I've been using the wrong AMTECH flux. Or is it the right flux?

Buy the new formula STIRRI (AMTECH NC-559) V3-TF here: amzn.to/39KhfmF
I've been sold a lie!
For the past five years I've been using and recommending AMTECH NC-559-V2-TF flux. But apparently I've actually been using AMTECH NC-559-ASM-TF. How did this happen?
I was deceived, and now I know the truth!
But wait, there's more! Check out part 2 of this Flux saga here:
• FLUXGATE Part 2! The n...
Many thanks to AMTECH for their patience, and providing the information I was looking for:
amtechdirect.com
Thanks to my good friends Jay from the House of Moth:
/ thehouseofmoth
and Steve from Mac84:
/ mac84
Please subscribe to their channels to make me look good.
And thanks to Louis Rossmann for getting me started on the computer repair journey all those years ago:
/ rossmanngroup
Recap-a-Mac capacitor replacement guides:
recapamac.com.au/
If you enjoy the content and would like to support the channel, please consider becoming a Patron:
/ branchuscreations
Alternatively, if you would like to make a small one-off donation, you can do so here:
www.paypal.me/branchus
Tools/Products used (paid links):
New formula AMTECH NC-599-V3-TF flux: amzn.to/39KhfmF
T15 Torx (for opening compact Macs): amzn.to/2ZJKWN3
Microscope: amzn.to/2HnSI5H
Microscope camera: amzn.to/2TdSYsZ
Budget alternative microscope: amzn.to/2PmRagt
Soldering station: amzn.to/31QvCMW
Soldering iron tip (T12): amzn.to/2L3Juwt
Budget alternative soldering station (uses T12 tips): amzn.to/2SeUpHg
Hot air rework: amzn.to/2ZjYzPH
Budget alternative hot air rework: amzn.to/3fN1ZU7
Helping hands (third hand): amzn.to/31JUhVL
Ultrasonic cleaner: amzn.to/2ZJKFtB
Ultrasonic cleaning fluid: amzn.to/2YusoQQ
Fume extractor: amzn.to/2HuG0oU
Solder: amzn.to/2ZCUurA
Solder wick: amzn.to/2L1Xgjg
UV Solder mask: amzn.to/2ZnK1yu
Precision tweezers: amzn.to/2NqkhPz
Swann Morton curved scalpel blades: amzn.to/2oN7qNn
No. 3 Scalpel Handle: amzn.to/2ngcx85
Kapton heat resistant tape: amzn.to/2xBnTso
28 AWG enamelled magnet wire (thick): amzn.to/32cRsLf
34 AWG enamelled magnet wire (med): amzn.to/35Bx20D
40 AWG enamelled magnet wire (thin): amzn.to/2J2Aisf

[@MysteryMargo]

Have fun changing all those descriptions! Timing was just right, finally gonna have a shot at changing capacitors and wanted to check with you next stream about the flux. Thanks for the video.

[@mortimerschnerd3846]

Thanks much for taking the time to keep us current!

[@zabuza_zen7217]

Great video and big help! thanks for be so transparent.

[@brianpaul5667]

Thanks for the info that's a big deal and imperative for the community to know. Thanks for your soldering videos too you are so beyond appreciated good sir!

[@TheHouseOfMoth]

Turns out I've never actually used Amtech V2 before! Curious to try it now but will likely continue to use ASM as I've been happy with it. I will be getting my ASM straight from Amtech though as I do not want another cent going to the deceptive Inventec.

[@rpsmith]

Excellent information! I just checked the V2 that I have had for a year or so and it has a fairly strong order so I guess that's actually the original V2. Will give ASM/V3 a try and see how it goes. Thanks for the video!

[@donnatalielucasheimbigner7598]

It amazes me how much stuff that is counterfeited on the market. Thank you for not settling on an answer that didn't make sense & then sharing what you found so we all would know. Kudos to you.

[@KrotowX]

Wannabe Amtech 559 pastes in ll Chinese shops like AliExpress and great deal of them in eBay are 100% fakes. Just look at price and packaging.

