For the LOVE OF. . .Acid Flux brush that doesn't shed?

[DW1961]

I bought some HDX horse hair brushes from Home Depot and they are just garbage, shedding hairs everywhere.

Same thing on Amazon, people saying abut the boars hair and horse hair brushes.

Is it possible to use a nylon brush for cleaning flux? Or, would the flux melt the nylon?

Any suggestions?

Also, what type of alcohol should I be using? I tried the 70% iso, but it doesn't really clean that well. I mean, after a while, it does the job, but it doesn't really just cut right through it. Also, what type? Do I need "lab quality" $9, 000, 000.00 per oz, or can I just get some 99% iso from a beauty store for $8 bucks, and call it good?

As always, thanks.

[helius]

The 5 for $1 bent metal acid brushes always shed hairs, it's the nature of the ferrule. If you want to spend slightly more, you can get wood or nylon handled brushes (a little like tooth brushes) with natural or synthetic hairs. Techspray, Chemtronics, Titan, Brush Research, etc.

[DW1961]

The 5 for $1 bent metal acid brushes always shed hairs, it's the nature of the ferrule. If you want to spend slightly more, you can get wood or nylon handled brushes (a little like tooth brushes) with natural or synthetic hairs. Techspray, Chemtronics, Titan, Brush Research, etc.

Can I just modify a normal nylon bristle toothbrush?

[Vgkid]

I bought a bunch of cheap tooth brushes. I use 3-4 for different levels of clean.

[westfw]

Nylon shouldn't be affected by most common solvents, but I'm not sure what the body of a toothbrush is made of, so it could be more soluble.

[Quarlo Klobrigney]

Perhaps the Fuller Brush man hasn't hit your neighborhood yet. It's just a matter of time.

What I use an older (80's) fiberglass in aluminum tube type paid for by the taxpayer. One side stiff, the other more flexible. It looks just like this one.
This one is horse hair: https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/mg-chemicals/856/473-1049-ND/949491

An more cheaperer: https://www.ebay.com/itm/MG-Chemicals-856-Double-Ended-Technical-Cleaning-Brush-4-1-2-Plated-Steel-Handle-/252276397446

I guess someone complained of it scratching and went to horse hair. I've had mine for decades and it works a treat.

I also use this stuff https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/crc-brakleen-brake-parts-cleaner-19-wt.-oz.-05089/7060459-p for stubborn flux. Not safe for plastic. I saw recently that Glasslinger was recommending it too, I don't know what that would add to my credibility, but it works. It's much more aggressive than what I used to use, FluxOff ES1035B which has a brush attached, worked but left a white residue and has become too expensive for the hobbyist in my opinion. I worked for a multi-billion dollar company so a few cases was just fine by me.

[TimNJ]

The MG Chemicals brush changed my life.

[DW1961]

Nylon shouldn't be affected by most common solvents, but I'm not sure what the body of a toothbrush is made of, so it could be more soluble.

Oh, the body of a modern toothbrush is made of indestructible prototanium-copolymere with a half life of 20 million years. Should be fine.

[DW1961]

So you guys haven't had the MG chem acid brush shed hairs?

Also, what about iso alcohol? What do you use?

[Quarlo Klobrigney]

I only have the fiberglass version. You can always return it as crap it it fails within the 30 days or so...
I'll send you a photo of mine if I can find the surface of the workbench.

Quote from: DW1961 on Today at 02:37:05

So you guys haven't had the MG chem acid brush shed hairs?

[phil from seattle]

Since our dentist gives everyone in my family a brush at every cleaning and we all use sonicare, I have piles of them.  And they do last forever. Beats paying for crappy brushes.

[Bud]

Also, what about iso alcohol? What do you use?

99.9% isopropyl alcohol

[Bud]

Sometimes toothbrush does not cut it, you need something stiffer.

[DW1961]

Sometimes toothbrush does not cut it, you need something stiffer.

What I told my girlfriend.

[HwAoRrDk]

A tip I've seen to stop cheap brushes shedding hairs is to run a line of super glue across the root of the bristles on both sides.

Obviously, not going to work if you're immersing the brush, though.

[Vovk_Z]

Also, what about iso alcohol? What do you use?

99.9% isopropyl alcohol

Moisture of isoprop. alcohol plus clean gasoline (not such for the cars).

[TimNJ]

No shed hairs on the MG chemical brush. It also keeps its shape very well, whereas the generic acid brushes tend to deform a little with use.

[TimNJ]

^talking about the horse hair version.

[KL27x]

By some art brushes for painting. I use boar hair paint brushes. Entire set for under 10 dollars. I've seen the odd hair fall out once or thrice per brush, under the microscope, but nothing I'd call shedding. Jerry Q brand, if you care.

Probably the best $10 I spent for soldering/PCB work. I end up using a few of these brushes in the garage shop, too. Awesome.

The ferrules often work loose on the handle end. But that is easy to fix when it happens, if you're anything less than useless.

;;;
Since they're mass produced, it's apparently cheaper to just crimp the ferrules to the end of the wood handle, which makes them loose. Just pull the handle out and taper it for a proper friction fit to the ferrule.

[DW1961]

By some art brushes for painting. I use boar hair paint brushes. Entire set for under 10 dollars. I've seen the odd hair fall out once or thrice per brush, under the microscope, but nothing I'd call shedding. Jerry Q brand, if you care.

Probably the best $10 I spent for soldering/PCB work. I end up using a few of these brushes in the garage shop, too. Awesome.

The ferrules often work loose on the handle end. But that is easy to fix when it happens, if you're anything less than useless.

;;;
Since they're mass produced, it's apparently cheaper to just crimp the ferrules to the end of the wood handle, which makes them loose. Just pull the handle out and taper it for a proper friction fit to the ferrule.

Good idea. I'll try that.