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panel cleaning / white mold

Greetings, All -

We're having a problem at the studio where I work, and it seems like the sort of thing someone here may have encountered. Our copper foil projects develop a white mold on the solder lines, sometimes very quickly (i.e., as soon as 36 hours) after they are completed, despite rigorous and repeated scrubbings with various flux removers and/or soaps. Other times, the problem doesn't show up for a few weeks or even a month...but eventually it appears on everything we foil.

When I finish a panel, I use a black patina, applied with a clean rag. Then I scrub the entire panel with CJ's flux remover twice on each side, rinsing with a pressure washer between each washing. Then I bring the panel in, dry it with clean towels, clean it with Cinch (windex-like stuff) and paper towels, and then I apply a layer of wax. The process gives the solder lines an even black luster. Eventually, though, this white mold-looking corrosion "eats" through portions of the finish.

The boss thinks it may be the mineral content in our shop's water. Sounds like a long shot to me. We've tried other cleaners and processes - ammonia, baking soda, some green and clear stuff in separate bottles, but nothing seems to make much of a difference.

Any tips? Many, many thanks in advance -

Steve Roberts

Reply to
Steve Roberts
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By process of elimination, I'd start by changing the brand of foil. See if the "bloom" appears on that project, doing everything else the same.

Then, I'd switch fluxes, do everything else the same.

Then I'd switch solder brands, do everything else the same as always.

Then, I'd switch brands of patina, and cleaners....

And so on and so on. "Something" is amiss. Try using some distilled water in the cleaners...you can get a gallon of it for 60 cents at walmart.

Reply to
Moonraker

what type of flux are you using? maybe try a water based one like solder mate II if you are using a paste. The mold is a by-product of the flux leaching out from beneath the foil. m

Reply to
Michele Blank

don't use the cinch.

Reply to
Charlie Spitzer

What kind of wax do you use?

Reply to
C Ryman

actually, the ammonia in Windex counteracts/neutralizes the flux. not sure if 'cinch' has the same ammonia ingredient? m

Reply to
Michele Blank

Not sure of the name right now - it's good stuff, made for stained glass. We have also used an automobile paste wax. The results are about the same, with regard to the mold. The good wax is easier to use. If we do not wax, the mold appears sooner, and worse.

Reply to
Steve Roberts

We've used two fluxes, both specifically for foil work. I can't think of the names right now (a long day at the bench...), but one is the blue stuff and the other is the clear stuff. Both liquids.

thanx-

Reply to
Steve Roberts

I have experience that mold myself. I have solved this problem completely by cleaning thoroughly the panel with a mixture of biocarnate and water, and immediately rincing with clear water. The problem in gone.

mix approx. two table spoom per lietr or more.

Reply to
M. Paradis

Having similar problems myself ... I'm assuming that this suggestion is a way to prevent the problem occurring. Is there a way to fix it once it's happened?

Excuse me if I've misunderstood.

Thanks -- Marilyn

M. Paradis wrote:

Reply to
Marilyn Kaminski

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