Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: Homebrew PCBs

Hi guys, just performed some simple experiments using my laser
printer.
I found some hp photo paper samples that I got free with with a HP
inkjet, and I thought I'd give TT a go after reading some previous
posts about using coated papers.
Well, I also bought some green kitchen scrubbers that really give the
PCB surface a good clean and surface key (they even turn the scrubber
copper coloured).
I printed out some text onto the sheet with the printer set to
transparency (more toner??). I ironed the sheet onto the cleaned PCB
and waited. Now the good part, soaking.
While the PCB was still touch-hot I did a test peel (a small corner)
and the toner stuch to the copper and pulled the coating off the
paper but only where adhered to the toner.
The pcb was still reasonably hot i used a sponge and soaked the paper
from the back and it instantly softened. I started peeling and the
paper peel off even easier. Even more soaking made the process much
easier, the board being rather hot I think aided the process by
almost steaming the paper.
The first attempt was 90-99% transferred, a bit of rubbing with my
finger removed some toner but the vast majority was well fixed.
I looked at the condition of the paper and pcb after allowing them to
dry. The toner had a slightly grey tinge from the coating off the
paper.
The paper was in great condition with only surface coating missing
where toner had been printed and subsequently transferred to the pcb,
kind of like using the press and peel system where blue is left where
no toner is printed (make sense??).
The areas of the PCB which were in contact with the paper coating
appear not to have any of the paper coating transferred so no
problems with the entire board being coated.

The only problem I have is that the free paper came with 2 slightly
different shades of coating but with no indication if one is matt and
the other is gloss finish...I see some more experiments coming.

regards, PK