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Tinker

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Joined: 07/11/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 1904

Posted: 12:38am 01 Dec 2016

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Many years ago I came across a tinning solution in a bottle.

This was just wiped over the tracks of an etched board, tinning the tracks and preventing oxidization.

Is that stuff still available? What is it called so I can search for it?

I normally use PCB laquer on my simple boards but now have made one where I need to connect (screw on) something to the tracks.

Thanks.

Klaus

bigmik

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Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2916

Posted: 03:39am 02 Dec 2016

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Hi Klaus,

Liquid Tin

But it is not cheap.

Kind Regards,

Mick

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

brucedownunder2
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Joined: 14/09/2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 1548

Posted: 02:19pm 02 Dec 2016

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I,ve used a tinning paste many years ago . worked magic on copper pipe and any copper or brass surface,just steel wool (stainless) the surface area ,heat with either propane torch or similar and wipe it off with a clean rag for perfect coating.

used it every day at work on copper air pipes .

You can tell if it's good --the small tin of the stuff is heavy.

Bruce

Bushboy

Tinker

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Joined: 07/11/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 1904

Posted: 12:21am 03 Dec 2016

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Thanks guys, good tips.

I did some more googling on the subject and found a kind of metal bristle brush that fitted into a soldering iron. Loading that with solder and flux paste coat the tracks apparently is the cat's meouw on tinning tracks - but its expensive (to me).

So, rummaging in my odds & ends box I found small a brass cleaning brush (works a bit like a lip stick - you twist one end and the bristles come out the other).

So I'm modifying this, just pull out the bristle bundle and fit them into a copper 3/8" pipe which suits my old Weller soldering iron.

I think it should work, I'll let you know.

Klaus

greybeard
Senior Member

Joined: 04/01/2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 163

Posted: 10:24pm 03 Dec 2016

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If it's only a small area that needs to be tinned and the rest can be covered with pcb lacquer then use a 'pre-loved' piece of soderwick. Just hit it with some solder then apply it over the track to be tinned. It will leave a neat thin coating of solder on the pcb.

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