[@ecpruthless]

thank you for showing us that correspondence clears up a few questions im sure many of us share

[@jack68k]

Thanks for sorting this out! What a weird situation. I'm relieved that the mislabeled V2 some of us prefer is still a real product we can get from AMTECH. I was dreading the alternative scenario in which we would discover that our preferred flux was counterfeit and the only way to get it was to give money to shady company that makes fake products.

[@BranchusCreations]

That's correct. It's not actually fake, it's just mislabelled. I really like the V2, it just turns out it was ASM all along.

[@jack68k]

@@BranchusCreations great clarification, and I’ve edited my original comment to say “mislabeled” instead of “fake”

[@transmitterguy478]

Thank you, I wondered why I haven't been sleeping for over a year! Tonight is early to bed for me. Great vids Bruce

[@marionmartin7169]

Thank you for this video. I have been reccomended ASM and was wondering what the difference was

[@MichaelRogersJesusrules]

Love your vids, bet they loved your emails!, thanx for sharing peace n keep safe.

[@sccscc5914]

Many Many Many Thanks For These Information And Details

[@rabarebra]

Great video. Do you happen do know about the Team Blacksheep TBS Flux? I asked for the datasheet, and they sent me a pdf of Amtech NC-559-ASM-UV information. I am bit suspicious.

[@tze-ven]

That frustrating look at the end was epic. 🤣

[@TheAMGReviewers]

Bit late to the party but what are your thoughts on MGChemicals 8341 flux? Its lead free only i think, but thats what i want to work with since leaded solder being used in and sold in products from shops in the uk is grey area at best, mostly for new products but I'll be doing retro repair

[@dgyldmark]

I love this kind of people who doesent just buy something and whatever! Thanks for update

[@cobra-he9xj]

Absolutely wonderful information presented perfectly. I've been on YT since the start and I think that's the most interesting and informative video on a (boring to most) topic I've ever seen. 🇺🇸🇦🇺

[@RastaJediX]

Thank you so much for this video!!!

[@RyanUptonInnovator]

But how do you add a capcitor to the flux so you can time travel?

[@adtosse666]

Love the ending, where you realize that a lot of work has to be done :-)

[@orfeous]

Thank you for this info!

[@santospoland]

But wait, this is a genuine Branchus Creations video is it not? I absolutely LOVED this video. The info here is GOLDEN! Thank you for sharing!

[@peterfixit7221]

I have a tube next to me it says v2 but smells sweet and has inventec. btw I bought a bunch in bulk and this tube is expired by 4 years and still works as good as a tube in date

[@fehervaria1]

Wow, thank you for sharing this - so well, how can we believe in the future THAT what we order (from different sources) is THAT what we want and that is that what the sellers are thinking they are selling to us? Wow again, smell + color + taste + behaviour ... and still not sure shat is that what is in the order and in the tube. ASM vs V2

[@KrotowX]

taste, LOL What is better than fresh flux with cheese on bread in morning :)

[@Soulcommander]

Glad I saw this. That was fun!

[@milk-it]

I got the same inventec. Thanks for the info!

[@VladimirDjokic]

Thanks for sharing!

[@jpvoodoo5522]

Then what you said is correct. You were purchasing a counterfeit V2. It is irrelavent that the counterfeit was ASM. It is irrelevent that it contained a brand also made by the same company. You were misled. Amtech should have been up front with you about their failure in allowing it to be intentionally mislabled. They dishonestly tried to pass it off as your mistake. The "Made in the USA" flag was supposed to imply the company had some integrity. This is not integrity. It's ironic that the counterfeir is superior to the original product. ASM is what I will try.

