Solder masking

This topic has 7 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 27 February 2018 at 09:49 by john fletcher 1.

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26 February 2018 at 16:24 #343301
steamdave
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@steamdave
It is well known that solvent based Tippex (is it still available?) or ordinary pencil lead provide a good mask to prevent silver solder from going where it is not wanted. There may well be other masking agents that I'm not aware of.

Is there any similar mask that can be applied to a job using ordinary tin/lead or electrical solder?

Dave
The Emerald Isle
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26 February 2018 at 16:24 #25840
steamdave
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@steamdave
26 February 2018 at 17:08 #343307
Martin Whittle
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@martinwhittle67411
If you search for 'peelable solder mask' on Ebay / Farnell / Amazon / RS etc, you will get find products that are painted on as a liquid, but dry to a latex – like material. This is resistant to soft soldering temperatures, and then can be peeled off.

On ebay if you search for 'solder mask' you will get lots of responses for cheaper syringes of UV-curable material; I take it that these are permanent solder masks and cannot easily be removed.

Martin
26 February 2018 at 17:28 #343309
Dougie Swan
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@dougieswan43463
Tippex works for both soft and silver solder Dave

Its all I ever use and is still available

Dougie
26 February 2018 at 19:35 #343334
Martin Whittle
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@martinwhittle67411
On a related matter (but maybe wrong forum), I am currently trying some 'artist's blue mask' from Hobbycraft, which is another latex mask: I don't know whether this would be suitable as a solder mask. It is intended as a temporary mask in watercolour painting.

But my application involves using it as a mask over what I believe to be a bone inlay on an 1900 (approx) musical box, for the purpose of French polishing the wood background. It will be interesting to see what happens when I unpick the mask, with its thin layer of shellac over it .

Martin
26 February 2018 at 21:32 #343348
steamdave
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@steamdave
Thanks for the replies to my question.

It's good to know that solvent based Tippex is still available, but 'peelable solder mask' sounds an interesting suggestion.

Dave
The Emerald Isle
27 February 2018 at 05:13 #343359
Hopper
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@hopper
Milk of Magnesia — if you can still find it.
27 February 2018 at 09:49 #343380
john fletcher 1
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@johnfletcher1
In the past plumbers when wiping lead pipes and underground cable jointers used a black substance known in the trade as plumbers black. As far as I remember in came in yellow tins about 1.5" or 2" high some thing like shoe polish tin but taller.The jointers mate applied a drop water swished it around onto the black substance with a paint brush and the jointer painted it on. This prevented migration of the lead based solder and when cleaned up the job looked neat. I've been looking for a supplier for some time, it seemed to have disappeared along with lead water pipe little wonder with the reputation of lead water pipe. I've got the idea that it might be based on soot or foundry waste and mixed with ????. As mentioned above I use Tippex and pencil, both work OK. John
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