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Author Topic: Solderless conductive PCB repair glue any good?  (Read 339 times)

KT0DD

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Solderless conductive PCB repair glue any good?
« on: January 28, 2023, 06:23:59 PM »

Is conductive solderless repair glue any good for radio circuit boards and what seems to be a reliable brand? Seems safer than a hot iron for really tight spaces.

Todd - KT0DD
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AI5BC

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Re: Solderless conductive PCB repair glue any good?
« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2023, 07:14:04 AM »

You will find the box it came in is more useful and valuable than the product inside the box.
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K4JJL

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Re: Solderless conductive PCB repair glue any good?
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2023, 05:20:23 AM »

I've used it to modify laser-etched VCO tuning strips in Motorola radios.  The access hole in the RF shield was too small to fit an iron inside.  I put a little on a toothpick and shorted out the etchings to drop the locking frequency range.  Worked fine for years.

Now this was a really low current application with practically no component stress.  I wouldn't use it to attach components to boards.  Maybe just repairing broken traces where kynar wire is impractical.  YMMV.
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K1VCT

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Re: Solderless conductive PCB repair glue any good?
« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2023, 06:29:33 AM »

In a past life..... I had to repair an IBM PS/2 Model 50 for a customer, who used it to run his industrial controls (that I serviced).

I got a replacement motherboard, and sometime about 10pm changed it out.  IBM in their infinite wisdom used slotted head screws to attach the motherboard to chassis.  I slipped, and busted thru about a dozen really, really fine traces.

Exacto knife at the ready, I was able to clean up the spaces between the traces.  Then I used some really fine... probably 600 grit paper to expose the copper of each trace on each side of the break.  Fluxed and tinned the whole mess at once.  Then grabbed a spare modular phone cable and broke it down to individual strands of ....I dunno 40gauge or so wire.  Really fine stuff.  Tin one end of the fine wire.  Solder to the tinned trace.  Stretch it across the break.  Solder to the other side of the break.  One down... eleven or so more to go.  I staggered the places I soldered.  Got it all done, cleaned it up with alcohol and made sure nothing was touching.  Fired up fine.  Since it seemed to work, power down and cover the repair with some dope to make sure it sort of got insulated and would remain undisturbed.  Worked for years until they upgraded to something newer.

That repair will stick in my memory till I croak.  I don't think there was anything special about my soldering setup, although I've used PACE equipment for decades.  I'm guessing it was just a medium tip at perhaps a bit higher than normal heat to be quick in/out things.
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K8AXW

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Re: Solderless conductive PCB repair glue any good?
« Reply #4 on: January 30, 2023, 09:37:42 AM »

This post (question) reminded me of my earliest foray into the world of electronics at age 14.  I didn't have money for a soldering iron and solder so bought a tube of "soldering glue."

Let me simply say, "THAT experiment did NOT end well!"
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N8YX

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Re: Solderless conductive PCB repair glue any good?
« Reply #5 on: February 09, 2023, 09:57:23 AM »

...I don't think there was anything special about my soldering setup, although I've used PACE equipment for decades.
Though I didn't spend anywhere near this amount for the stuff, I have the equivalent of a high-end Hilberling in my various Sensa-Temp power units, hand pieces and consumables. The other PCB repair supplier on my go-to list is APE.

The right tools have saved the day (and a board) many times. Conductive epoxy does have its uses. One of these is repairing the bandswitch wafers of certain Kenwood hybrids (e.g., TS-530/830).
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AJ4UY

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Re: Solderless conductive PCB repair glue any good?
« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2023, 05:27:26 AM »

...I don't think there was anything special about my soldering setup, although I've used PACE equipment for decades.
Though I didn't spend anywhere near this amount for the stuff, I have the equivalent of a high-end Hilberling in my various Sensa-Temp power units, hand pieces and consumables. The other PCB repair supplier on my go-to list is APE.

The right tools have saved the day (and a board) many times. Conductive epoxy does have its uses. One of these is repairing the bandswitch wafers of certain Kenwood hybrids (e.g., TS-530/830).

I concur on the band wafer switch repair.

I purchased Radio Shack brand solder less Conductive Adhesive. I had two instances in the past 6 years where I had thought that
it would be a perfect solution. I started one project with this adhesive, but paranoia set in - and decided to make repairs
without, using other traditional methods. A search previously - appears their are several grades / qualities / prices for this type of glue.
It appears that the very highest grades are used by professional companies in a variety of uses.
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K8AXW

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Re: Solderless conductive PCB repair glue any good?
« Reply #7 on: February 11, 2023, 10:05:59 AM »

Not to sidetrack this thread, but would someone explain to me how a bandswitch wafer is repaired with a conductive epoxy/glue? (I own a TS-830S)
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