I couldn't find ZephPaste at mouser.com. I have tried searching and browsing by category. Do you have a link?
I might buy ChipQuick because they have flat rate $10 shipping worldwide. Both ChipQuick and ZephPaste have longer shelf life at room temperature than most other brands (6 months at room temperature, 1 year refridgerated.)
Kester "easy profile" 256 ... It's available in small syringes...
Kester easy profile 256 ... I store it in a ziplock bag in the fridge (syringes).
Ultrasonic washer with plain water does a pretty good job of removing any of the flux. IPA if there's any further issue.
cheers,
george.
Kester "easy profile" 256 ... It's available in small syringes...Kester easy profile 256 ... I store it in a ziplock bag in the fridge (syringes).Kester only shows it in 500g jars, 600g cartridge, 750g cassette, and a 1400g cartridge (here). Only aware of Kester selling R276 in 35g syringes.
So where are you guys getting it? CML Supply (repacking it)?
I actually don't buy it in syringes, but I did a Google search on Kester EP256 and saw syringes, so I figured that would work for your "small quantity" requirement. I just checked after reading your post and it looks like it is indeed CML repackaging it. $13 and change on eBay though, pretty good deal.
Doesn't ultrasonic vibration fatigue solder joints?
Research by B.P. Richards et al at GEC Marconi and the EMPF Laboratory suggests four parameters for the safe cleaning of PCBs using ultrasonic technology:
1.The ultrasonic frequency should be 40 kHz or higher. The lower the frequency the more aggressive the ultrasonic cavitation becomes.
2."Sweep" or "Alternating" frequency technology be used to prevent "hot spots" in the cleaning bath.
3.The "Power Density" should be 10 watts per liter or less (referred to as Low Power Density). The higher the power density the stronger the "scrubbing" action (the electrical output of the ultrasonic generator(s) divided by the total liters of cleaning solution in the bath).
4.The ultrasonic wash cycle should be 10 minutes or less.
I actually don't buy it in syringes, but I did a Google search on Kester EP256 and saw syringes, so I figured that would work for your "small quantity" requirement. I just checked after reading your post and it looks like it is indeed CML repackaging it. $13 and change on eBay though, pretty good deal.
I actually don't buy it in syringes, but I did a Google search on Kester EP256 and saw syringes, so I figured that would work for your "small quantity" requirement. I just checked after reading your post and it looks like it is indeed CML repackaging it. $13 and change on eBay though, pretty good deal.OP is in Europe, so I don't think CML (or their eBay store) would be of much help in his case.
Certainly worth going for CML's repacked syringes though for US members IMHO. Cheaper than ChipQuik ($20 for 35g @ mouser) or ZephPaste ($15.49 for 12g) to top it off for a top quality product (prices for 63/37 no-clean).
Kester "easy profile" 256 is by FAR the best I have used, and I have used many different kinds, including AIM, Star and many many others.
I have abused this stuff in ways that would shock some people - not refrigerating it (ever), leaving a tub of it on a desk and using the same tub over the course of 6 or 8 months, or a year. Or two years. Pasting boards that don't get placed for 2, 3 or 5 days. Scraping the left over paste off the stencil and back into the tub. And much more - it always reflows beautifully every time.
What's wrong with:
1)stencil X (X depending on size how many can be done within an hour) boards
2)put left over paste back in jar, clean stencil and squeegee a bit with some IPA (not thoroughly), blow extreme small holes in stencil clean with pressured air
3)place the components on the X stencilled boards
4)reflow the boards
return to 1) if time left
That's how I do it after I had a lot of stencilled boards to clean from paste because something else came in between unexpectedly.
I actually don't buy it in syringes, but I did a Google search on Kester EP256 and saw syringes, so I figured that would work for your "small quantity" requirement. I just checked after reading your post and it looks like it is indeed CML repackaging it. $13 and change on eBay though, pretty good deal.OP is in Europe, so I don't think CML (or their eBay store) would be of much help in his case.
Certainly worth going for CML's repacked syringes though for US members IMHO. Cheaper than ChipQuik ($20 for 35g @ mouser) or ZephPaste ($15.49 for 12g) to top it off for a top quality product (prices for 63/37 no-clean).
Actually CML (http://www.cmlsupply.com) looks good. $12.99 for 35g + $10.95 shipping to Norway.
The issue I have with the paste I use now is that it will dry after stenciling the boards so that after >1 hour the paste is no longer sticky. When I place a component on the dry paste it can easily move around, so the boards need to be handled very carefully until reflowed. The solder joints still turned out fine.
When you place the boards after several days, is the paste still sticky?
Speaking of which - anyone know a good way to remove dried on paste from PCB's?