[sdiy] tinning home etched boards?

[Justin Owen]

-----Original Message-----
From: Dan Snazelle [subjectivity at hotmail.com]
Subject: RE: [sdiy] tinning home etched boards?

>let me ask
>did you have to do anything special to your dremel press unit to get it to drill TRUE?
>i have tried tons of bits and tried tightening it and with no luck
>it wont drill without veering off to the left a bit....i can compensate on bigger (panel) holes...but even still all my panels >have a bit of a crooked feel to them as the drill bit always seems to move,

Dan,

Put the drill bit into the Dremel before you put the Dremel into the stand. Tighten the chuck to finger tightness, turn the Dremel on to its highest speed.

Holding the Dremel in your hand, you should be able to see if the bit is in true or not - if it's slightly crooked - the bit will appear slightly blurry as it spins. Generally takes me a couple of goes to get it right.

Put the Dremel into the stand - tighten to finger tightness - and check again.

I've used a Dremel press for more than a few PCB's now - never once had a problem that wasn't completely user error.

I had to 'assemble' the press myself - maybe you need to get the instructions back out, pull it apart and start again if there is a serious problem with the alignment?

FWIW - I'll plus one all the advice that other people have mentioned about getting proper acetone (not your wife's nail polish remover), cleaning your board again before soldering, making sure your fingers aren't putting dirt/grease/your lunch onto the pads/component wires, bigger pad size, smaller drill size (don't try and pick a one size fits all bit for all your components), guide holes in the pads so the bit doesn't skid - and look after your ears, eyes and lungs - and the ears, eyes and lungs of those around you.

Justin