Homebrew PCBs

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <JanRwl@...>
> instructions).  I do NOT know how the pro-houses "solder-plate" the 
> pattern on bare
> copper, if this is electroless or done with DC power.   Somebody?

Reading Think and Tinker's gives one the notion they can do this (almost) 
easily at home. Plating is deposited by electroplating at about 20A/sq.ft. 
Copper, bright tin, and solder are the typical platings, and differ only in 
the anode bars and electrolyte. For the small boards that I do, I think I 
can easily manage a DC supply to source 5A into the 20'ish milliohms in the 
bath.

Some evening this week, I think I'll have a walkabout through WalMart and 
see what tubs are easily available for making into plating baths. I think a 
wallpaper wetting trough might be too long, but perhaps there'll be 
something the right size in the garden center. Actually, a rectangular 
tupperware thing with a tight fitting lid will be ideal, I think.