I found it at the Ahwatukee Ace Hardware.
Rick
On Mar 30, 2013, at 1:52 PM, Roland Harriston <rolohar@...> wrote:
> Rick Sparber:
>
> Lye crystals have been withdrawn from many markets because they were
> being used to make illegal drugs and you can no longer purchase lye
> crystals at your local grocery store or hardware store.
>
> I used to buy it at my local Safeway market, but it is gone from there,
> and all of the
> other supermarkets in my area (Oro Valley, Arizona)
>
> Roland F. Harriston, P.D.
> ∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗
>
> On 3/30/2013 1:18 PM, Rick Sparber wrote:
>>
>> Todd,
>>
>> Oh, it self-heated to way over 120F. I suspect you use a much more dilute
>> mixture.
>>
>> 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 Todd F. Carney / K7TFC
>> Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2013 1:09 PM
>> To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com <mailto:Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>
>> Subject: RE: [Homebrew_PCBs] lye
>>
>> I used sodium hydroxide (lye) all the time in an industrial setting to
>> make
>> aluminum lettering plates. The process called for the solution to be
>> heated
>> to 120 degreeF. I don't remember the dilution rate. Fumes? Just do as you
>> did -- outside.
>> On Mar 30, 2013 8:44 AM, "Rick Sparber" <rgsparber@...
>> <mailto:rgsparber%40aol.com>> 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:
>>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
>> Photos:
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>