Homebrew PCBs

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "jriggen55" <jriggen55@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2006 4:29 PM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Coating of copper traces


> How do you coat the copper traces to keep down the oxidation and
> improve solderability?
>
> I haven't made a PC board in 25 years, but back then, we put the PCB in
> a solder bath with a peanut oil top layer to keep down the dross.  This
> was time consuming and costly (solder was expensive in that quantity).
>
> How is it done today?  I saw some mention of 'tin-it' in one of the
> threads here but cannot find it on the web.
>
> This is a great group and it's quite interesting comparing how home-
> brew PCB's are done today and how we did it 25 years ago.  Isn't
> technology great?!!

I've found that the trace of resist left after removing it with IPA helps to 
keep the copper from oxidising. I've just looked at a board I made a couple 
of years ago, and the copper is still quite shiny.

Of course, this only applies to the conventional PCB technique, there can be 
a problem with TT.