Homebrew PCBs

On Fri, 16 Feb 2007 22:11:38 +0100, James McGee <ace@...> wrote:

> I have cut me a couple boards on my stika plotter, it was easier to
> weed them and leave "stencils" When I put them on the board should I
> use spray paint or a sharpie to resist the etching? The vinyl will come
> off before etching. I hope I explained it understandably.....
> Thanks
> J


I think you will have better results with paint, as long as it tears  
cleanly when you pull the mask. I guess experts at painting will easily be  
able to help with that, since it is not uncommon to use masks during  
painting etc.
Most permanent markers have trouble with some etchants, pretty much any  
paint should leave a much better layer. I've used acrylic paint with good  
results and other people have also reported paint to work well. I've even  
used a solution of colophony resin (solder flux) in alcohol and it would  
work just fine as a resist paint.

ST