STANNOL MULTIFIX 450-01 - the WORST flux gel I've ever used.

[Nifty]

I would like to share my negative experience of using STANNOL MULTIFIX 450-01 flux gel.
I ran out of AMTECH NC-559 (genuine) and since it is difficult to order it in Europe now, I decided to see what is available from a local retailer.
I bought a 10g syringe of STANNOL MULTIFIX 450-01 for about 26€.

1. It is very thick, it is not only difficult to squeeze it out of the syringe, but also to apply it to the board (unless the board is already hot).

2. It does not spread well, I had to use 3-4 times more flux than in the case of NC-559.

3. When heated, there is a VERY strong smell of aromatic additives.

4. When heated above 350 degrees, there is a lot of smoke.

5. It is very difficult to wash off. IPA in an ultrasonic bath does not wash it off, even if the IPA is preheated. Brake cleaner did not help either. I had to use a toothbrush with hot IPA to remove the remains of this flux from the board.

Without a doubt, this is the worst flux gel of all that I have tried.

P.S.

Before this, I mainly used AMTECH NC-559.
I found a small syringe of CHIPQUIK SMD291NL flux, which I bought last year - I am using it now, so far the impressions are good.

I returned an almost full syringe of STANNOL MULTIFIX 450-01 to the store. They did not return my money, but I did not expect it. In any case, there is no point in using it and I decided that at least let the store deal with the disposal.

Today I bought EDSYN FL-22 flux in the same store. Have not tried it yet.