Homebrew PCBs

When I started, the first thing I did was research the internet.  There, 
I found that you had to use vellum, or laser transparencies, or Staples 
photo paper, or magazine paper, or ...
Then you had to transfer using an iron on cotton, or wool, or 
synthetics, using a dowel or not using a dowel, for no more than 2 
minutes, or not less than 5 minutes.  Or a standard laminator, or a 
modified lamintaor.
Then you peel the paper off while still hot, or after it's cool.  Or 
drop it in hot water when cool, or in cool water while hot.  Be sure to 
use clean water or soapy water.  Let it soak for 30 seconds or 3 days.
Some say you can't use a Brother printer, some say you can.

Here's what I did:

Print my artwork using an inkjet printer (That's what I had). Put as 
many copies on each page as will fit
Go to Staples and make copies onto various papers using their self-serve 
copiers.  Vary darkness and contrast.
Back home, carefully clean the PC material, cut out 1 artwork from a 
page and iron to board, noting time and temperature.  Get the paper 
soaked off by whatever works, and check results.  Clean off copper and 
try again.

Total investment so far:  Practically nothing

I finally settled on magazine paper.  It works, and the price is unbeatable.

Then I found a Laser printer (HP 1100) at the dump.  After cleaning it 
up and buying a toner cartridge on the net, it worked fine.

Total investment so far: $22

Results were usable, but still inconsistent, so I got a laminator (GBC 
model H65) for $25 from MyBinding.com.
Things are a lot more reliable now.

Total investment so far: $47

So, in my opinion, don't spend any (serious) money because somebody says 
something will work.  Try things, even if you have to ask a friend to 
print on his laser printer, until you have a method that works for you.  
Then invest in that method.  Ask at Staples or Best Buy to print 
something to your paper with a printer you're thinking of buying.  Try 
transferring it.  If it transfers OK, go ahead and buy the printer.

Kerry


John wrote:
> The wealth of information in this group is overwhelming me!
>
> I would like to avoid buying into the process with supplies and equipment that are not going to work.
>
> Are there any particular copiers/printers/toners that are known not to work for toner transfer for PCB's?
>
> I am thinking of buying an inexpensive laser printer to cut down on the ink expense anyway.
>
> It would seem to me that if it is really all that easy to do I could use even a toner copier and simply copy an ink jet copy with the toner copier. I gather that one of the key elements is to have control of the paper that the copier is using.
>   



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