Hi Chris,
The brown etchant that stains stuff like crazy is called Ferric
Chloride.
Which is a common hobby etchant. Another common etchant is Ammonium
Persulfate
which is clear to start and turns a transparent light blue during the
etching process. However the drawback with the latter is that
once it is mixed up it does not keep so once you have finished etching a
batch of PCB's you have to discard of the etchant.
By your own admission "I just don't know one chemical from another" I
would strongly recommend using the commercially
available etchant as they are not _that_ expensive. Mixing you own
etchants involve using chemicals that are quite dangerous
if not handled properly. For example, are you aware you should never
add water to acid. ALWAYS add acid to water! Once you
have the etchant there is more chemistry in correctly maintaining it.
If it is just increase visibility of the etching process then get
yourself some Ammonium Persulfate. With this you can easily monitor the
etch process.
Cheers,
David
lcdpublishing wrote:
>I looked through the files section and didn't see what I am looking
>for (it may be there, I just don't know one chemical from another).
>
>I am looking for an etching solution that I can get or make from
>common materials (hardware stores, etc.) that works good and is also
>clear.
>
>The stuff I have used so far came in the Radio Shack kit and was dark
>brown in color - made it very difficult to monitor the etching
>process. Others here have mentioned some chemical that is clear and
>works good.
>
>Hope you can help!
>
>Chris
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
>
>If Files or Photos are running short of space, post them here:
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs_Archives/
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Etchant solutions - home-brew questions...
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>
>I looked through the files section and didn't see what I am looking
>for (it may be there, I just don't know one chemical from another).
>
>I am looking for an etching solution that I can get or make from
>common materials (hardware stores, etc.) that works good and is also
>clear.
>
>The stuff I have used so far came in the Radio Shack kit and was dark
>brown in color - made it very difficult to monitor the etching
>process. Others here have mentioned some chemical that is clear and
>works good.
>
>Hope you can help!
>
>Chris
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
>
>If Files or Photos are running short of space, post them here:
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs_Archives/
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -0-0-0-
>
>