bfollowell Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 I'm looking for suggestions for what to use to cleanup my old 800XL's motherboard. It isn't bad, just 30 years of storage bad. I'd like to clean and shine it up like when it came off the assembly line new. When I worked as a bench tech repairing old IBM ProPrinter power supplies during college back in the late eighties, the company kept a huge vat of liquid freon that we used to clean up boards and solder joints. Obviously, I don't have a vat of that just lying around, and it isn't very environmentally friendly anyway, so what do we use these days? Anything more than just some isopropyl alcohol? Thanks. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Nezgar Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 https://www.mgchemicals.com/products/cleaning-products-for-electronics/cleaners/electronic-cleaners/aerosol-electronic-cleaners/safety-wash-ii-aerosol-4050a My local electronics shop recommended this. Maybe you can find it or something similar. I find it works well to clean up grime and flux (and old flux) from PCB's. Works well when applied then scrubbed with a toothbrush. Isopropyl alcohol is still good for the final cleanup, as the cleaner leaves some residue too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DrVenkman Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 90% isopropyl alcohol will clean up nearly anything without damaging the board, components or solder mask. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunstar Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 90% isopropyl alcohol will clean up nearly anything without damaging the board, components or solder mask. The only thing I ever use. 90% only. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavin1968 Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 I'm looking for suggestions for what to use to cleanup my old 800XL's motherboard. It isn't bad, just 30 years of storage bad. I'd like to clean and shine it up like when it came off the assembly line new. When I worked as a bench tech repairing old IBM ProPrinter power supplies during college back in the late eighties, the company kept a huge vat of liquid freon that we used to clean up boards and solder joints. Obviously, I don't have a vat of that just lying around, and it isn't very environmentally friendly anyway, so what do we use these days? Anything more than just some isopropyl alcohol? Thanks. I wash off any dirt in the sink, then let them soak, submerged, in Simple Green for about half an hour. I use an old toothbrush if needed to get off anything after the soaking, then I rinse with distilled water and place in the oven at 175F for 90 minutes, with the oven cracked open to allow moisture to escape. Works amazing!!! Been doing it with monitor PCB's for a while as well, before I do cap kits or rebuilds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bfollowell Posted April 9, 2019 Author Share Posted April 9, 2019 I wash off any dirt in the sink, then let them soak, submerged, in Simple Green for about half an hour. I use an old toothbrush if needed to get off anything after the soaking, then I rinse with distilled water and place in the oven at 175F for 90 minutes, with the oven cracked open to allow moisture to escape. Works amazing!!! Been doing it with monitor PCB's for a while as well, before I do cap kits or rebuilds. Really?! Just spray and wash them off in a sink of soapy water? I'm assuming you don't completely dunk or submerge them. I've heard of others putting keyboards in the dishwasher and all kinds of things that would seem to go against common rules/knowledge for electronic equipment, but I'm not certain I'd be that brave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavin1968 Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 Really?! Just spray and wash them off in a sink of soapy water? I'm assuming you don't completely dunk or submerge them. I've heard of others putting keyboards in the dishwasher and all kinds of things that would seem to go against common rules/knowledge for electronic equipment, but I'm not certain I'd be that brave. Yes, I spray them off with water, and I submerge them in Simple Green for 30 minutes, then scrub if needed, rinse with distilled water and dry in the oven. It works wonders, the boards look brand new!! I can post some before and after pics if you like. I get gallon jugs of Simple Green. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavin1968 Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 Before - https://photos.app.goo.gl/WL5VJTG7D3nMZeyr6 Before - https://photos.app.goo.gl/GA9AS83fs89k7Kym6 Soaking - https://photos.app.goo.gl/qpMiHHqQTTVxJepy6 Drying - https://photos.app.goo.gl/aQNAraped7knwRP58 After Top - https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZHTLiMZQgk3vciyBA After Bottom - https://photos.app.goo.gl/5h9HT6i6wfppb5C3A 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bfollowell Posted April 9, 2019 Author Share Posted April 9, 2019 (edited) I'll have to admit, they do look nice and brand-new. And those two before pictures were nasty! Thanks for the suggestions. I may give it a go. Edited April 9, 2019 by bfollowell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 I've had simple green take all the writing off of all sort of things... melt vinyl and other such fun. water and simple green are not good for contact metal and chip sockets... sure it looks great... and anytime you get stuff wet- heat and zero humidity air blowing on thing for a long time is a must.... fluorocarbons, isopropol, de-oxit, allll the way! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Stephen Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 Before - https://photos.app.goo.gl/WL5VJTG7D3nMZeyr6 Before - https://photos.app.goo.gl/GA9AS83fs89k7Kym6 Soaking - https://photos.app.goo.gl/qpMiHHqQTTVxJepy6 Drying - https://photos.app.goo.gl/aQNAraped7knwRP58 After Top - https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZHTLiMZQgk3vciyBA After Bottom - https://photos.app.goo.gl/5h9HT6i6wfppb5C3A That's some shango066 level stuff there. Oh wait - he never cleans anything 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+tf_hh Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 Yes, I spray them off with water, and I submerge them in Simple Green for 30 minutes, then scrub if needed, rinse with distilled water and dry in the oven. It works wonders, the boards look brand new!! I can post some before and after pics if you like. I get gallon jugs of Simple Green. I´m thinking about what happens, if I use the oven for drying electronic parts and my wife came in... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DrVenkman Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 Lead contamination is not a joke in soils and water; I don’t want lead-soldered electronics anywhere near where I cook food, especially when you add in evaporating solvents from whatever you used to clean off the board and traces of plastic compounds from the discrete components all over the place ... If I ever need to dry off a totally-soaked boards, I’d make due with canned air to blow off all the water I could get off, then set it aside on my workbench for 24 hours or so. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bfollowell Posted April 10, 2019 Author Share Posted April 10, 2019 Yeah, Gavin, your results speak for themselves, obviously, but all the concerns and comments from the others have me convinced that your method isn't in my future. Besides, my board is working just fine and is in nowhere near the horrible condition of the boards you showed. A little isopropyl alcohol, a little elbow grease, and I should be fine. Thanks guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 I use and ulpa filtered vacumn cleaner and air filter, (which I wish I knew about in the late 70's and 80's/earlier 90's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blainelocklair Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 90% isopropyl alcohol will clean up nearly anything without damaging the board, components or solder mask. +1 on the IsoPro. Cheap as heck, too. CVS sells 91% for around $3 a bottle or so. They even have it in spray bottles. I spray it on and let it drip down at a corner. Lets the loose stuff slide right off and speeds up drying time. A little follow-up with a microfiber towel with some IsoPro on it will wipe down anything left over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavin1968 Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 Yeah, Gavin, your results speak for themselves, obviously, but all the concerns and comments from the others have me convinced that your method isn't in my future. Besides, my board is working just fine and is in nowhere near the horrible condition of the boards you showed. A little isopropyl alcohol, a little elbow grease, and I should be fine. Thanks guys. Never had a problem, and it cleans them completely. Of course do it your way, I was just showing a method that is bullet proof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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