Homebrew PCBs

Stefan Trethan wrote:

> 
> That sounds really easy.
> Do you have any gas bubbles at the nails?
> any smell of clor?


   A few bubbles on the nails here and there, not much.  Did warm the 
liquid a bit since it was 10 W total, but not enough to think twice about.





> 
> If i remember correct in the regenerating text i have read there was 
> written
> about using either cheap copper sheeting at the side where the copper is 
> deposited or
> use stainless steel rods. the copper sheeting would have to be thrown away, 
> but
> from the stainless rods you can just pull off a tube of copper (with some 
> force).


   Likewise I just used TP and wiped the collecting nail off several 
times to get better contact.  Note that after all the copper is removed 
that the current will still probably transport iron from the + electrode 
to the -.  At first I got black/green junk, then got brown.  I think the 
brown may have just been iron, and you should be able to keep getting 
that as long as you add a new + nail.  Note you have water and air 
working too, I added just a bit of water to make things a bit more fluid 
and immediately had some rust on the + the next time I wiped it.  I make 
small boards and minimize the etched area, and previously threw it out 
just like everyone else, so haven't had to do it just ran into my nails 
and did it today.  But have known how to for quite some time from 
several websites and lists.  Next comes real copper plating and 
anodizing aluminum with all the color dying, looks like fun! :)


http://www3.telus.net/chemelec/Projects/Etching.htm

   This also looks good, just etch the copper with electricity until it 
loses contact, then finish with FeCl as normal.  But I don't do enough 
boards to justify the extra stuff, still may try it soon have some 
battery acid lying around.

   I believe that electroplating nickel is also relatively easy and is a 
good setup to put on the copper for PCBs.  But figuring a way to have 
all the traces connected for plating without it being a PITA to 
disconnect them later is not as easy.  Can always cut apart the boards 
as they do the LCD boards for gold electroplating, it's just hardly 
worth it for something when you're not making a million of them.

Alan