Phil,

I think the OA fluxes are very active. It's so active that I find that we
need to mask off any exposed stainless hardware on the bottom of PC boards
when wavesoldering. Never worried about it when using RMA fluxes. The only
time I use RA flux is for tinning nickel plated wire. We never allow the use
of OA flux for any stranded wire soldering of any kind. Our OA fluxes are
only used in solder paste and at the wavesolder operation followed by
immediate aqueous cleaning. Otherwise, we use RMA flux and clean with
alcohol.

We've been using OA fluxes for well over 15 years now. I don't know how to
define active but we've been able to run some of our older part numbers
where boards and parts have been in the stock room for a long time without
problems. By a long time I mean 2 - 5 years.

Bill Kasprzak
Moog Inc. Manufacturing Engineering, Electronics


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Phil Nutting [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2003 1:54 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      [TN] RA vs. RMA vs. OA flux
>
> Can anyone define for me which flux is the most active?  There was a
> discussion today around how the OA fluxes were not as good as the old RA
> or RMA fluxes relative to being active and how well they "clean" a
> component lead during the soldering process.  I used to swear by the old
> standby of Kester 44 core and 1544 flux.  After working with OA fluxes I
> like the end product of the OA fluxes better.  Yes the cleaning
> requirements are different, but that is a separate discussion.
>
> Thanks in advance for your comments.
>
> Phil Nutting
>
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