Homebrew PCBs

On Sun, 27 May 2012 02:39:10 -0000, you wrote:

>Hello, everyone, 
>
>I've got a question that comes with a quick back-story.
>
>Last winter, I started etching with a batch of cupric chloride that I had made myself.  I was hoping to aerate it for a while for reuse, so I left the lid off the waste container and let it sit on the garage table.  Unfortunately, I left back to school about a week later, but thankfully my dad kindly covered it back up for me.  
>
>Unfortunately, when I returned in the spring, I noticed that from that week with the lid off, the nearby power drill had developed a fine layer of brown rust on some of its exposed metal parts.  

That's fumes from the HCL inside.
>
>In retrospect, I should've predicted this, but I didn't since we've all discussed aerating our solutions without any issues.  
>
>In light of "the unintentional etch," has anyone else had this issue before?  Also, how are y'all aerating your solution to avoid this problem?  I can imagine that aerating near something like a computer for a week could be disastrous since the vents expose the metal inside.  
>

Happens a little.

1) store it outside.  A cheap plastic yard seat has storage in the
bottom, so I'd leave it outside and away from things if at all
possible.

2) etch outside, always.  

3) if I run a batch of boards, depending on the etchant strength, it
takes perhaps 20 minutes/board.  I run multiple boards, 2 or 3 sides
at a time.  so it won't take that long.

Harvey

>I'd really appreciate any thoughts/hints for "responsibly" aerating!
>
>:)
>
>Many thanks for your input!