Battern's flux

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hi, All. A question for anyone. I’ve noticed that Battern’s flux appears
to be light sensitive as the color fades over time. Does anyone know if
this fading affects the working abilities of the flux?? Thanks in
advance - Gini in very hot West Coast of Florida, USA

2

I’ve noticed that Battern’s flux appears
to be light sensitive as the color fades over time. Does anyone know
if this fading affects the working abilities of the flux?

Hi Gini,

It doesn’t seem to. I use a little squeeze bottle with a tiny tube for
squeezing drops just where you want. Anyway, it takes a long time to empty
and by the time I’m to the end its almost clear, and it still works fine.

Mark P.
WI blossoms on my tomatoes already

3

I’ve had a bottle of battern’s flux grow crystals on the bottom of the
bottle. Needless to say the flux wasn’t working as well as it should then.

DC

4

The color change doesn’t matter at all! In fact, if it chrystalizes, I’ve
heard that you can “just add water.” (I don’t know whether what I’ve
heard is true or not . . .,)

5

I’ve noticed that Battern’s flux appears
to be light sensitive as the color fades over time. Does anyone know
if this fading affects the working abilities of the flux?

G’day; I don’t have Batterns flux, but I would hazard a guess that the
blue colour consists of an organic dye, and it is blue simply because
when it was first formulated someone though it looked more interesting
than a colourless liquid. Inorganic colours don’t fade with light. Which
is why I suspect dye.

I doubt whether the faded material would be any different in use than the
original. Incidentally I make my own hair gel which is colourless, and
put in a drop of food blue ‘to make it look more interesting’! There’s a
pennorth if you like! Cheers,

       / \
     /  /
   /  /
 /  /__| \      @John_Burgess2
(______ )

At sunny Nelson NZ (in winter)

6

The color change doesn’t matter at all! In fact, if it chrystalizes,
I’ve heard that you can “just add water.” (I don’t know whether what
I’ve heard is true or not . . .,)

Yep! When the Battern’s flux gets too concentrated and bubbles too much
that the solder moves around you can add some water and restore it. Jerry
in Kodiak

7

Hi All-
The color of Battern’s flux is from fluorescein - a fluorescent
dye. It’s in there so you can see the stuff (just like in anti-freeze)
and doesn’t have anything to do with the flux action. As for the
crystals, if some of the water evaporates the solution will become
saturated and crystals will fall out. Just a add water a little at a time
until the crystals go back into solution. Either way it shouldn’t make a
big difference since you are evaporating the water when you heat the piece
to be soldered. Hope this helps.

Elizabeth C. Wilkinson
Los Alamos, NM

e-mail: @wilkinso

8

. Incidentally I make my own hair gel which is colourless, and
put in a drop of food blue ‘to make it look more interesting’! There’s a
pennorth if you like!

Now this really perked up my interest. I just can’t resist
“How to” stuff like this. How do you make your own hair gel?

Kelvin Mok (klmok@shaw.wave.ca)
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