Homebrew_PCBs

I picked up a fish tank pump and a container that should be good for
my first etching tank. When I picked up the fish tank pump, I also
noticed they had these thing that looked like porous stone that are
used to spread out the bubbles. I bought one, but dropped it on the
floor before I had a chance to see if it worked.

So, I am wondering if there is a good way to get bubbles to spread out
across the bottom of my container?

The fish tank thing only cost $1.00 or so, so I really don't mind
buying another one to try, but I figure some of you creative folks
here might have better method.

Chris

On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 23:27:29 +0200, lcdpublishing
<lcdpublishing@...> wrote:

> I picked up a fish tank pump and a container that should be good for
> my first etching tank. When I picked up the fish tank pump, I also
> noticed they had these thing that looked like porous stone that are
> used to spread out the bubbles. I bought one, but dropped it on the
> floor before I had a chance to see if it worked.
> So, I am wondering if there is a good way to get bubbles to spread out
> across the bottom of my container?
> The fish tank thing only cost $1.00 or so, so I really don't mind
> buying another one to try, but I figure some of you creative folks
> here might have better method.
> Chris

I use a bubbler hose. It is kind of a hose made of foam rubber with holes
punched in one side. It makes many small bubbles. I tried different things
before, and always encountered uneven etching. I still see some unevenness
with this hose, but it is much better already. You might need to get the
lead(?) wire out of it and instead glue it to a plastic stick which you
sink.
I want to try a long bubbler stone one day.

for larger tanks think and tinker shows a way to build a bubbler...

ST

You might want to test the chunks for compatability with your
etchant too, the HCl I'm using to brew CuCl just disintigrated mine!

Stan

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Stefan Trethan"
<stefan_trethan@g...> wrote:

> On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 23:27:29 +0200, lcdpublishing
> <lcdpublishing@y...> wrote:
>
> > I picked up a fish tank pump and a container that should be good

for

> > my first etching tank. When I picked up the fish tank pump, I

also

> > noticed they had these thing that looked like porous stone that

are

> > used to spread out the bubbles. I bought one, but dropped it on

the

> > floor before I had a chance to see if it worked.
> > So, I am wondering if there is a good way to get bubbles to

spread out

> > across the bottom of my container?
> > The fish tank thing only cost $1.00 or so, so I really don't

mind

> > buying another one to try, but I figure some of you creative

folks

> > here might have better method.
> > Chris
>
>
> I use a bubbler hose. It is kind of a hose made of foam rubber

with holes

> punched in one side. It makes many small bubbles. I tried

different things

> before, and always encountered uneven etching. I still see some

unevenness

> with this hose, but it is much better already. You might need to

get the

> lead(?) wire out of it and instead glue it to a plastic stick

which you

> sink.
> I want to try a long bubbler stone one day.
>
> for larger tanks think and tinker shows a way to build a

bubbler...

>
> ST

Hi Stan,

Do you remember what color the bubbler stones were and how long it
took for them to dissolve?

Chris






--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "stan4312" <stanman@t...>
wrote:

> You might want to test the chunks for compatability with your
> etchant too, the HCl I'm using to brew CuCl just disintigrated

mine!

>
> Stan
>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Stefan Trethan"
> <stefan_trethan@g...> wrote:
> > On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 23:27:29 +0200, lcdpublishing
> > <lcdpublishing@y...> wrote:
> >
> > > I picked up a fish tank pump and a container that should be

good

> for
> > > my first etching tank. When I picked up the fish tank pump, I
> also
> > > noticed they had these thing that looked like porous stone

that

> are
> > > used to spread out the bubbles. I bought one, but dropped it

on

> the
> > > floor before I had a chance to see if it worked.
> > > So, I am wondering if there is a good way to get bubbles to
> spread out
> > > across the bottom of my container?
> > > The fish tank thing only cost $1.00 or so, so I really don't
> mind
> > > buying another one to try, but I figure some of you creative
> folks
> > > here might have better method.
> > > Chris
> >
> >
> > I use a bubbler hose. It is kind of a hose made of foam rubber
> with holes
> > punched in one side. It makes many small bubbles. I tried
> different things
> > before, and always encountered uneven etching. I still see some
> unevenness
> > with this hose, but it is much better already. You might need to
> get the
> > lead(?) wire out of it and instead glue it to a plastic stick
> which you
> > sink.
> > I want to try a long bubbler stone one day.
> >
> > for larger tanks think and tinker shows a way to build a
> bubbler...
> >
> > ST

On Tue, 06 Sep 2005 15:35:44 +0200, lcdpublishing
<lcdpublishing@...> wrote:

> Hi Stan,
> Do you remember what color the bubbler stones were and how long it
> took for them to dissolve?
> Chris

I tried a blue round one that came with my pump, and that one didn't
dissolve during 2 weeks or so.
As it was too small it is unsuitable, but i wanted to see if it would hold
up.
It had a ceramic/glued together sand appearance, and if there was a shaft
instead of the connection for the hose i would have thought it is one of
these grinding bits.


ST

Sounds like the one I got - I will give it a try.

Thanks!

Chris


--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Stefan Trethan"
<stefan_trethan@g...> wrote:

> On Tue, 06 Sep 2005 15:35:44 +0200, lcdpublishing
> <lcdpublishing@y...> wrote:
>
> > Hi Stan,
> > Do you remember what color the bubbler stones were and how long

it

> > took for them to dissolve?
> > Chris
>
>
> I tried a blue round one that came with my pump, and that one

didn't

> dissolve during 2 weeks or so.
> As it was too small it is unsuitable, but i wanted to see if it

would hold

> up.
> It had a ceramic/glued together sand appearance, and if there was

a shaft

> instead of the connection for the hose i would have thought it is

one of

> these grinding bits.
>
>
> ST