[sdiy] PCB Etching

[David Halliday]

One thing that works well is to get a deep tank and put an aquarium aerator
at the bottom of it.  Run air through it during the etch process and you get
nice fast action.

Another way is to use a larger tank and actually "float" the PC board on the
top while having aeration coming up from a few inches depth. ( you need a
lot more etchant with this method )

This way, with fresh solution, you can get good results in 10-15 minutes.

Someone else's message mentioned cleanliness - this is crucial since
fingerprint oil can act as a good resist.



-> -----Original Message-----
-> From: owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
-> [mailto:owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl]On Behalf Of patchell
-> Sent: Monday, September 03, 2001 6:59 PM
-> To: Prototek
-> Cc: Synth_diy
-> Subject: Re: [sdiy] PCB Etching
->
->
->
->     This sounds about par for a first time etch...sounds a
-> lot like my
-> first experience.  To get the 20 minute etch time, you really have to
-> agitate the solution.  Being poor at the time (35 years
-> ago), I made a
-> cradle that I rocked back and forth.  It was tedious, but it worked.
->
->     It does take a bit of practice...however, you might also
-> be learning
-> why a lot of us just say no to PC board etching.
->
-> Prototek wrote:
->
-> >       I gave my first shot at PCB etching using a cheap Radio Shack
-> > kit. It
-> > consisted of 2 copper clad boards, etching solution, a marker, and
-> > resist
-> > ink remover.
-> >    Instead of using the marker I opted for the transfer stickers. I
-> > was able
-> > to transfer them on to the board after a little practice. I then
-> > placed the
-> > board in the etching solution for 20 minutes(like
-> instructions said).
-> > I
-> > checked it out and there wasn't even a quarter copper faded yet!
-> >    To make a long story short, I let it sit about another
-> 45 minutes
-> > and
-> > jiggled the tank around a little. The copper was finally
-> gone, but my
-> > traces
-> > were horrible!! Leaving the PCB in the solution that long made my
-> > transfer
-> > stickers thinner and brittle, thus allowing the solution to creep
-> > through.
-> >
-> >    Is this how etching with solution always is? What method does
-> > everyone
-> > else use.
-> >
-> >                        -proto
->
-> --
->  -Jim
-> ------------------------------------------------
-> * Visit:http://www.silcom.com/~patchell/
-> *-----------------------------------------------
-> *I'm sure glad Merry Christmas comes just once a year
-> * -Yogi Yorgensen
-> ------------------------------------------------
->
->
->