Homebrew PCBs

i too bought my boards from ebay.
don't remember what i payd but very, very cheap...

i got 1,5mm and 1mm mostly double sided board.

all fr4...

i guess it must be 20kg or more...


i buy a lot from ebay, and i can afford things with it which i would not be 
able to buy new.
i also buy a lot things untestet or even known dead.
(once bought two scope isolation amps (4ch) and two norma8000a meters for 
20eur... repaired in a few hours...
you know what isolation amps cost new??)

it is amazing what you can save this way... of course you need time to 
wait..
i remember buying my first "good" multimeter from metex (3860D or so) for 
~200eur from the dealer.
with ebay i got my really nice tek7633 100mhz storage scope with good 
plugin modules for only 230eur or so...


sure... i still spend a lot of money for these things.. but i get a lot 
more items, and a professional/industrial quality
i can't think of buying new.

some people don't like "used" equipment... i don't care.
and if repairs are needed this is no problem for me..
and if i look at the numerous "surplus" webpages the prices are still way 
too high for me...

i think ebay is the ideal source for people like me, who like to have 
everything (who doesn't?) but don't want to spend much.

i know this is somwhow sliding off from your question...
but i only wanted to say ebay is great for me...

but i also think tactics is all at ebay...


regards
stefan