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

Gents,

I just put in my file folder the first board I've made since 1976 when
I was 16. Then I used an etch pen and just hand drew out the board
layout. The circuit worked.

So last night I made a board for my electric truck. I used all of the
tips that I could remember.

Printed out Pedro's guide.

Cleaned the copper with Tarn-x. Smells like acid. Did not use any
Scotchbrite.

Preheated the pcb with a heatgun.

Used Model Aviation magazine for the carrier.

Used a teflon coated clothes iron to press it down.

Warmed the FeCl3 by placing the FeCl3 container in another container
of warm water.

As it turns out the transfer paper was pressed down too much as the
traces swelled a bit any place there was a 90 degree corner. But the
gaps were still good. This board will pass up to around 336vdc. So the
spacing was important. I know not all of these are optimum methods,
but it worked very well.

It made my first board in 30 years come out great. So I will be making
something like 5 more for other fellow electric vehicle owners.

Thanks for all of the tips!!!

Mike