Hi Robin
The printer I am using at the moment is the Samsung ML1860
The fax paper I was using is like the old stuff bit wider than A4 so need to trim it down.
The wax paper as I call it is wax based but has other undisclosed property's, its marketed as Toner transfer paper.
If you go on fleebay they have drped the price to £1.28 per 10 sheets incl p/p, the company is offshore or something like that.
The only bug bare is its delivered rolled up so you need to flaten it down for a couple of days or run it through the laminator warm not hot, to straighten it out.
Regards
--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Robin Whittle <rw@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Dave,
>
> I added some distinctive text to this subject line so your message would
> be easier to find in the archives.
>
> Can you tell us what type of laser printer you use?
>
> Also, exactly what is your source of paper. I think the backing paper
> for adhesive labels is paper infused or coated with polyethylene, rather
> than wax. Wax would melt and stick in the laser printer's fuser roller.
> I am surprised that the toner sticks well enough to the paper you use
> in order to bond to that rather than sticking on the fuser roller.
>
> I developed some DIY transfer paper using thin card (120gsm I recall)
> coated with a water soluble glue. I wrote a series of messages about
> this in July 2012. I was using this to transfer toner onto some
> laminating film which I would then bond to a self-adhesive mylar label
> material to make robust self-adhesive labels. However, it should work
> for transfer to copper too. The advantage of these glues, which are
> based on Poly Vinyl Alcohol (not to be confused with PVA Poly Vinyl
> Acetate emulsions used for wood glue) is that they dissolve in water, so
> as soon as the water soaks through the paper, the whole sheet can be
> peeled off and the remaining glue gently washed away. This paper or
> thin card feeds well through laser printers, if it is not to stiff. The
> toner sticks to it well. The trick is to make it consistently without
> bubbles.
>
> I had some success and I think this could be improved upon, but I gave
> up this process of making labels in favour of injket printing onto a
> difficult-to-obtain matte silvery Japanese self-adhesive inkjet label
> material (A-One 29283) followed by baking this at ~120C to drive out all
> water from the ink (I am using pigment ink from an Epson Stylus Pro
> 3800) and then laminating it.
>
> Fax paper is very thin and I find it hard to imagine it going through
> the laser printer well.
>
> Also, what sort of laminator do you use? I think there are difficulties
> finding a laminator which will accept 1.6mm PCB material in terms of
> thickness and also in terms of the board being stiff and requiring a
> straight-through path.
>
> What kind of etchant do you use?
>
> I have not experimented with toner transfer onto copper since there are
> so many reports of difficulties, and since toner is probably not a good
> etch resist. I am happy so far with using laser printed phototools to
> expose Riston negative photoresist. My messages in the archives
> describe my techniques so far.
>
> Nonetheless, if there is a reliable combination of techniques, laser
> printer, heating technique (you use a laminator) and etchant for direct
> toner transfer, I might give it a go.
>
> - Robin
>