Homebrew PCBs

A heater really is worth it..
40 degrees Celcius  or about 107 degrees Fahrenheit.

In the ET20 I can put two single sided boards back to back and they 
will etch in less than 5 minutes..   and the time is consistent so 
that I don't have to watch the board closely each time.. 
(I tend to do 10 or 20 boards each session)

It is particularly valuable when the solution gets a bit tired...  
it seems to be usable for longer..

I actually run my tank sitting in the kitchen sink, and I use press-
n-peel etch resist ironed on..  The tank etches them faster than I 
can prepare and iron on the film..

previously I was waiting for the board to etch for up to 10 minutes 
after I had prepared the next pair of boards..

I actually prefer the ET20 to the old three tank system I used to 
use...  since i no longer use a developer, i only need one tank and 
a tap to rinse...  it is easier cleaner and takes up less space.

re holding down the bubble block...

you could try hot glueing a strip of stainless steel to the bottom
I haven't tried it but would be interested in the result

(I checked a bit of SS in my etch solution and it looked unaffected)


Chris  (-=Spiyda=-)

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "lcdpublishing" 
<lcdpublishing@y...> wrote:
>
> So far, my cheapo homemade bubbler tank is working pretty good. 
> Don't know the total cost of everything but this is what it is...
> 
> A tupperware container I got from Walmart - about $2.00, Holds 
about 
> an 8" square board.
> 
> An aquaium pump, hose, and a bubbler stone (?) - about $7.00 at 
> Meijer (something like a walmart).
> 
> What I like - it's cheap.
> 
> What I don't like, the bubbler stones.  I can't seem to get them 
to 
> stay on the bottom where I want them.  I am going to, when I have 
> time, empty the tank of Ferric Chloride, and silicone the stones 
to 
> the bottom of the tank and see if that holds them where I want 
them.
> 
> I don't use a heater as I am 96.37% sure someone told me not too, 
so 
> I don't.  I have not etched a lot of boards, about 15 or so, so 
> please take my comments for what they are worth :-)
> 
> Chris
>