PCB pencils

[Batz Goodfortune]

Y-ellow Y'all.
	A while back, someone was talking about using PCB pencils of some kind to
make PCBs. Others pointed out that they were pretty crap in this regard.
However I was looking through a Farnell's cattledog last night (first time
I've ever seen one I think) and they had these pen things with a bobbin of
copper wire on top. Designed for PCB repairs etc.

Now I guess what you do with these things is you solder one end and then
roll out the wire to make the link and solder it in place. Which I believe
is a little different to the PCB pencils that were mentioned before. I
think these were some kind of compound that stuck to the PCB and was
conductive?? Am I mistaken?

In any case, What I have in mind is not trying to make an entire PCB with
them as such but for running links on prototype PCBs. I get this doughnut
board made and I use kynar wire. It's been quite good over the years. I
shave off the pads I don't want and so forth and it's very robust.

the only problem with that is that you have to melt the plastic on the
kynar wire which is a bit of a problem health wise and can only be done in
a very well ventilated situation.

What I'm wondering of course, is if any of these products would be a viable
alternative to making quick prototypes without the associated problems. And
I ask because such an investment looks like being fairly significant. And I
don't wanna go out and spend 60 -80 bux on a pen if it's no good.

Also of course, I can only get the wire ones. So if anyone knew where I
might get the compound ones from I'd most appreciate it.

The alternative I thought of might be to run a spool of kynar wire through
the top of a pen tube. At least then it might apply a little easier than it
has in the past.

Any thoughts on this would be most appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

be absolutely Icebox.

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