Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "mikezcnc" <eemikez@c...> wrote:
> I searched but weren't able to locate any posts on the subject but 
I 
> recall that tehre was a dicussion of it. Does anyone know a simple 
> method that works on plating holes in a PCB?  Mike

I am also interested in this topic.  I have done some research and 
have found some non-chemical approaches to plated thru holes.  One 
that I haven't seen mentioned here is from a Japanese company called 
Sanhayato and described in this page http://www.hobby-
elec.org/e_pwbm43.htm .  The cylinder is filled with solder to give 
it rigidity during the break-off (notice the scoring on the cylinder)
step.  As shown, there are 25 scores on the tube.  The downside is 
that the company is in Japan.  MITS Electronics seem to sell this 
product at http://www.mits.co.jp/edoc/etool_t.htm which has North 
American distribution in Canada at 
http://www.mits.co.jp/edoc/agent.htm .  

Another company that appears to sell an equivalent Sanhayato cylinder 
is a company called Multicore Solders that makes a product called 
Copperset.  Copperset is sold by T-Tech, Inc at http://www.t-
tech.com/materials/throughhole/ .

I'm in the process of getting quotes for pricing and availability but 
was wondering if anyone has had any experience using either of these 
products.

John