A heater really is worth it..
40 degrees Celcius or about 107 degrees Fahrenheit.
In the ET20 I can put two single sided boards back to back and they
will etch in less than 5 minutes.. and the time is consistent so
that I don't have to watch the board closely each time..
(I tend to do 10 or 20 boards each session)
It is particularly valuable when the solution gets a bit tired...
it seems to be usable for longer..
I actually run my tank sitting in the kitchen sink, and I use press-
n-peel etch resist ironed on.. The tank etches them faster than I
can prepare and iron on the film..
previously I was waiting for the board to etch for up to 10 minutes
after I had prepared the next pair of boards..
I actually prefer the ET20 to the old three tank system I used to
use... since i no longer use a developer, i only need one tank and
a tap to rinse... it is easier cleaner and takes up less space.
re holding down the bubble block...
you could try hot glueing a strip of stainless steel to the bottom
I haven't tried it but would be interested in the result
(I checked a bit of SS in my etch solution and it looked unaffected)
Chris (-=Spiyda=-)
--- In
Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "lcdpublishing"
<lcdpublishing@y...> wrote:
>
> So far, my cheapo homemade bubbler tank is working pretty good.
> Don't know the total cost of everything but this is what it is...
>
> A tupperware container I got from Walmart - about $2.00, Holds
about
> an 8" square board.
>
> An aquaium pump, hose, and a bubbler stone (?) - about $7.00 at
> Meijer (something like a walmart).
>
> What I like - it's cheap.
>
> What I don't like, the bubbler stones. I can't seem to get them
to
> stay on the bottom where I want them. I am going to, when I have
> time, empty the tank of Ferric Chloride, and silicone the stones
to
> the bottom of the tank and see if that holds them where I want
them.
>
> I don't use a heater as I am 96.37% sure someone told me not too,
so
> I don't. I have not etched a lot of boards, about 15 or so, so
> please take my comments for what they are worth :-)
>
> Chris
>