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

I have found that unless the board is badly stained, all that is needed is a quick wipe with alcohol before applying the pattern. I only lay a towel on the counter to keep from scorching it, but nothing between the paper pattern and iron. Iron set on cotton. I use only the weight of the iron, no extra pressure. I do run the tip around the edges of the board since the edges seem to loose heat more rapidly. I don't use tape to hold the pattern, just put a finger on the pattern and put the iron on the other end to get the pattern tacked down. Don't have to remove the melted glue that way. I use 220 grit paper to take off the toner. Acetone works well too.

I put my silk screen on the top of the board the same way. I also give the top and bottom of the board a very light spray of clear acrylic before assembly. You can solder right thru the acrylic and it forms its own solder mask. Helps prevent solder bridges as well.

I use a plastic cereal box with a glass fish tank heater and fish tank bubbler.

All my boards are single side. I find it faster to run jumpers than to mess with doing double sided. You have to put in the via's by hand anyway.

I don't like making things any more complex than necessary ;).

RD

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