Homebrew PCBs

yes, I use office despot general use inkjet paper.  92 white, 24 lb.  
Look in the database section of this group for the exact details but 
I think any good quality inkjet printer paper will work.  The good 
news is it costs about $5/500 sheets.   


--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "mr_gees100_peas" 
<geovar13@h...> wrote:
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Phil" <phil1960us@y...> 
wrote:
> 
> Thank you,
> 
>    now what exactly is inkjet paper. Is that the regular white 
paper?
> 
>   Another important question. Onced I finished I put the leftover 
> FerricCloride back in the bottle. However there was a little bit 
left 
> in the container I did the etching. I watch it out with lots of 
> water. My question is should I neutralize that little leftover with 
> something. I mean I want to do things right and protect the 
> enviroment. I found out that in my area all I have to do is take my 
> ferric cloride bottle to a collection facility and since is for non 
> comercial use then its free.
> 
> > Congrats on progress.  It is very satisfying to see that pattern 
> come 
> > out on the copper.
> > 
> > You really dont need to use PnP.  Try, instead, using a decent 
> > quality inkjet paper (not glossy, no special coatings, ...).  Use 
a 
> > very hot iron (cotton, highest setting) and lots of pressure.  I 
> use 
> > kids construction paper between the iron and the transfer paper 
to 
> > even out the irregularities.   Once you are done with the 
ironing, 
> > turn off the iron but leave it sitting on the board/paper until 
it 
> > cools down a bit (below the fusing point) to ensure good toner 
> > adhesion to the copper.  this process is highly reliable for me 
and 
> > the last few boards I did required NO touching up.
> > 
> > --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "mr_gees100_peas" 
> > <geovar13@h...> wrote:
> > > 
> > > 
> > >    Ok, today I did my first PCB. It tuen out pretty good. I 
> though 
> > it 
> > > would be a little bit more complicated. I follow most people 
> advice 
> > > and drilled at after the etching procees. The hole in the pads 
> did 
> > > worked as a guide plus it was eaier to drill because there is 
no 
> > > copper there.
> > > 
> > >    Before I did the etching I was at a dilema. I found out that 
> my 
> > > pads where too small. My options where to enlarge the pads with 
a 
> > > Sharpie or redo the drawing. I only have 3 PnP sheets left. So 
> > after 
> > > a little bit of search I found a website that saud you can use 
> > staple 
> > > photo paper.
> > > 
> > > http://www.fullnet.com/u/tomg/gooteepc.htm
> > > 
> > >   Now I tried using this process on another blank PCB. I dodn't 
> > know 
> > > but I can't make it work. I can transfer some of the toner but 
a 
> > lot 
> > > of the traces did not stick. I did this process at least 5 
times 
> > > maybe more. The results where not satifactory for me. I would 
> like 
> > to 
> > > hear from somebody about this because at staples you can get 
200 
> > > sheets for $30. That is cheap. On the other hand if I cant make 
> it 
> > > work then is no good to me. Here is what I did
> > > 
> > >    I made the print out on the glossy side. I preheated the 
> copper 
> > > board then I put the printout. I but a black piece of paper on 
> top 
> > of 
> > > the printout because the photo paper sticks to the iron.I Iron 
> that 
> > > thing left and right and any which way possible aplying various 
> > > pressures. When I was done I ran it under cold water then I 
gave 
> it 
> > a 
> > > hot water bath. Now  the hot water was not boiling just as hot 
as 
> I 
> > > could get it from the faucet. I tried peeling the paper off and 
> > only 
> > > a few traces stuck.
> > > 
> > >   In the end I just filled in the pads with a Sharpie in my 
board 
> > > that I did using the PnP paper. It only took me 3 tries to get 
> the 
> > > PnP to work right. The first one it did not stick too well. The 
> > > second one was a an aligment problem. or maybe it was a mirror 
> > > problem. Unless someone can tell me whats wrong with the photo 
> > paper 
> > > technique I'm sticking with the PnP even though is expensive.