Steve, We successfully use this flux and to avoid shelf-life issues like you mentioned,we ONLY use flux within its shelf life. For us to do otherwise would require a lot of expensive justification. At $23/tube, its not worth it. Best Regards, Joe -----Original Message----- From: Steve Gregory [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 9:29 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [TN] Tacky Soldering Flux Shelf Life Hi All! I just got some Kester 6522 Tacky Soldering Flux in today from a distributor that had it's shelf life exceeded according to Kester's datasheet. Shelf life according to the datasheet is three months from the date of manufacture when stored between 0-10 C (32-50 F.). The flux that was sent to me was manufactured on 7/17/06. That struck me as a really short shelf life. The stuff is $23.00 and change for a 30-gram syringe BTW. I called Kester and asked what in the flux changes after three months and got; "Well the viscosity changes as well as other things, and we really can't warranty it's performance after three months." I asked; "What other things besides viscosity?" Once again I got; "Well there's other properties that will change and we can't guarantee that it will perform to the specifications that were established, that's why the shelf life is only three months." So basically he wouldn't tell me what, if anything else, changes besides the viscosity... If it's only the viscosity, that isn't that big a deal to me, I only use it at my rework station for BGA rework. Just curious if any of you have used this flux after the 3-month shelf life and had something bad happen. Me, I just think it's a way to sell more flux. Because they know with the advent of ISO and procedures, how everyone tracks consumable material shelf life, it's a marketing no-brainer... -Steve Gregory- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8e To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 -----------------------------------------------------