Thanks for all the suggestions and information. I obtained some Methylene Chloride and some MEK. I tried soaking the area with each for about 10 minutes, but there was no significant softening. I gave up and carefully scraped off the top of the traces with a new X-ACTO blade. I was able to see the defects below the mask. Thanks, Carl From: Inge Hernefjord [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Friday, February 10, 2012 10:49 PM To: TechNet E-Mail Forum; Carl VanWormer Subject: Re: [TN] How can I remove solder mask? We use Ristoff C8. If it's the best or not, i've no idea. We use it just for small repairs and mods. We buy it from a local shop, don't know who makes it. Inge On 9 February 2012 19:00, Carl VanWormer <[log in to unmask]> wrote: I have a PC board that somebody has repaired, and then painted something that looks like the standard green soldermask to cover the repair. There is still a short circuit under the painted area. I'd like to analyze the repair, but I don't want to just scrape off the covering with a knife blade. Is there an easily available solvent that can be used to remove soldermask? Thanks, Carl p.s. I check the archives, and was unable to get any results with the search function. It seems to be broken . . . Carl Van Wormer, P.E., AE7GD Senior Hardware Engineer Cipher Systems 1800 NW 169th Place, Suite B-100 Beaverton, OR 97006 Cipher Systems (503) 617-7447 x 5163 <tel:%28503%29%20617-7447%20x%205163> Direct Line (503) 425-5163 <tel:%28503%29%20425-5163> [log in to unmask] This message may contain confidential and/or proprietary information, and is intended for the person/entity to whom it was originally addressed. Any use by others is strictly prohibited. If I sent this to you by mistake, please be nice and delete it, then tell me of my mistake so I can send it to the right person. ______________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned by the Symantec Email Security.cloud service. For more information please contact helpdesk at x2960 or [log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________