Roland,
OK, I have read up on it. Back to electro etching with salt water! Damn, lye
is nasty stuff.
Thanks,
Rick
-----Original Message-----
From:
Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:
Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Rick Sparber
Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2013 11:40 AM
To:
Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.comSubject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] lye
Gloves, eye protection, all done outside. However, I will read up on it more
before doing a second try.
Thanks,
Rick
On Mar 30, 2013, at 11:32 AM, Roland Harriston <rolohar@...> wrote:
> Does not matter what the metal is.........sodium hydroxide is nasty stuff.
> Were you wearing eye protection??
>
> A lot of stores won't carry it anymore in my neck of the woods because
> it is so dangerous in the hands of inexperienced and ill-equipped
> users.
>
> If you have the proper equipment and setup for using sodium hydroxide,
> then it is okay.
>
> But messing around with the stuff as you are doing is not only
> dangerous, but also not very smart.
>
> Get a hold of a few good books that tell how to do what you want to
> do, and that explain what equipment/techniques you should have.
>
> I bet a quick "Google" will get you the intelligence you need to do
> the job.
>
> Roland F. Harriston, P.D.
> ∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗
>
> On 3/30/2013 8:44 AM, Rick Sparber wrote:
>>
>> Roland,
>>
>> In this case, I am etching aluminum, not copper. I know that ferric
>> chloride does not do much to aluminum.
>>
>> I chose lye because it was easy to find at my Ace Hardware store and
>> was very low cost. Yet I see that the stuff is very active at full
>> strength. I assume that if I mix in more water, it would not be as
>> aggressive nor generate as much heat.
>>
>> If I didn't use lye, what other commonly found chemical could etch
>> aluminum.
>> I tried drain cleaner but it was far too slow and stopped etching
>> after a few minutes. I was left with a very slight roughness in the
exposed area.
>>
>> Rick
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
>> <mailto:Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>
>> [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
>> <mailto:Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>]
>> On Behalf Of Roland Harriston
>> Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2013 8:34 AM
>> To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
>> <mailto:Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>
>> Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] lye
>>
>> Whew!
>>
>> A really bad idea!
>>
>> There are so many less dangerous materials that have been used to
>> etch PCB's that have proven to be relatively safe and very effective
>> over the last
>> 50 or 60
>> years.
>>
>> The task is not that complex or hazardous.....why make it so?
>>
>> Roland F. Harriston, P.D.
>> ∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗
>>
>> On 3/30/2013 7:31 AM, Rick Sparber wrote:
>>>
>>> Has anyone used lye to etch aluminum through photo resist?
>>>
>>> As a test, I put a strip of aluminum in lye plus water and after 15
>>> minutes the strip was half of its original thickness. So there is no
>>> doubt that lye can etch VERY deep. But the chemical reaction
>>> generated a lot of heat and the tape I had on there quickly floated
>>> off. Next time I will use more water.
>>>
>>> I did have the lye and aluminum outside while I watched from inside.
>>> Nasty fumes!
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Rick
>>>
>>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>>
>>>
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
>> Photos:
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>>
>>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
Photos:
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>
>
>
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