Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, DJ Delorie <dj@...> wrote:
>
> 
> In my hunt for easier vias, I picked up some 28 gauge brass wire at
> the local hardware store.  This wire is 13 mil diameter, just a bit
> smaller than my usual 13.5 mil holes.
> 
> Turns out it's not *that* hard to get the wire into the hole, but it
> does tend to stay put once there.  The brass is easily soldered too.
> So, I push the wire through until "just enough" sticks out of the
> board, and flux and solder that end.  Flip the board, cut as close to
> the PCB as my cutters allow, and flux and solder that side.  Unlike
> thinner copper wire, the brass stays put when you solder it.
> 
> Brass is harder to bend than copper, but it doesn't need to be bent so
> that's not only not a problem, but saves time too :-)
>

If there aren't too many vias, I find that it works well to 'stitch' the vias with 30 gauge wire (stripped wire-wrap wire) by going back and forth from one side of the board to the other. Once the vias have all been 'stitched', I solder the pads and then use an Xacto knife to clip the wires at the edge of the pads.


Regards, Bob