[@Josh.Davidson]

Here’s the weird thing that I don’t understand. Inventec sued to “protect its Amtech name” and now AmtechDirect redirects to Inventec’s store. I don’t understand…

[@Johadart]

Great work Holmes, (Bruce) hopefully we get the right ASM flux in the future. Cheers Keep up the great content mate 🤙🏼🇦🇺

[@daishi5571]

That look at the end lol

[@saiiiiiii1]

This is probably the best support answer I've ever seen in my life😅

[@user-ty2uz4gb7v]

I also use amtech and also from Louis Rossman recommendation. Holy crap what a confusing mess 🤯 thanks for sorting it out

[@willjacobs1432]

This might be wrong place. Thanks for this important info. I recall you say in one of your much older videos you are going to make a video on ultrasonic usage and cleaning etc. I been looking for this to watch but don’t see it yet. If not made, you planning to do it still?

[@AlfOfAllTrades]

From what I gather, it is still on the "work in progress" list. Some challenges with the composition of the video and audio is what I understood from the latest MacYak.

[@BranchusCreations]

The ultrasonic video is coming soon, I promise!

[@willjacobs1432]

@@BranchusCreations thanks for the update. I watched a few others but would rather go by your teachings and wisdom.

[@Apple-Bay]

lol . I've have the same discussion with Amtech, and now after your video, i know what's going on , Thanks

[@ElyLinog]

Its my problem with Amtech i'm using now it forms a particles on yhe tip of my soldering Iron and it's very sticky and hardbto clean

[@tectalabyss]

Thank you Sir.

[@JustinEmlay]

But now what's V3 all about? Just an upgraded V2? Still don't recommend V3 then?

[@SeanChYT]

Can you go into a bit more detail why you prefer the ASM over the V2? Is it the odor, soldering performance, cleaning, a combination of these or other stuff that decides it for you? I just got the new "real" V2, and is contemplating replacing it for the ASM now.

[@rsuryase]

Seems like ASM is better.

[@SeanChYT]

@@rsuryase He said he preferred it, but I was asking for some more _detail_ on exactly why.

[@rsuryase]

@@SeanChYT Maybe this video will help. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnW9hH-MhLFrbsk

[@BranchusCreations]

It's kind of hard to pinpoint. I've tried at least a half a dozen fluxes and I just prefer the ASM (what I used to think was V2). The way it behaves under hot air, the colour, the scent, the viscosity. I just prefer using it.

[@bigbasil1908]

Have you changed all the links yet or still working at it? 😛

[@SatanicMac]

Pretty shady tactics with that label change. Now I have to run and check my labels :O

[@vmiget01]

there is now a v3 on amazon. have you tried that one? i need flux mostly for desoldering small pins.

[@BranchusCreations]

I sure have, I was even (ever so slightly) involved in the fine tuning of the V3 product. You should check out my follow up video on the subject: kzbin.info/www/bejne/barOioyCidmhgac

[@ThePolygraph]

Thanks for the video, I found it interesting. But I am still confused, because the link you provide to 'genuine' Amtech products (amtechdirect) says to go and buy from Inventec. This doesn't match with the claim, in your video, that they split from Inventec some time ago. Also, in what appear to be genuine photos, the 10cc tube seems to contain a darker substance than the 30cc tube. It's all quite confusing!

[@BranchusCreations]

Hi there, and thanks for watching the video. Quite a lot has happened in the two years since I posted this, and I am working on a follow-up video now. The AMTECH brand has taken quite a beating, with two companies in the US manufacturing under the same name, not to mention all the counterfeit products out there. As a result, AMTECH Direct have since changed the name of their product to Stirri, so be sure to check out their website, and their products are available on Amazon too. stirri.com/collections/tacky-flux

[@1BitFeverDreams]

It's a competition between coding a youtube studios crawler that will programmatically change your flux recommendations vs doing it manually

[@AK-nb6hz]

What a weird situation..!

[@drywinddotnet]

Thanks Bruce. Sure enough, following your lead, I have the V2-TF with the "pine scent" Oh well, at least it's genuine AMTECH.

