Return-Path: Received: from mail.cruzio.com ([208.226.92.37]) by truman.olsusa.com (Post.Office MTA v3.5.1 release 219 ID# 0-52269U2500L250S0V35) with ESMTP id com for ; Sat, 13 Mar 1999 04:43:06 -0500 Received: from testelectronics.mail (sa-207-251-8-171.cruzio.com [207.251.8.171]) by mail.cruzio.com with SMTP id BAA18465 for ; Sat, 13 Mar 1999 01:45:02 -0800 (PST) Received: from main [192.168.16.1] by testelectronics.mail [192.168.16.1] with SMTP (MDaemon.v2.5.rB.b2.32-R) for ; Sat, 13 Mar 99 01:47:12 -0800 Received: by localhost with Microsoft MAPI; Sat, 13 Mar 1999 01:47:11 -0800 Message-ID: <01BE6CF3.69A81B30.ed@testelectronics.com> From: Ed Armstrong Reply-To: "ed@testelectronics.com" To: "Lancair [Lancair.List@Olsusa.Com] (E-mail)" Subject: Solvent Isopropyl Alcohol Date: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 01:47:10 -0800 Organization: Test Electronics X-Mailing-List: lancair.list@olsusa.com Mime-Version: 1.0 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> << Lancair Builders' Mail List >> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >> I am just starting my kit and looking for the best solvent. Semi Conductor Grade 99.9% Isopropyl Alcohol has always been my favorite solvent. I use it all the time for cleaning circuit boards. It cleans everything, leaves no residue, and has no heath hazards. It is only moderately flammable. It takes a hot flame to ignite it. I don't think a cold spark from a wire brush or a Dremel Tool will likely set it off. I have not used it on my kit yet because I am afraid to deviate from the manual. Also, one scary problem I have had with Isopropyl Alcohol is using it on Lexan. It will seem to clean Lexan great, it doesn't dissolve, melt or frost it. However, beware, it will do serious invisible damage. I have found the hard way that about 3 hours later small cracks develop, then about a day later the cracks grow really big. I have successfully used Isopropyl alcohol for years on circuit boards made from G-10 which is the same fiberglass material these kits are made from. I have even lost circuit boards in bins of it and had them soaking for months with no visible damage. I only checked for visible damage, I never did any stress testing on anything before and after using Isopropyl alcohol. I'm thinking that Isopropyl alcohol will be a great solvent as long as I keep it away from the Lexan windows. If anyone knows differently please let me know. Regards, Ed Watsonville CA.