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Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Oxygen regeneration of CuCl2

From: Jim <jhutch17@...>
Date: 2011-05-03

On 5/3/2011 1:45 PM, Jim wrote:
> Hi Mark
> My starting mixture was made with 2 parts of 3%H2O2 and 1 part of 29%
> HCl. I collected the used etch in a half gallon mason jar with scrap
> copper in it. When it was full and dark green and not transparent
> (looked almost black), I took the undissolved copper out. When I need to
> etch, I pour about 300ml of used etch and add about 7ml of 27%H2O2 and
> etch at ambient temp outside with vigorous agitation and it will etch a
> 1.5 x 4 inch ss copper board in about 3 minutes. I use an reciprocating
> saw attached to a 4 foot long 0.75 x 2 inch board with a fulcrum at the
> 1 foot from the opposite end of the board from the saw. The PCB with the
> etch solution in a sealed (snap ware) plastic container is strapped to
> the short end of the wooden board and the recip saw is turned on and the
> speed is adjusted until the assembly resonates. It is WILD! The etch is
> very even. The copper clears evenly and suddenly.
<snip> This used etch is returned to the jar.
> Jim KI6MZ
>
> On 5/3/2011 1:04 PM, Mark Lerman wrote:
>> Hi Jim,
>>
>> Are you using this at room temperature? Did you make your CuCl2 with
>> H2O2/HCl? If so, what was your starting mixture? Thanks.
>>
>> Mark
>>
>> At 02:58 PM 5/3/2011, you wrote:
>>> Hi Mark
>>> I use 27% H2O2 bought at the pool supply store to rejuvenate my etch. I
>>> use ~7 ml H2O2 27% per ~300 ml of CuC12.
>>> I tried air bubbling and I was not satisfied. If you remember how fast
>>> the original etch solution using 3% H2O2 and 30% HCl , this rejuvenated
>>> solution is equally as fast.
>>> I air bubbled for TWO weeks and the resulting etch was VERY SLOW
>>> compared to the ~7ml of 27% H2O2 rejuvenated etch.
>>> Jim KI6MZ
>>>
>>> On 5/3/2011 5:30 AM, Mark Lerman wrote:
>>>> If I add 3% H2O2 to regenerate my etchant, I'm adding a lot of
>>>> water to the mix, so I'm wondering if there's any advantage or
>>>> disadvantage in bubbling oxygen rather than air through CuCl2 etching
>>>> solution? Or does the air itself regenerate the solutionadequately in
>>>> addition to agitating it?
>>>>
>>>> Mark
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ------------------------------------
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
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>>> ------------------------------------
>>>
>>> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>> The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
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>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
> __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 6092 (20110503) __________
>
> The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
>
> http://www.eset.com
>
>
>
>