Homebrew PCBs

I found it at the Ahwatukee Ace Hardware.

Rick

On Mar 30, 2013, at 1:52 PM, Roland Harriston <rolohar@...> wrote:

> Rick Sparber:
> 
> Lye crystals have been withdrawn from many markets because they were 
> being used to make illegal drugs and you can no longer purchase lye 
> crystals at your local grocery store or hardware store.
> 
> I used to buy it at my local Safeway market, but it is gone from there, 
> and all of the
> other supermarkets in my area (Oro Valley, Arizona)
> 
> Roland F. Harriston, P.D.
> ***********************
> 
> On 3/30/2013 1:18 PM, Rick Sparber wrote:
>> 
>> Todd,
>> 
>> Oh, it self-heated to way over 120F. I suspect you use a much more dilute
>> mixture.
>> 
>> Rick
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com 
>> <mailto:Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com> 
>> [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com 
>> <mailto:Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>]
>> On Behalf Of Todd F. Carney / K7TFC
>> Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2013 1:09 PM
>> To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com <mailto:Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>
>> Subject: RE: [Homebrew_PCBs] lye
>> 
>> I used sodium hydroxide (lye) all the time in an industrial setting to 
>> make
>> aluminum lettering plates. The process called for the solution to be 
>> heated
>> to 120 degreeF. I don't remember the dilution rate. Fumes? Just do as you
>> did -- outside.
>> On Mar 30, 2013 8:44 AM, "Rick Sparber" <rgsparber@... 
>> <mailto:rgsparber%40aol.com>> wrote:
>> 
>>> **
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Roland,
>>> 
>>> In this case, I am etching aluminum, not copper. I know that ferric
>>> chloride does not do much to aluminum.
>>> 
>>> I chose lye because it was easy to find at my Ace Hardware store and
>>> was very low cost. Yet I see that the stuff is very active at full
>>> strength. I assume that if I mix in more water, it would not be as
>>> aggressive nor generate as much heat.
>>> 
>>> If I didn't use lye, what other commonly found chemical could etch
>>> aluminum.
>>> I tried drain cleaner but it was far too slow and stopped etching
>>> after a few minutes. I was left with a very slight roughness in the
>> exposed area.
>>> 
>>> Rick
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
>> <mailto:Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>
>>> [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
>> <mailto:Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>]
>>> On Behalf Of Roland Harriston
>>> Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2013 8:34 AM
>>> To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
>> <mailto:Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>
>>> Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] lye
>>> 
>>> Whew!
>>> 
>>> A really bad idea!
>>> 
>>> There are so many less dangerous materials that have been used to etch
>>> PCB's that have proven to be relatively safe and very effective over
>>> the last
>>> 50 or 60
>>> years.
>>> 
>>> The task is not that complex or hazardous.....why make it so?
>>> 
>>> Roland F. Harriston, P.D.
>>> ***********************
>>> 
>>> On 3/30/2013 7:31 AM, Rick Sparber wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Has anyone used lye to etch aluminum through photo resist?
>>>> 
>>>> As a test, I put a strip of aluminum in lye plus water and after 15
>>>> minutes the strip was half of its original thickness. So there is no
>>>> doubt that lye can etch VERY deep. But the chemical reaction
>>>> generated a lot of heat and the tape I had on there quickly floated
>>>> off. Next time I will use more water.
>>>> 
>>>> I did have the lye and aluminum outside while I watched from inside.
>>>> Nasty fumes!
>>>> 
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> 
>>>> Rick
>>>> 
>>>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>> 
>>> [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
>> 
>> [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
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------
> 
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos:
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> 
> 
>