[sdiy] making PCBs, what's your method?

[TIm Daugard]

> If I'm building something simple that may not permanently go into my
> synth I put it on perfboard like you have but for larger and more
> complicated circuits I get PCBs made. I don't make my own but have them
> custom made for me. if they are small you can do that layout with the

For complex things I do wire wrap. The biggest thing I've put together so far
was a full computer using an 1802 processor. The computer was spread over five
Radio Shack plug in circuit boards. I have the parts to add a disk drive an
further I/O to it, but lost interest when I left the remote sight and came back
to the U.S.

If it weren't for the high cost of wire wrap sockets, I would still do wire
wrap. I moved on to point to point wiring on a perfboard as mentioned in my last
note.

The problem with home etched circuit boards is corrosion. I used to etch
circuitboards. The first circuit I etched that I'm still using failed last year
(approx. 20 year life). I had cleaned the board carefully when I made it and
after soldering it. All runs where covered with solder to make the thicker and
to help protect the copper. I live at the seashore in what the military
considers a high corrosion area. The copper runs were corroded from underneath
and became brittle.

I would suggest fiberglass copperclad and some sort of coating to protect the
circuit.

The other reason I went to point to point wiring is it's more environmentally
useful. You can use old four conductor telephone wire. No chemicals that have to
be safely disposed of. However, I'm not giving up my lead solder. Time to buy
another spool.

Tim Daugard