[@KrotowX]

At least you can use it as pine scent perfume in a car ;)

[@DeafShadow90]

I talked to person from Amtech and they replaced prefix from NC-599-V3-TF to STIRRI-V3-TF

[@BranchusCreations]

Yes, you'll find the name "Stirri" has always been on the label in the bottom left corner. I'm hoping to do a follow up video of recent events, but I need to get clarification on what I can and can't say (for legal reasons).

[@KrotowX]

Nice find. Although for practical use it doesn't change anything. Except your boards will not glow in UV anymore. For me it turned out differently. Just realized that shops here in EU doesn't sell original Amtech fluxes anymore. Luckily we have usable alternatives.

[@alejandroperez5368]

Can you name the usable alternatives? I hope they don't involve paying 15€ shippings lol

[@KrotowX]

@@alejandroperez5368 Usually BGA soldering certified fluxes from local shops who can prove that they import real thing. AliExpress/Alibaba/Taobao/DealExtreme are not from those.

[@enzofitzhume7320]

I've been using AMTECH NC-559-V2-TF for years. No problems. So I may have been using ASM all along.

[@enzofitzhume7320]

The only problem sense using this product is I'm growing an eleventh finger! No problem though.

[@LifeSavingDefense]

Boy that’s alot for my military damaged brain.. Was alot easier when I had a photographic memory. The most important difference after ine viewing is one is made strictly for lead and one glows and since you favor lead solder I have to go back and see if it’s the same but that’s ok cuz it’s good info I see you have a fluxgate 2 so I’ll check that out but I think I got it.. No V2 but Yes Asm

[@XtianApi]

Am I not supposed to just buy whatever flux is around? Didn't particular about a lot of things, but not flux. Should that change?

[@BranchusCreations]

It depends what you're doing. If you do a lot of surface mount work, particularly with BGA chips, the quality of the flux can make a big difference.

[@XtianApi]

@@BranchusCreations cool. Yeah I'm just doing basic thru hole

[@rsuryase]

So did Louis Rossmann recommend the wrong product as well? I purchased a V2 invectec product from him.

[@bigpips3051]

Yeah I wonder if Rossmann made the same mistake,

[@BranchusCreations]

If it says Inventec on the label, chances are it will be ASM in the tube.

[@threethousandyen]

Maybe I missed something, but why do you prefer the genuine ASM over genuine V2? It sounds like genuine V2 may be more appropriate for hobby use, even if you have an ultrasonic cleaner.

[@BranchusCreations]

Yes, the way AmTech describe it, the V2 should be the better product, but my personal preference is definitely for the ASM.

[@jack68k]

Disclaimer: my opinion below is based on recollection from having used Inventec-labeled 559-V2 in the past and unknowingly switching to genuine AMTECH 559-V2 by purchasing it directly. Per Bruce's excellent research, we now believe that Inventec-labeled 559-V2 is actually 559-ASM formulation. So, comparing *genuine* 559-V2 (which I will refer to as “V2”) and Inventec-labeled 559-V2 (which I will refer to as “ASM” since that is apparently what it is), I believe there are two practical differences I care about. First, ASM has a longer working time and cleans better, where as V2 burns off quickly after the iron touches it. A long working time and effective cleaning is essential when working with crusty pads and components. Second, ASM better maintains its consistency after being heated and mixing with leaked electrolyte and grime from the board. This makes it easier to clean off between while working on a board, versus V2 which turns into a thick, sticky brown mess that’s much harder to wipe off with a swab. With new boards (or clean pads) and new components the differences between these fluxes may not be as noticeable. I will be very curious to do a side-by-side comparison to see if my recollections are accurate once I receive some 559-ASM from AMTECH, hopefully this week.

[@natedawww]

For me, I work with unleaded solder, which it sounds like genuine V2 is not equipped for. So I will seek out the genuine ASM once my current tube of "V2" from Inventech runs out.

[@threethousandyen]

@jack thanks that’s the exact kind of feedback I was looking for. The letter in Bruce’s video seemed to indicate V2 *should* clean up better compared to ASM. Maybe to your point it does on a new board, but for many of us it’s more important how a flux performs on an old dirty board. I think the next time I order I’ll get a genuine tube of both to form my own opinion but greatly appreciate yours!

