Homebrew PCBs

On 23 Nov 2007 23:46:02 -0500, you wrote:

>
>Harvey White <madyn@...> writes:
>> You're welcome.  Feel free to email with questions.
>
>I have one.  What about fumes?  I was thinking of switching to
>HCl/H2O2 (because it can be regenerated) but I worry about the
>chlorine fumes, as I'd be doing it in my basement, which also contains
>my woodworking equipment and some computers.  (it's too cold to do it
>outside).

The fumes from FeCl3 corrode metal for several feet around.  I think
that the HCL mixture will be worse, and that's just the acid.  I'd not
do any etching inside at all, I'd do it outside, even though it's
cold.  You'll want to warm the etchant anyway, and a fish tank heater
can do that.

I'm not happy about the chlorine myself, which has stopped me from
experimenting with the HCL mixture.  I am pretty much completely out
of F3Cl3, though, so if I want to make any more boards, I need to etch
with the HCL mixture.  Herbach & Rademan no longer sells the gallons
of FeCl3 that I had been buying.

I'll be etching way away from the cars and any machinery.


Harvey