On 05/01/2010, at 8:15 PM, Leon Heller wrote:
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "jimofc300" <jim@...>
>
> > 3) If ferric chloride wouldn't destroy them, would kitchen plastic bags
> > (ZipLock-type) work for etching boards? They'd probably save on etchant
> > and, if I don't slop too much, reduce cleanup.
>
> Ziplock bags work, apparently. Put the bag etc. in very hot water. I use a
> small plastic food container in an old washing uip bowl with about 1" of
> very hot water in it. WEtching takes about 5 mins with fresh etchant.
I use what was a sliced peach jar. Relatively thick HDPE with a screw top, slightly less than 1" of hot water, throw an extra teaspoon of Amm. Persulfate in when it stops working (I don't go anywhere near the volumes that would merit a permanent CuCl tank). You can screw the lid on and swish the jar around.
> You can buy a proper spray-on flux, which helps soldering, or a special
> lacquer, which burns through when soldering. I don't bother, as I use
> photo-etch and my boards don't oxidise because of the thin film of resist
> remaining on the copper.
I've also just left the toner on the traces (cleared it off the pads w/- Qtip). But once you go to SMD/hotplate there's no going back (no drilling!), and that's not an option then. (Actually, I only assume it's not an option, never tried but I reckon it would burn/smoke)
PG