Homebrew PCBs

Hi,

If you're getting smearing/smudging, it might be your technique.  Too 
much heat, too much pressure, or allowing the paper to move during 
transfer.

Try applying heat on a portion of the artwork to get it to start 
sticking.  This should prevent subsequent movement.  If the paper is 
sticking to your iron, you can put a sheet of paper or paper towel 
between the iron and your transfer paper.  That way the intermediate 
material will stick and slide.  I use transparencies and must always 
put something between the transfer material and iron.  The 
transparencies often stick to the paper towel I use, so I heat and 
lift the paper towel while holding down the transparency until the 
transparency has had it's fill of paper fibers.  Then I can iron and 
lift at will without worrying about the paper towel repositioning the 
transparency.

Smearing and smudging could also be caused by too much heat or too 
much pressure.  This was always a problem for me when I used paper.  
You can't see how things are melting, so timing and technique are 
important.

With transparencies, you can see the pattern and inspect it as you're 
ironing for problems - like some areas getting too much/little 
heat/pressure or smearing/spreading.  I iron until I get some 
noticeable spreading so I know toner has been heated enough.  I also 
like to start closing the holes on pads so I'm left with just a pilot 
hole - for easier drilling.

Regards,
Dennis

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "protonceksleeperman" 
<protoncek@...> wrote:

> Second thing is you mustn't move iron since this paper doesn't 
> really stick to copper and moving results in smudged transfer and 
> wasted procedure. I think i prepare my board well enough, so that 
> isn't it. so...back to experimenting.