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Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Etching container

From: kabowers@...
Date: 2010-05-31

On Mon, 31 May 2010 13:33:06 -0700, you wrote:

>On 05/31/2010 11:53 AM, Harvey White wrote:
>
>> I use a sealable food container, suitably sized for the board.
>
>Yes this is probably the simples yet most effective idea. I will look at
>Taret or Walmart next time I get there. Would you advice glass or
>plastic? Maybe glass for the internal and plastic for the external?
>
>bye
>as
>
>
Watch the seals with the WalMart food containers.

I had used a rectangular container with snap seals on all
four sides with FeCl for several years with no problems.

Last year I switched to CuCl and bought a new container.
A couple of months ago I pulled the container out to etch a
board and noticed the snap seals had no snap. The gasket
material had turned white and brittle and was falling out.
The container itself was otherwise in perfect condition.
The contacts on several flashlight batteries stored near the
etchant were black from the vapors.

When I was making the CuCl from HCl and copper, the
gasket on the half gallon plastic food jar I was using
completely disappeared. Ditto an aquarium air stone.

It appears that unless the seal material has changed,
CuCl eats things FeCl won't touch.

Keith Bowers WB4LSJ- Thomasville, NC