[@jack68k]

@@threethousandyen That detail about easier cleanup intrigued me as well, and I will be curious to compare the genuine products side-by-side. No flux that I have tried has cleaned up fully using only 99% isopropyl alcohol, and that led me to get an ultrasonic cleaner. I've been meaning to try out flux cleaner because occasionally there are small fixes and touch-ups to do after a board has gone through the ultrasonic, and it's a pain to have to put it through again just for one spot with flux on it.

[@pretzelFTW]

Wow what a mess! Appreciate the detective work though. Off to go sniff my flux…

[@emilybendsspace]

I'm still not convinced AmtechDirect or AMTECH MANUFACTURING LLC is actually made in the USA. It feels like a holdings company that's importing. If it's made in the USA, why won't they say where? The addresses they give are all rented office suites, one in Florida, now one in Connecticut. But where is the real company?

[@emilybendsspace]

AmtechDirect also sold me product labeled as NC-559-V2-TF, but it glows strongly under UV...

[@BranchusCreations]

Interesting. Does the label have the UV security seal as shown here? kzbin.info/www/bejne/barOioyCidmhgac

[@danandrei96]

what a strange situation. I'm pretty sure the same thing happened to Paul Daniels, your fellow Aussie who I'm sure you're familiar with if you watch Rossmann. Maybe you should reach out to him too

[@BranchusCreations]

Thanks, I plan to do so.

[@dragontos]

I'm the 100th like lol. btw great vid < 3

[@gworx4184]

Good to know.

[@leosedf]

That is why i prefer Warton Metals Future HF rework jelly.

[@GlishaSo]

Skynet shirt lets goooo ! :) using same

[@Gussiyan1]

I use Kingbo flux. It´s excellent and less expensive than Amtech. No more problem...

[@ClovisX]

That is so F'ed Up!

[@TheCod3r]

Kingbo RMA-218 FTW lol. It might not smell nice, or even quote perform the same, but price to performance is unmatched. I'll never buy AmTech because they're overpriced and overrated

[@normhils]

What a story!

[@Richard-Freeman]

Do you use *enough* flux? That's the important question.

[@BranchusCreations]

Put it this way, no one would ever accuse me of using too little.

[@Richard-Freeman]

@@BranchusCreations😁

[@daz41262010]

lol that was just like a programme I used to watch called point of view :)

[@JeremyBolanos]

Flux drama

[@cesarsimoes1565]

?????

[@cesarsimoes1565]

😒

[@VladekR]

Sh** happen 👍👍👍👍

[@metalfather8139]

You're the customer they hope they don't get LOL

[@nadabird5349]

How do we know you are telling the truth if a very trusted youtuber (northridge fix) sells V2 on his website and claims that the stuff being sold as V3 on Amazon (which you linked) are not genuine products? I don't see why northridgefix would lie. His audience is much larger than yours and he also has a retail business I don't think he would want to associate selling bootleg products with. On top of that, even Louis Rossman recommends and sells the V2 stuff you are saying is not legit on his store while advising Amazon products are fake. Perhaps you have been lied to? At this point the only recommended thing if you want to avoid this fix imo is to purchase from rossman, northridge fix, or just avoid Amtech labeled products entirely.

[@vencraft87]

😂

[@aa-au]

It's the wrong flux you have been using, as its properties are different. Their, I used it's and its... or is it there properties are different? So what I did...

[@silenthill4]

It's overrated anyway

[@DivineMisterAdVentures]

One more reason on my list for AI to take over the world. 8O

[@wcr6121]

This seems like cope

[@rogierius]

why?

[@GlishaSo]

yeah new original amtech flux i received last month was different have american flag and its direct from their factory it smell nice something like vanila or something like that. its amazing flux. mine is now NC-559-V3-TF

[@casey6192]

Inventec lawsuit against Amtech. See link: www.inventec.dehon.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/PRESS-2210-Legal-action-Amtech-brand-EN.pdf