Homebrew PCBs

Todd,

The precipitate made it harder to see the board while it was etching. I use
a translucent tub with a 200W bulb under it. This arrangement lets me
continuously monitor the etching progress as long as the ferric chloride is
not too dark or filled with crud. I did not see any reduction of precipitate
when I warmed the solution.

I live in Phoenix and it is very dry here. Could a loss of water from the
solution cause the precipitate to form?

I did buy a bottle of some crystals (not in shop and forgot the name) that
is mixed with water for etching. I do hope to get away from ferric chloride
soon. 

Rick


-----Original Message-----
From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Todd F. Carney
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 12:44 PM
To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: ferric chloride question

Rick,

Other than looking a little cruddy, what is the problem with the precipitate
that settles on the bottom? If you're worried it might be ferric chloride
that's fallen out of solution, then warm up the solution and see if you can
get the precipitate to dissolve. If you can't then it can be simply filtered
out. I wouldn't bother myself, but to each his own.
Now that you have muriatic acid, maybe it's time to switch to home-brewed
etchant made of the acid, drug-store peroxide, and table salt. Google it.
You'll find plenty. Best Todd
On Feb 14, 2013 10:21 AM, "Rick Sparber" <rgsparber@...> wrote:

> **
>
>
> First I added some Muriatic Acid and did see much of the precipitate 
> dissolve. Next, I put a small tuft of steel wool in the ferric chloride.
> After 20 minutes it was gone. I then filtered it through a coffee 
> filter. I next tried to use it to etch a board and found that it would 
> not work at all. Maybe my proportions were all wrong. I would much 
> prefer specific ratios than cut and try.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Rick
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com 
> [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com]
> On Behalf Of toddroberts2001@...
> Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 8:44 AM
> To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: ferric chloride question
>
> In a message dated 2/13/2013 1:54:36 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, 
> scubadogct@... writes:
>
> Does the addition of Hydrochloric acid help to maintain its working 
> strength also?
>
> From what I have read adding Hydrochloric Acid (muriatic acid) does 
> help to rejuvenate the Ferric Chloride. Here is a short article on the
subject :
>
> http://users.monash.edu.au/~ralphk/etching-pcb.html
>
> The article says you can rejuvenate Ferric Chloride by adding a small 
> wad of steel wool, then filter out the solution and add some Hydrochloric
Acid.
> The steel wool precipitates the copper out of the solution. It doesn't 
> say how much steel wool to add or how much Hydrochloric Acid to add so 
> you will probably need to do it by trial and error, but should be worth a
try.
>
> 73 Todd WD4NGG
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and
Photos:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
>
>  
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------

Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links