Dylan Smith wrote:
>
> On Fri, 23 Nov 2007, Dave wrote:
>
> > Is there some simple but professional plans to build an etchant tank? I
> > mean with heater and agitation, not just a jar and manual labor:)
>
> I've found a plastic food-style container and manual agitation works
fine.
> All I do is full a large outer tank with hot water, and float the ferric
> chloride container in the hot water. This also allows me to give the
board
> a quick dunk in the water to see how its progressing. Etching times are
> pretty damned quick.
>
> > (heater, pump, etc). I was also planning on using ferric chloride as I
> > have a bottle from RatShack from when I started getting interested in
> > this some years ago. I know there are other etchants and comments are
> > welcome on whats best but I think other than the staining and inability
> > to see your boards progress, ferric chloride is probably as good as the
> > others??
>
> I've not used other chemicals, so I can't comment on them, but ferric
> chloride is less nasty than most, and it lasts a long time. I'm still
> using a 250ml batch I made up in January, and I've done loads of
boards in
> it (some double sided 6in by 4in boards). I do tend to put a large
"copper
> pour" area (just drag a polygon over the design once I've finished it) or
> ground planes, which reduces the amount of copper that must be removed.
> (Although on the flip side, I also tin my boards so I go through more
> tinning solution!)
>
> Someone told me that a bit of table salt can help rejuvinate ferric
> chloride, too. I did add some when I thought the solution was getting
> tired.
Dylan,
Good info. I was originally going to scheme up some type of agitator
like a see-saw or wobble device and use a plastic tupperware type
container. A small geared timer motor with a cam or something like that.
I was also wondering how long ferric chloride lasts but now I know it
lasts a while and is reusable. I started buying small parts and books
and solder and etchant and boards years ago but never got the time to
actually get anything done. I got as far as getting some photo paper and
a laser printer and ironed a test onto a board but never etched it. Now
I want to play with small simple circuits but also useful ones. I have
an interest in alternative energy (just not enough $$ to invest yet) so
I am going to play with small stuff for now....
Thanks,
Dave
> ,_._,___