Quote:
Originally Posted by Bazz4CQJ
Re flux pens, I have been using a Kester 951 pen, but recently noted that, according the the fine print on the pen, it has a shelf life of 1 year @25'C. Mine is dated 2017  .
Re Veroboard/stripboard, I had not heard that they are coated with anything; I always clean them well with very fine steel wool and IPA before use, and that seems to work out ok.
As I don't use de-soldering braid very often, I find myself trying and failing to use stuff that is "old". Some effective homebrew concoction would be useful.
B |
Although with veroboard you can get tin-plated (and generally on green coloured board that looks more like fibreglass although does still snap to size) types, that doesn't tend to suffer from oxidation and go discoloured.
All chemicals have a shelf life - even bleach (and relatively short)
I think manufacturers are rather pessimistic on the shelf-life (maybe to get you to keep buying new ones). And it seems that in order for companies to comply with CoSHH safety regulations, they shouldn't use ones out of date, having to dispose of it via specialist collections at high cost.
It does seem that the better desoldering-braid does retain it's flux (and the copper remains shiny), even when you don't keep it sealed-up, for many years as I've rarely had to buy it.
I have seen some older tin-plated type, but never found that it worked very well (although may have been very old)