have a counterfeit one...


like Louis says : "rebranded vaseline" ...
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: llkiwi2006 on April 09, 2018, 06:07:18 am
I find it quite funny how they try to pass it off as "Made in USA" but then puts writing in chinese right next to it.
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: Augustus on April 09, 2018, 07:41:15 am
It's as fake as fake can be. The genuine ones also have a production and expiration date printed on the label. And no fancy shiny holographic stickers. Bin it, you never know what nasty chemicals they put in. Or if they sold you pure vaseline as flux as it once happened to me on Banggood  :-DD
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: Porama6400 on April 09, 2018, 09:52:04 am
I find it quite funny how they try to pass it off as "Made in USA" but then puts writing in chinese right next to it.
That's the part that I get really confused  ;D
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: wraper on April 09, 2018, 10:02:31 am
No chance to be genuine.
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: sleemanj on April 09, 2018, 10:06:24 am
It's fake, but it's flux, unless you are in industry where you need to strictly control your process it will be just fine.

I've always found this chinese "amtech" stuff to be pretty good, but of course there's no assurance that one batch is the same as the next... but flux is not exactly rocket science.

I used to import, relabel so nobody would say "it's fake", and sell it locally in NZ no complaints ever, and of course used it myself.  I stopped because I'm a goody-two-shoes and we had some hazardous substances law come in and I couldn't be bothered working out what might be required (not like I'd ever be able to get legit documentation for it anyway).
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: Halcyon on April 09, 2018, 10:16:41 am
It's fake, but it's flux, unless you are in industry where you need to strictly control your process it will be just fine.

I've always found this chinese "amtech" stuff to be pretty good, but of course there's no assurance that one batch is the same as the next... but flux is not exactly rocket science.

I used to import, relabel so nobody would say "it's fake", and sell it locally in NZ no complaints ever, and of course used it myself.  I stopped because I'm a goody-two-shoes and we had some hazardous substances law come in and I couldn't be bothered working out what might be required (not like I'd ever be able to get legit documentation for it anyway).

I don't disagree with you that it should be completely fine, but importing a fake product, purposely re-labelling it to appear genuine (knowing that someone might spot the fake), isn't that breaking all kinds of fair trading laws or being fraudulent? At the very least some moral values?

I mean if I purchased a product with a fake label, it's really my fault for not doing my homework well enough to spot the difference. But if there is no real way to tell between the fake and the real deal and you're passing it off as genuine, how is that fair?
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: BravoV on April 09, 2018, 10:28:40 am
DIY soldering flux, get an IPA and mix with violin's rosin as its already cleaned and filtered, all of these ingredient are cheap and easily sourced. Works like charm & once used at soldering board, easily cleaned too.
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: wraper on April 09, 2018, 10:38:07 am
DIY soldering flux, get an IPA and mix with violin's rosin as its already cleaned and filtered, all of these ingredient are cheap and easily sourced. Works like charm & once used at soldering board, easily cleaned too.
FWIW such flux has no chance even against counterfeit tacky flux.
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: BravoV on April 09, 2018, 10:50:06 am
DIY soldering flux, get an IPA and mix with violin's rosin as its already cleaned and filtered, all of these ingredient are cheap and easily sourced. Works like charm & once used at soldering board, easily cleaned too.
FWIW such flux has no chance even against counterfeit tacky flux.

I guess the "dodgy" flux that probably part of it contained dissolved/cooked flour,rice or corn powder for making it jelly like or gelatinous form, is good for your pcb and components.

Yep, local here there are such product sold, and labelled Amtech too, cost approx. one dollar or even less for one big fully filled tube.  >:D

Sorry, not for me.
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: sleemanj on April 09, 2018, 11:39:18 am
I don't disagree with you that it should be completely fine, but importing a fake product, purposely re-labelling it to appear genuine

You misunderstand.  I relabelled it to be simply "Electronics Soldering Flux", not branded.

Indeed I still have the label file...

