Homebrew PCBs

Hi guys,
   I've done some more testing with the HP papers. Seems I've fouled up a bit, 
though - the current HP Photo Paper is NOT the same as the old C1847A Photo 
Paper. In fact, the current incarnation is utterly useless for toner-transfer. 
It's a plastic-based paper with a high-gloss coating - the coating is NOT 
water soluble, and the plastic backing tends to melt through the coating anyway.

   What DOES work is HP Everyday Photo Paper (part number Q2510A in 100-sheet 
packs). EPP is a 170gsm fibre-based paper, with a water-soluble semi-gloss 
coating. Thus far, it's the best paper I've found for toner-transfer, and it's 
cheap. I got two 100-sheet packs for \ufffd13 from the local Staples (Crown Point 
Retail Park, Leeds, UK); they're doing a buy-one-get-one-free promotion on the 
HP Premium Photo Paper and Everyday Photo Paper at the moment. Unfortunately I 
don't know how long the sale's going on for. Either way, six-and-a-half pence 
per sheet is not bad, especially when PnP is \ufffd3 a sheet.

   The toner prints on fine. There were a few gaps in toner-heavy areas, but 
that might be down to the fact the toner's running a little low in the printer 
(or maybe it's the heat - nearly 23 Celsius at the moment). Transfer is nice 
and quick, a minute and a half with the iron on its highest setting is plenty. 
The paper doesn't stick to the iron, but it's a little rough on the back.

   Soaking took about five minutes - you want to wait for the water to soak 
into all the paper before you peel it off (the soaked areas go slightly 
darker). It left absolutely no paper or coating residue in the toner, and a 
quick wipe with a cloth removed the last little bits of the water-soluble coating.

   I haven't tried going down to 6/6 yet, but a 12thou track run between the 
pads of a SOT23 came out fine. I'd be happy to try it if someone points me to 
a PDF, EAGLE PCB file or Protel Easytrax/Autotrax PCB file. By my reckoning 
6/6 is, what, 6thou tracks on a 12thou grid?

-- 
Phil.                         | Kitsune: Acorn RiscPC SA202 64M+6G ViewFinder
philpem@...         | Cheetah: Athlon64 3200+ A8VDeluxeV2 512M+100G
http://www.philpem.me.uk/     | Tiger: Toshiba SatPro4600 Celeron700 256M+40G