Also consider the fact that the microwave oven "cooking chamber"
if you want to call it that, is like a waveguide which has
the magnetron sitting at one end. By putting pieces of metal in the
waveguide, reflected power can travel back to the magnetron and wreak havoc.
VSWR goes up and all that kind of stuff. Ferric chloride is, and the
name implies
"ferrous".
Roland F. Harriston
"The Pedantic Douche"
∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗
kevinmwolf@... wrote:
>
> BTw- Yes, it is one containing the activated charcoal filters. And I
> do appreciate that extra info.
> -k
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dale@... <mailto:dale%40chatham.org>
> To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com <mailto:Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Mon, 21 May 2007 1:04 PM
> Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: "Microwaving" Ferric Chloride
>
> So much of this depends on the electronics in the microwave oven as well.
>
> Putting large pieces of metals in a microwave tends to create standing
> waves, which if the microwave isn't designed to handle it might destroy
> the microwave. Or, one size PCB may have no problems, but another is
> just the right size for resonance.
>
> I wouldn't do this on a bad bet. It's just so much easier to put the
> whole thing into a plastic container and float the container in a hot
> water bath.
>
> And, I certainly wouldn't suggest that a newbie try this for fear of
> having the dickens sued out of me if it causes problems or injury.
>
> If you "gas mask" is one of the filter types, chances are it does
> nothing for the fumes. You'd have to have an activated charcoal filter
> to do any good and those things absorb even when you aren't wearing
> them, meaning that if you don't replace the carbon frequently, you don't
> really have a mask. Your fumes are molecular in size and will only be
> taken out with chemical filtration such as activated charcoal.
>
> I say this only to try to get the seriousness of what I see are the
> consequences. If you really do want to be around a while, this is a
> really bad idea for oh, so many reasons.
>
> kevinmwolf@... <mailto:kevinmwolf%40aol.com> wrote:
> > Now- I thought I might share my insights on microwaving FeCl.. I no
> longer use FeCl for obvious reasons. But when I did, I would etch my
> boards in a shallow pyrex dish. I had great success with microwaving
> the entire setup- dish, board and all in the microwave. No sparks,
> fires or splashes. Usually cooked for ~1 min. to get reasonably hot.
> One thing to watch out for is the caustic gas (esp. when opening micro
> door)- I personally use a 3M gas mask from home depot whenever I etch
> to avoid lung injury (hey- I'm 19- I plan to live for a while :)
> > -k
> >
>
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