![]() It is also a common ingredient in commercial solder. Rosin made from crystallized Colophony has many different uses, including improving grip for rock climbing and other sports and adding resistance to violin bows. However, if you’re looking to save money and have access to plenty of pinecones, it’s a great way to make your own flux ahead of time so you always have some on hand. Obviously, this method takes a little time, so it might not be the best choice if you’re on a time crunch. You can now use the pine tar-alcohol mixture as your flux. Once this has happened, strain the mixture to remove the leaves and any other small pieces of debris. The alcohol will dissolve the pine tar from the leaves. Cover the container and allow the mixture to sit for at least 8 to 12 hours. Place them in a bowl or some other container with a lid to prevent spilling, and pour denatured ethyl alcohol over the top. If you have enough pinecones, you can make extra to save for future jobs.Ĭollect several pinecones and remove the pinecone leaves. The tar in the pinecones is often the active ingredient in commercial flux, and you can put it to use as a DIY flux as well. If you live in an area with lots of pine trees, you may have pinecones readily available. Don’t refrigerate it, as this will make it less effective. You can use this homemade flux immediately or save it for later. Stir it for several seconds, strain it again, and stir it for several more seconds. Strain the juice to remove any seeds and pulp. For smaller jobs, you may only need one lemon or even half of one, but for larger jobs, or if you want to have some left over for future jobs, you may want to juice several lemons. If using lemons, juice as many as you think you’ll need for the job. Though using lemons long-term could get expensive, it is a great flux alternative if you’re on a time crunch and it’s all you have on hand. The high content of citric acid in lemon juice can clear away the metal oxides as easily as petroleum jelly or commercial flux. If you have a few lemons or some store bought lemon juice on hand, it will work quite nicely as an acidic DIY flux. Some other good flux alternatives are outlined below. Luckily, petroleum jelly isn’t the only substance that does the same thing as commercial flux. Is there anything else you might have laying around somewhere that you could use? What if you’re in the middle of a job or project and you don’t have petroleum jelly on hand? You may not have the time to run to the store. That’s where a do-it-yourself flux alternative comes in. The truth is that you don’t have to use commercial flux, but you should use something that does the same job. Obviously, flux appears to be an important component in the soldering process, so is it really okay to skip out on using the flux? Without flux, the solder may stick to the soldering iron instead of the object you’re soldering. In addition, using flux helps the molten solder bind to whatever you’re soldering more easily. In soldering, flux is used to remove the oxidation from the materials being soldered, which in turn produces a stronger bond. Combine that with the fact that it’s usually much cheaper, melts quickly from the heat of the soldering iron, and can be used safely for many types of soldering jobs, petroleum jelly the one flux alternative you will want to check out. Many people have found that petroleum jelly works just as well as commercial flux. It’s also an excellent cleaner that not only removes any dirt or grime, but also eliminates the metal oxides that would otherwise weaken your bond. It’s made up of waxes and mineral oils, making it anti-corrosive so you don’t have to worry about it harming the solder or the object you’re soldering. It is perhaps the best alternative for commercial flux you can use. Petroleum jelly has a wide range of uses and is one of the must-haves for any do-it-yourselfer. Petroleum Jelly: The Best Flux Alternative for SolderingĬhances are, you have a container of petroleum jelly somewhere in your house. So is it really okay to solder without commercial flux? How do you use petroleum jelly as a flux alternative? Are there any other good flux alternatives you could use instead? Keep reading to find answers to these questions and more. It is equally as effective as commercial flux, costs about half the price, and most people already have it on hand. ![]() Petroleum jelly is one of the best flux alternatives you can use. But did you know that there are several do-it-yourself flux alternatives that are much cheaper than commercial flux? If you do a lot of soldering, you probably have experience using different types of soldering flux. “This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.”
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