Homebrew PCBs

Stefan,

My attempt to wipe off the excess did not go well. 

Apparently once the Solder Balls & Flux have melted (and burned off 
the Flux) they really don't want to go any where.

Luckily, I was just experimenting with a portion of this small board.

All I managed to do was to create a bunch of solder bridges. 

So, after I removed them all with a razor blade, I decided to stop 
while I am ahead.  The board is functional.  I am going to go ahead 
and solder components to it, and be done with it.

But, in order to benefit from what I have learned, and have it 
burned into memory...I am going to start all over again.  With a 
fresh board. And make a second, identical circuit. And this time, I 
will:

1.  etch with the board held vertically. And with a better bubbler 
running across the ful length of the board. 
2. Be sure to wipe off the excess solder paste...while it is STILL 
in its grey-colored state (BEFORE it has turned into solder.)

Hmmm...maybe I will wait on populting that first board...:-)

Jim

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Stefan Trethan" 
<stefan_trethan@...> wrote:
>
> On Mon, 15 May 2006 23:58:38 +0200, jzmuda2000 <hwhacker@...> 
wrote:
> 
> >
> > P.S. For now, I will have to come up with some sort of hard 
squeegee
> > and scrap away the excess solder (now minus any flux).  I hope I
> > don't pull up a trace.  I will try my technique out on one of the
> > ample ground planes I have in place....before I try it on the 
traces
> > and pads.
> 
> 
> You can wipe it off with a balled up paper towel. Watch burn 
danger and  
> watch smoke!
> 
> ST
>