Homebrew PCBs

A sharpie is okay for small areas, but hard to get a good fill on larger 
things.
I use one to fix bad spots on toner tranfers with fair results.

Did someone say a red one works better?

mickeym

ransom peek wrote:

>First time tried to make pcb, used Sharpie Ultra Fine marker and ferric
>chloride from Radio Shack.  After 10 minutes in solution, with
>agitation, market lines were degrading badly.  Stopped the etching,
>applied more marker, and etched for another 8 minutes (roughly).  Still,
>the copper areas are pitted, very much degraded - the pen just doesn't
>do a good job - the ferric chloride does attack it. 
>
> 
>
>Am I doing something wrong?  My plan is to go over all the traces and
>pads with solder to ensure continuity for this prototype, but in the
>future.    Do I need a different method or different marker pen?
>
> 
>
>Also - I find that isopropyl alcohol does an ok job of removing the
>marker - is this a good choice?
>
> 
>
>Ransom Peek
>
>Fort Collins CO
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