Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Dave Mucha" 
> I am thinking about tin coating boards before mechanical etching 
>...
> A friend said to send them out to a tin coater or buy a solder 
> pot.....
> 
> 
> Who do you tin after etching ?

I do occasionally dip the board in a "tinit" (-brand name) solution 
after chemical etching my boards.  Its a solution of a dry white 
powder (that you order) and hot water.  It applys a very thin gray 
metal plating to the traces.  I've found this generally isn't thick 
enough to survive the solder paste + oven.  --The flux in the paste, 
(I guess), just eats away some of the plating because it ends up 
needing to be "touched up" later with some solder +solderwick later 
anyway.  It may just be easier to do as your friend suggests with the 
solder pot --although that might not make your high density smt's lay 
flat enough on your board later.