Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "joshdewinter" 
<joshdewinter@y...> wrote:
> simple, and yet so effective.  Pedro, I wrote you a mail to your 
> Yahoo address if you're reading this asking more about it :).  Does 
> anybody else use a laminator, or magazine pages for that matter?  
> DSC on EBay, but couldn't find one.  Anybody else use one?

     I've used magazine paper off and on for a year or so for toner 
transfer.  Mostly I have only done really simple circuits with fat 
traces.  Being pretty reckless with the iron I was always trying to 
smoosh the pattern on never trying for real fine detail.  I was hand 
drawing them before I figured this out.  It beats that hands down, 
however it was not until I joined this list that I realized to what 
fine level of detail can be achieved.
     I have been experimenting with photo emulsion methods because I 
thought I would need that to get good resolution and detail.  It 
makes sense for boards that I need a lot of reps of, however for one 
offs its very hard to beat toner transfer I think, if you can get the 
process down.  For simple circuits I could be done with the whole 
process in short order and no nasty chemicals.
     I have always used old National Geographic paper.  From what I 
can gather its the high clay content of the paper that makes it work 
well. I went for the National Geographic paper since a lot of people 
into something called paper clay use these magizines for makeing the 
stuff.  I think in general the higher quality papers have a higher 
clay content. This clay seems to disolve as a film in water after a 
soak and the paper lifts off leaving the toner behind.  There are 
always paper fibers left behind but toothbrush cleans it up pretty 
nice.  And the toner if properly bonded to the board is a fantastic 
etch resist.

Good luck,
ED