Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: Homebrew PCBs

I would try different toners, it is said that brother toner does not work good either. So ask those company's that provide toner in bulk, they have good knowledge about this.

On 4/2/2015 9:25:03 AM, Robert Nickels w9ran@... [Homebrew_PCBs] <homebrew_pcbs@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Like most of us I suspect, I make PC boards using the toner transfer
method. I have an HP Laserjet 5000 which is an office-grade printer
capable of up to 11" by 17", which is nice, but my toner transfers have
been of marginal quality. There's no problem in getting the transfer
to work, but the amount of toner that is transferred seems inadequate.
Before etching, the black areas where toner is present appears mottled
and not solid black, with tiny pinholes visible. Even though I use the
green film, the copper is rough after etching, traces are undercut and
of inconsistent width. I've already got my printer maxxed-out as far
as settings go.

I use the Pulsar transfer paper, and they advise that my problems are
due to using refilled toner cartridges which don't contain enough or the
right kind of materials. Even though the output looks fine on paper I
can accept this, but the refilled cartridges are a small fraction of the
cost of new HP brand toner cartridges (e.g. HP 29X which sells for $235).

My question is: are there any recommended alternatives which would give
me better results at a cost somewhere between the bargain refills and
the new HP 29X?

Thanks and 73,
Bob W9RAN