[sdiy] rising cost of PCB's?

[Tom Corbitt]

I use that method as well, if I need something that day. I've also
experimented with speeding the etching using a scotchbright pad soaked
in it scrubbing the board. It does etch faster, but is a fairly
unpleasant endeavor. I decided that 3-4 minutes was just fine.

The HCL can be found as muriatic acid in your local home improvement
store (it is sold as a concrete cleaner) and I just use drug store 3%
peroxide.

Unlike ferric chloride, you can see the reaction happening. As a
bonus, the copper removed turns the solution greenish blue letting you
know when it's time to refresh.

You will get some funny looks when you drop the used solution off at
the hazardous chemical disposal center at the dump. They've taken it,
but I'm sure my name was added to somebodies list.

Tom Corbitt


On Mon, Apr 27, 2009 at 5:31 PM, David G. Dixon
<dixon at interchange.ubc.ca> wrote:
>> Etched in about 10 minutes in my heated/aerated FeCL3 bath.
>
> I use HCl (pool acid) and H2O2 (concentrated 30%, not pharmacy-grade 3%), a
> couple tablespoons of each in a cup or so of water, no heat, no bubbling,
> etching takes about 3 minutes, and the bath is reusable indefinitely; just
> keep topping up with chemicals.
>
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