(https://i.imgur.com/Ouvqh4m.jpg)
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: Halcyon on April 09, 2018, 11:42:52 am
I don't disagree with you that it should be completely fine, but importing a fake product, purposely re-labelling it to appear genuine

You misunderstand.  I relabelled it to be simply "Flux", not branded.

My mistake.
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: Porama6400 on April 09, 2018, 12:08:14 pm
like Louis says : "rebranded vaseline" ...

You mean Louis Rossman?
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: Augustus on April 09, 2018, 12:33:54 pm
It's not a joke, I'm the proud owner of a 100g jar so called "Amtech RMA-223-UV" Flux which really is nothing more than pure vaseline. If you want something to be not soldered, this is the thing. It's basically a release agent for solder (if that's the right word in English), it prevents molten solder from wetting your components or the pcb. Bought it from Banggood just out of curiosity, I knew it would be a fake. The reviews on their website were excellent  :-DD 


edit: Pics added. They weren't even lying about the excellent anti wetting capabilities of their flux  ;D


(http://fs1.directupload.net/images/180409/kpggvc8n.jpg)

(http://fs1.directupload.net/images/180409/44viely3.gif)
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: kripton2035 on April 09, 2018, 02:26:59 pm
like Louis says : "rebranded vaseline" ...

You mean Louis Rossman?
yes !
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: kripton2035 on April 09, 2018, 02:29:42 pm
the real amtech stickers look like this one :
(https://store.rossmanngroup.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/800x800/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/f/l/flux_4.jpg)
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: hermit on April 09, 2018, 03:59:28 pm
I got a free jar of flux on sleazebay.  The 150g container weighed in at 99g including lid  (container lid was 7g all by it's self).  He was redistributing various stuff from China and someone had probably already bought and re-labeled it prior to him getting it.  I doubt he ever checked.  So basically it was a 100g container that was still short   He didn't dispute the resolution and didn't bother paying for return shipping.
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: Elasia on April 09, 2018, 04:51:49 pm
Just out of curiosity

Where do most folk here source their legitimate AMTECH Solder Flux NC-559-V2-TF from?  So much fake crap out there for this stuff
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: kripton2035 on April 09, 2018, 05:05:48 pm
Just out of curiosity

Where do most folk here source their legitimate AMTECH Solder Flux NC-559-V2-TF from?  So much fake crap out there for this stuff
Louis Rossmann claims to have genuine ones, and explains why :
https://store.rossmanngroup.com/index.php/amtech-nc-559-v2-30-cc-16160.html
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: rstofer on April 09, 2018, 06:42:26 pm
I'm pretty sure I used to get Amtech flux from HowardElectronics.com in the US.  They don't list it any longer.
I would buy MG Chemical flux from DigiKey.com.
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/mg-chemicals/8341-10ML/473-1117-ND/2233037 (https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/mg-chemicals/8341-10ML/473-1117-ND/2233037)
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: Augustus on April 09, 2018, 07:04:52 pm
Fellow Europeans may get it from ersa-shop.com, they sell only genuine stuff, guaranteed.

https://www.ersa-shop.com/amtech-559asmuv-rework-flussmittel-clean-100g-p-12622.html (https://www.ersa-shop.com/amtech-559asmuv-rework-flussmittel-clean-100g-p-12622.html)
https://www.ersa-shop.com/amtech-223tpf-rework-flussmittel-halogenhaltig-100g-p-12623.html (https://www.ersa-shop.com/amtech-223tpf-rework-flussmittel-halogenhaltig-100g-p-12623.html)

Just make sure to ask them about the manufacturing date, because, to be honest, I doubt they sell much of this stuff  ;)
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: sstepane on April 09, 2018, 07:05:24 pm
Hi,

What would you say about this AMTECH flux? - https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=558656912479
Somehow it has particular S/N and a dedicated site for checking S/N. Might that be some kind of China only Amtech flux? I mean - patented or allowed to be produced and sold in China only, but an original flux?
Why so many hassle with S/N and stuff if not?
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: wraper on April 09, 2018, 07:14:53 pm
Hi,

What would you say about this AMTECH flux? - https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=558656912479
Somehow it has particular S/N and a dedicated site for checking S/N. Might that be some kind of China only Amtech flux? I mean - patented or allowed to be produced and sold in China only, but an original flux?
Package looks similar to original but sticker certainly not. If you think that you can buy genuine Amtech from China for less than in US or EU, you delude yourself. And AFAIK Amtech do not make anything in China as sticker says. Also why would amtech put jiyangsolder website on the sticker  :palm:
Quote
Why so many hassle with S/N and stuff if not?
Genuine Amtech do not have serial number, LOT number only.

