DIY Solder Flux

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By John Baichtal
Posted 2012/06/14 @ 11:00 am
Category Electronics, Science

DangPro shows you how to create your own solder flux:

Flux is a wonderful goo that makes soldering faster and easier. In previous videos we compared different types of commercial flux, but did you know it’s possible to make a simple and effective flux at home? We’ll get you started, and don’t miss the giveaway at the end of the video.

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18 Responses to DIY Solder Flux

Greg Silver on June 14th, 2012 at 12:01 pm said:

Great info!

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D on June 14th, 2012 at 2:23 pm said:

DangPro seems to be one happy dude.

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Bob Marney on June 14th, 2012 at 2:24 pm said:

That was so simple. One chunk of that rosin would make enough for years to come.

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Bill Fredette on June 14th, 2012 at 3:47 pm said:

Aha! Something to do with my son’s bass bow rosin when he isn’t looking!

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Thomas on June 14th, 2012 at 4:08 pm said:

Great tutorial… just need 1 missing ingredient- rosin!! Lol, I shudder sometimes when a guide says I need flux, and I look to the component box and have none

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caitlinsdad on June 14th, 2012 at 5:49 pm said:

any way to make homemade solder paste to use with the homemade flux? Solder paste is expensive to get and has a shelf life.

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KentD on June 15th, 2012 at 7:29 am said:

I like this. Rosin core solder makes you use solder to get flux, but then you may have more solder than you need for a small pin. I need to make some of this! Rosin is also useful for Chladni plate bowing.

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Josh on June 15th, 2012 at 11:21 am said:

Wow,that was cool! i had thought of making my own flux, but I never could find the time,I think I will now though!

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Nick merritt on June 16th, 2012 at 11:47 am said:

That’s really cool, I wouldn’t have thought that you could make flux so easily. What kind of tree does Rosen come from? Anyway thanks for the info I will be sure to try this.

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Travis on June 19th, 2012 at 7:26 am said:

I almost always use flux when soldering. Especially when soldering stranded wires together. The flux lets the solder flow quicker keeping the heating time to a minimum. I find that alcohol does a great job of cleaning flux off the board after soldering giving a prettier board. A little on a toothbrush works great.

I agree with above, now if we can make our own homemade solder paste.

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Cheryl on July 14th, 2012 at 11:10 pm said:

Ooohh wonderful info, can’t wait to try it!!

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Jan on August 29th, 2012 at 2:41 pm said:

I read that you can use honey straight from the container as a flux as well. It’s consistency keeps it from running.

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Joe on September 20th, 2012 at 6:45 pm said:

Great video seems very easy and simple to do

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Lola on January 9th, 2013 at 11:11 am said:

I’ve been on a search to find a recipe for flux to use in my jewelry making. I use primarily copper and silver. I’m wondering if this would work as well in jewelry making as it does on this circuit board. Also, what is the shelf life after mixing?

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- Kim Wilson on February 17th, 2013 at 11:48 am said:
  
  Lola if your hard soldering silver you use boric acid or borax fluxes or a commercial product I think rosin will burn if your torching a bezel. Use rosin for electronics and the like. Copper in non electronic applications generally uses more corrosive fluxes. I have not used copper for jewelery making just silver and just hard (silver solder that comes in 3 grades hard medium and soft) Do not confuse the hard silver with silver bearing solders ie the “soft” hard silver solder is not a soft solder. The hard silver comes in three grades (or four if you also count one for enameling) for the convince of fabrication or repair. The Melting points are slightly different to allow soldered peaces to be built up or repaired without affecting a joint already soldered. In any case the flux should be removed except for the noncorrosive (rosin) electronics flux and many remove it as well. The rosin needs a strong cleaner that has volatile ingredients. Even rosin fluxes are mixed with ingredients to cut the oxide layer to help with the solder joint (activated flux). Activated flux should be removed in electronics work. Do not use soft solder (ie non hard silver) on silver and don’t use lead bearing solder for jewelery never.
  
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servis laptopova on April 17th, 2013 at 7:35 am said:

I guess this kind of flux is not very good to apply for the bga rework and reballing work .

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servis laptopova on April 17th, 2013 at 7:37 am said:

is the rosin also used for applying on violin bow ?

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