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Subject: more experiments with Toner transfer by etching the boards first

From: verstelle@...
Date: 2016-01-17

Well today I decided to do some experimenting with some different papers, I have been using parchment paper and pre-eching my boards in acid/hydrogen peroxide mix first to let them etch a little. well I found that the parchment paper was not picking up as much toner as regular paper. So I just cleaned a test board, printed a test page on my HP printer and ran it through the laminator 5 times and after it cooled I pulled the paper and none of the toner stuck to the board. I them pre-etched the board and again ran the board and artwork through the laminator 5 times and this time it stuck like cement to the board. The paper ripped off the toner and a little cleaning with soap and water all the paper was gone and nothing but toner. 


Now this is just plain printing paper nothing special. Plus now the toner is thick enough to etch with out having to print twice on the parchment paper and hoping the alignment is perfect on the second printing.   


So I tried it with artwork printed from Eagle Cad and left the traces at .01" and didn't do any touch up after it auto routed, like move close traces. It came out great all the toner transferred to the board and it etched out nicely no shorted traces. I did over etch it because I started etching it without putting any tape on the back side, I wanted to keep the one side full copper. So I pulled it out of the acid and cleaned it off and taped it, but in my haste I didn't get it sealed good and acid got under the tape and removed some of the back plane. So I removed the tape and just let the acid etch off the rest of the copper but the artwork side was done before the back finished. So my traces were thinner than it should have been but it stilled worked.


I'm so happy with how well the toner sticks to the boards now. So to sum it up, I clean the boards really good wipe them dry and then put them in acid mix just long enough for the copper to turn a darker color, maybe 15 seconds, remove from the acid rinse with water and dry. I then put it through my laminator 5 times with the artwork and after it cools the toner is stuck to the board like cement. I now just use regular printer paper nothing special. Because it is regular printing paper after a soak for a couple of minutes it comes right off, no hard scrubbing like when I use to use photo paper. 


If anyone is interested I can post some pictures I might even make a video. 

Bill N7OQ