ettran said:
hi,i have been stripping soldermask from soundblaster cards with lye .tried to do some green boards from other stuff and masking either wrinkels up or never moves.anyone else have this problem ? ed
I do not have any direct links to the threads i read about this, but i can relay what I remember.
There are a few types of solder mask that in your lye solution will completely gum-up the works. It is best to keep them out once you know what kind exactly.
Another type of solder mask is very thick and heavy duty, and i *believe* a stronger lye solution was required to get it off, as well as multiple 30 minute soaks, where the boards were left out to dry before further lye treatment.
I have also read where having an improper mix/temp could either dissolve the gold, or cover it up with base metals (it was being discussed which, i didnt pursue further information on it because lye=bad stuff)
Okay, lye isnt THAT bad...BUT, its pretty dangerous... ONE drop and you can go blind?....Yeah, i will pass on that one!
I do recall a thread post from a guy where he either worked for or with a PCB company, and he was curious how we were getting off the mask (it was a different type of board or soldermask) because it was so resistant to very corrosive environments... Again, i didnt take great note, or try to commit it to memory, because there are some things i just wont mess with... Lye is one of them (yes i have an use it in my lab for some things, but bringing it to a boil/high heat... Yeah, that's dancing with the devil, and i have some clumsy feet...)
Sorry i cant be of great assistance, but, i know some.of the guys here are much more versed in this practice.
-topher, the non-lyer
