[sdiy] PCB houses

[Adam Schabtach]

I think this message was supposed to go to the entire list, rather than just
me, so I'm forwarding it along. Apologies to the sender if I misunderstood.

--Adam

-----Original Message-----
From: ASSI [mailto:Stromeko at nexgo.de] 
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 11:53 PM
To: lists at studionebula.com
Subject: Re: [sdiy] PCB houses

On Friday 23 January 2009, Adam Schabtach wrote:
> That's a point well taken. Also, used ferric chloride can be 
> neutralized with sodium carbonate, which is sold in grocery stores in 
> the US as "washing soda". This makes its disposal somewhat simpler and 
> somewhat less environmentally offensive.

Ferric Chloride can be refreshed by filtering it in the presence of plenty
of air through some (grime-free) steel wool, which gets a nice shiny copper
coat in the process.  If you build an aerated etching tank, this recycling
can even be integrated in the design.  I think you can increase the life
time of the etching solution by about five times.

> What I'd like to know is whether there is a tinning solution that 
> isn't made out of pure evil.

I don't think so. A DIY option would be to put SMD solder paste on the
board, put it in an oven and then blow the excess off with a temperature
controlled heat gun.  Poor mans HAL (hot air levelling) if you will.  If you
don't store your finished PCB for long (why would you?), soldering can be
made easier by coating the board with a solution of rosin in isopropyl
alcohol.  If you don't also use rosin core solder you may want to check
compatibility with your favourite flux.

My biggest gripe with home made boards is that there is no good and easy
solution for through holes.


Achim.
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