Homebrew PCBs

yup, that's what I do too.  Its quick and easy.   You do have to be 
careful of placing vias near solder points as you can inadvertantly 
remelt the via solder and the via wire *can* drop out.  When you dont 
notice, it makes for some debug fun...

I use salvaged cat 5 wire which is, I think, 28 gauge.

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "cybermace5" <cybermace5@y...> 
wrote:
> > I still don't like the paint, it is ridiculously expensive.
> > I'm also not sure how it would be applied in a hole, and i doubt 
it
> > is faster than soldering a via.
> 
> 
> I can't read seven thousand posts, so I don't know if this method 
has
> been presented before. But in case it hasn't:
> 
> 1. When laying out PCB, take note of the component type and don't
> depend on a through-hole connection for devices that sit over the 
hole.
> 
> 2. Strip about a foot of fine copper wire and *lace* through many 
vias
> at once.
> 
> 3. Solder vias, strip more wire if necessary and repeat. Lacing the
> wire through the board will hold it in place while you solder.
> 
> 4. Cut off excess wire flush to board, and solder the rest of the
> components.
> 
> This is about the fastest way possible. Even the little plugs 
require
> you to solder both sides, and any electroplating process takes a 
huge
> amount of time and effort. It just takes a small amount of 
forethought
> when laying out the PCB.