Homebrew PCBs

Dylan Smith wrote:
 >
 > On Fri, 23 Nov 2007, Dave wrote:
 >
 > > Is there some simple but professional plans to build an etchant tank? I
 > > mean with heater and agitation, not just a jar and manual labor:)
 >
 > I've found a plastic food-style container and manual agitation works 
fine.
 > All I do is full a large outer tank with hot water, and float the ferric
 > chloride container in the hot water. This also allows me to give the 
board
 > a quick dunk in the water to see how its progressing. Etching times are
 > pretty damned quick.
 >
 > > (heater, pump, etc). I was also planning on using ferric chloride as I
 > > have a bottle from RatShack from when I started getting interested in
 > > this some years ago. I know there are other etchants and comments are
 > > welcome on whats best but I think other than the staining and inability
 > > to see your boards progress, ferric chloride is probably as good as the
 > > others??
 >
 > I've not used other chemicals, so I can't comment on them, but ferric
 > chloride is less nasty than most, and it lasts a long time. I'm still
 > using a 250ml batch I made up in January, and I've done loads of 
boards in
 > it (some double sided 6in by 4in boards). I do tend to put a large 
"copper
 > pour" area (just drag a polygon over the design once I've finished it) or
 > ground planes, which reduces the amount of copper that must be removed.
 > (Although on the flip side, I also tin my boards so I go through more
 > tinning solution!)
 >
 > Someone told me that a bit of table salt can help rejuvinate ferric
 > chloride, too. I did add some when I thought the solution was getting
 > tired.

Dylan,
  Good info. I was originally going to scheme up some type of agitator 
like a see-saw or wobble device and use a plastic tupperware type 
container. A small geared timer motor with a cam or something like that. 
I was also wondering how long ferric chloride lasts but now I know it 
lasts a while and is reusable. I started buying small parts and books 
and solder and etchant and boards years ago but never got the time to 
actually get anything done. I got as far as getting some photo paper and 
a laser printer and ironed a test onto a board but never etched it. Now 
I want to play with small simple circuits but also useful ones. I have 
an interest in alternative energy (just not enough $$ to invest yet) so 
I am going to play with small stuff for now....
Thanks,
Dave


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