Homebrew PCBs

I was just wondering where the best place to buy chemicals for making
boards.  Either online or in person would work.

Thanks,

Chris

----- Original Message ----- 

From: "Chris Hubbard" <xyberspam@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 09, 2006 12:50 PM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Best place to buy chemicals?


>I was just wondering where the best place to buy chemicals for making
> boards.  Either online or in person would work.

RS, Farnell and Rapid Electronics, to name a few, here in the UK.

Leon

>I was just wondering where the best place to buy chemicals for making
>boards. Either online or in person would work.

This place is in Arizona;

http://www.web-tronics.com/

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Chris Hubbard" <xyberspam@...> 
wrote:
>

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Chris Hubbard" <xyberspam@...> 
wrote:
>
> I was just wondering where the best place to buy chemicals for making
> boards.  Either online or in person would work.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Chris
>
Radio Shack sells ferric chloride not all stores have it but if you go 
to the website and put in your zip code it will give you the closest 
store

Alternatively your local hardware store sells muriatic acid
(hydrochloric 31%) and pharmacy sells 3% hydrogen peroxide. When
you're done with it, simply neutralize with baking soda (OUTSIDE!). I
used this method myself recently with good success.

There are some vendors who sell ferric chloride (unmixed) in powder
and chunks quite cheaply on ebay. I saw 1 lb for like $10 or so.

       Brian

> > I was just wondering where the best place to buy chemicals for making
> > boards.  Either online or in person would work.
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > 
> > Chris
> >
> Radio Shack sells ferric chloride not all stores have it but if you go 
> to the website and put in your zip code it will give you the closest 
> store
>

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "tomservo_9504" 
<tomservo_9504@...> wrote:
>
> Alternatively your local hardware store sells muriatic acid
> (hydrochloric 31%) and pharmacy sells 3% hydrogen peroxide. When
> you're done with it, simply neutralize with baking soda 
(OUTSIDE!). I
> used this method myself recently with good success.
> 

A good alternative to the 3% H2O2 from a pharmacy is '40 Volume' 
hair bleach from a beauty supply store. It's about 12% strength so 
it won't dilute the etchant as much as the 3% does.

In the US, you can purchase it at Sally Beauty Supply for about $5 
for a quart. (BTW, Sally Beauty Supply doesn't require that you have 
a beautician's license to purchase it as many supply stores do.)


Regards, Bob

On Mon, 10 Jul 2006, tomservo_9504 wrote:

> Alternatively your local hardware store sells muriatic acid
> (hydrochloric 31%) and pharmacy sells 3% hydrogen peroxide. When
> you're done with it, simply neutralize with baking soda (OUTSIDE!). I
> used this method myself recently with good success.

Pool supply stores seem to be the most common place to find muratic acid
in southern California.  Additionally, you can get buckets of sodium
bicarbonate (baking soda) there for much less than you'd pay for a carton
of food grade baking soda.

> There are some vendors who sell ferric chloride (unmixed) in powder
> and chunks quite cheaply on ebay. I saw 1 lb for like $10 or so.

I don't know if I'd want to go with chunks of ferric chloride.


-- 
David Griffith
dgriffi@...

A: Because it fouls the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing in e-mail?

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Chris Hubbard" <xyberspam@...> 
wrote:
Hi Chris,

> I was just wondering where the best place to buy chemicals for making
> boards.  Either online or in person would work.

What chemicals are you looking for?  Jameco.com carries ferric 
chloride in powder form.  They also have the good IPA (99.9%+), flux 
removers, ...  The local (sort of) Frys Electronics carries ferric 
chloride, ammonium persulfate, 99.9%+ IPA, flux removers, ...

Watch out for hazmat fees items your order online...

Regards,
Dennis