Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Stefan Trethan" 
<stefan_trethan@g...> wrote:
>if you are ironing by hand, the pressure is so subjective. One might 
>get it perfect one time and not the next.

When I was wondering about the pressure once, I sat a bathroom scale 
on the counter and pressed down on it with a push-up (exercise) handle 
thing that was about like the iron. It varied between 20-40 pounds on 
the scale. I was thinking that maybe 'always' having a scale might 
make for more consistent results, but haven't done it yet. The scales 
are only a couple inches thick and solid enough to stand on. They 
might need a plate of something nice and flat on top though. -The 
nearby clock with a second hand is also obviously a help.

I've coincidentally lightened the contrast too on my LaserJet 6L. I 
had a minor blurred trace problem too, but have moved to lighter 
pressure like some of you guys, and the prints are plenty dark even 
with it up a notch. It seems like nice lite or medium pressure, moving 
around the board a lot and sort of focusing on the small pointed end 
of the iron doesn't have many ill affects, even with much longer 
overall time. My only real remaining problems are really thick wide 
areas and foolishly running extra thin traces all the way around the 
edge borders of the PCB. I'm trying to stop doing that with my 
layouts, or to make sure I have more than enough board space (I can 
belt sand them down afterward). I'll also be trying to use grid-type 
pours where I can. The intricate small stuff luckily comes out really 
nice.

>I may make 2 or 3 in a month and then go several months before I make 
>another

Ditto! (sucks doesn't it?) I always expect at least one or two tests 
to remember what the heck I did last time. Wiping the stuff off is no 
biggie though, and you only lose a few minutes. I need to figure out 
what I did with my acetone. I've been using regular paint thinner and 
it takes a bit of a scrub to get the toner crap off. After the initial 
cleaning and a couple of those, I've probably eaten half my copper. :(

Happy New Year!,

George