Halogen Soldering flux
No Halogen, LOL
(https://img.alicdn.com/imgextra/i2/3252299557/TB2lz5QazuhSKJjSspaXXXFgFXa_!!3252299557.jpg)
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: sstepane on April 09, 2018, 07:23:58 pm
Hi,

What would you say about this AMTECH flux? - https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=558656912479
Somehow it has particular S/N and a dedicated site for checking S/N. Might that be some kind of China only Amtech flux? I mean - patented or allowed to be produced and sold in China only, but an original flux?
Why so many hassle with S/N and stuff if not?
Package looks similar to original but sticker certainly not. If you think that you can buy genuine Amtech from China for less than in US or EU, you delude yourself. And AFAIK Amtech do not make anything in China as sticker says. Also why would amtech put jiyangsolder website on the sticker  :palm:
That's why I'm asking if that is possible. I'm not so sure that it is something out of the line, since there are many products you can buy in China for half the price and not only because it is produced there, but also because it's a different market, for some products it is huge and very competitive and as such might be managed differently for pricing and distribution. No other Amtech counterfeit producer is getting into hassle with serial-numbering their low-cost product and managing its genuity by web-site and that's why I wonder, if it something of reasonable quality compared to the original.
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: Porama6400 on April 09, 2018, 07:27:59 pm
probably just another chinese ripoff
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: Nusa on April 09, 2018, 07:58:02 pm
Hi,

What would you say about this AMTECH flux? - https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=558656912479
Somehow it has particular S/N and a dedicated site for checking S/N. Might that be some kind of China only Amtech flux? I mean - patented or allowed to be produced and sold in China only, but an original flux?
Why so many hassle with S/N and stuff if not?

They're not even pretending to be the same Amtech. As for how good they are, who knows?
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: wraper on April 09, 2018, 09:57:54 pm
No other Amtech counterfeit producer is getting into hassle with serial-numbering their low-cost product and managing its genuity by web-site and that's why I wonder, if it something of reasonable quality compared to the original.
Serial number may be the same on multiple items as it often happens with counterfeits. Also serializing may make some clueless idiots to think it's genuine stuff and costs virtually nothing. The only stuff you can buy in china for less is something with no brand or Chinese brand. You won't get 1st world stuff for less. Some components may be an exception but market is so ridden with counterfeits that it's better to stay away as well.
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: jmelson on April 09, 2018, 10:19:38 pm
Just out of curiosity

Where do most folk here source their legitimate AMTECH Solder Flux NC-559-V2-TF from?  So much fake crap out there for this stuff
Can't say for that specific item, but I buy my soldering products from well-known distributors.  So, Manncorp, Techni-Tool, and the usual distributors like Mouser, Newark, etc.

Jon
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: gamalot on April 09, 2018, 10:43:30 pm
https://www.microsoldering.com/amtech-nc-559-flux-fake-versus-real/ (https://www.microsoldering.com/amtech-nc-559-flux-fake-versus-real/)
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: Porama6400 on April 10, 2018, 02:37:46 am
Just out of curiosity

Where do most folk here source their legitimate AMTECH Solder Flux NC-559-V2-TF from?  So much fake crap out there for this stuff
Can't say for that specific item, but I buy my soldering products from well-known distributors.  So, Manncorp, Techni-Tool, and the usual distributors like Mouser, Newark, etc.

Jon


Mouser and Digikey both don't have Amtech Flux
Title: Re: Is this Amtech flux I bought genuine?
Post by: Elasia on April 10, 2018, 02:55:57 am
i get mine off https://amtechdirect.com/ (https://amtechdirect.com/)