Homebrew PCBs

Hiya Stefan,

>About two liters of etchant, stored in a etching tank with just a
>"gravity" lid, not airtight by any means (CuCl crystals would
>regularly bloom all over the lid, even on the outside), next two it
>one liter of HCL in a glass bottle (closed) is stored on my workbench
>for many years next to tools and materials with no ill effects at all.
>I store the chemicals inside a plastic box, with another box turned
>upside down as a lid to keep the dust out, but again there is no seal.

     Is that a CuCl etchant or a fresh-ish HCl/peroxide etchant? There'd 
be a difference.

     The double-box thing is good, I don't remember what the name for 
what that particular thing is called but it will force contact with the 
surfaces at the narrow points. Are HCl fumes heavier than air?

     Well sealed HCl (no peroxide) doesn't develop much/any pressure, so 
glass is good for that. The translucent plastic jugs from the pool 
supply, not good for longish storage indoors.

>I wouldn't worry about putting my car next to the etching equipment,
>and that's not just because the car is made of aluminium and won't
>rust.

     Um, HCl and aluminum are not compatible. It can be pretty hard on 
anodized & dyed aluminum too, and some types of rubber, and who knows 
what all else. It'll also put a fog on nearby glass, but it's easy to 
clean off.

     In the end, we all just need to be aware and do what works in our 
particular situations.