Homebrew PCBs

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:)

1) Buy one of those Tupperware-style cereal containers - the big tall 
two-or-three litre things.
2) Glue a pair of 4" x 1" chunks of plastic (Perspex, Plexiglass, whatever's 
lying around) onto the bottom on either side -- one 4x1 on the left, one on 
the right. This should help stabilise the tank.
3) Buy an air pump, bubbler hose and fish tank heater from your local pet shop.
4) Glue the hose into the bottom of the tank - use something fairly inert and 
heat resistant. Araldite works a treat, 5-minute epoxy is slightly better 
(slightly stronger and more time to work with it before it sets).
5) Glue the heater support clip onto one side of the tank, then mount the heater.
6) Fill the tank about three-quarters full of water. Fire up the bubbler and 
the heater. Leave it like this for a while to get any glue residue out. Drain 
and repeat.
7) Fill the tank about three-quarters full of etchant. Fire up the heater 
about 20 minutes before you need the tank, and turn on the bubbler once the 
etchant is warm.
8) Drop your board in the tank. Wait for it to etch, then pluck it out. I 
usually drill a hole in the corner of the board and thread some insulated wire 
through it, then lift the board out by the wire.

Probably not the best way to do it, but it works for me!

I've got some photos of the thing if anyone's interested.

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