Homebrew_PCBs

Anybody got formulas for tin plating solutions?
I'm looking for something cheaper, or better able
to be mixed in small quantities, or better able to
be used on limitted areas of a board...

Thanks.

Hi everyone,

I’m also interested in such a formula.
I’ve heard that silver nitrate is used to this purpose. Is this truth?
Does anyone have more info?

Nuno T.

-Anybody got formulas for tin plating solutions?
-I'm looking for something cheaper, or better able
-to be mixed in small quantities, or better able to
-be used on limitted areas of a board...
-
-Thanks.


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In a message dated 5/19/2003 3:29:52 PM Central Standard Time, nuno-t@...
writes:

> I’m also interested in such a formula. I’ve heard that silver nitrate is
> used to this purpose. Is this truth? Does anyone have more info?
>

TIN is in a completely different apartment on the Periodic Table. AgNO³ will
"plate" copper with NO DC applied. It does NOT improve solderability at all,
and will COST you more than the PCB itself, PER SIDE! I recall when I was in
high school, in '61, one fluid ounce of concentrated AgNO³ solution cost
about $6.00, so that may well be $30 today for ONE fluid ounce! Dunno...

Tin (Sn) is fussy, but Kepro, if my feeble old mind serves me, sells a
yellow/white crusty chemical which "electrolessly" plates tin onto copper,
and the only "energy" required is a bit of heat. This stuff can be used over
and over until depleted, but it DOES "go bad" with time, as I recall. It
also leaves a relatively THIN tin-plating on copper, but it DOES improve
solderability if done SKILLFULLY (i.e., "cleanly"). I no longer have Kepro's
address, but I IMAGINE they can be found on the Internet with an everyday
Google search.

Jan Rowland


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I don't know if this is obtainable for most people or not, but what I use is "liquid tin" from M.G. Chemicals (www.mgchemicals.com)

I don't know what it really is, but its awesome stuff. The 500 ml bottle I have has lasted longer than I can remember (many years) as I don't throw it away after using it. I have even done "spot rework" with a cotton swap of the stuff - just brush is on like paint and it instantly plates. The solderability is great, I do SMT stuff by hand all the time and have no problem making connections and good looking joints.

Peter



JanRwl@...
05/20/2003 12:37 PM

To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com@Internet
cc: (bcc: Peter Welty/Americas/NSC)
Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Tin plating...

In a message dated 5/19/2003 3:29:52 PM Central Standard Time, nuno-t@...
writes:

> Iâ m also interested in such a formula. Iâ ve heard that silver nitrate is
> used to this purpose. Is this truth? Does anyone have more info?
>

TIN is in a completely different apartment on the Periodic Table. AgNO³ will
"plate" copper with NO DC applied. It does NOT improve solderability at all,
and will COST you more than the PCB itself, PER SIDE! I recall when I was in
high school, in '61, one fluid ounce of concentrated AgNO³ solution cost
about $6.00, so that may well be $30 today for ONE fluid ounce! Dunno...

Tin (Sn) is fussy, but Kepro, if my feeble old mind serves me, sells a
yellow/white crusty chemical which "electrolessly" plates tin onto copper,
and the only "energy" required is a bit of heat. This stuff can be used over
and over until depleted, but it DOES "go bad" with time, as I recall. It
also leaves a relatively THIN tin-plating on copper, but it DOES improve
solderability if done SKILLFULLY (i.e., "cleanly"). I no longer have Kepro's
address, but I IMAGINE they can be found on the Internet with an everyday
Google search.

Jan Rowland


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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> Tin (Sn) is fussy, but Kepro, if my feeble old mind serves me, sells a
> yellow/white crusty chemical which "electrolessly" plates tin onto copper,

Kepro is going out of business. You can find this material labeled as
Tinnit, but a lot of people do not get good results. I have gotten good
results only after thoroughly cleaning the copper clad and then with gloves
on, scrubbing the copper while it is submersed in the solution to make it
contact fresh copper.

Thanks Peter for the MG Chemicals link. This sounds like it is worth trying.
Tinnit and the other similar solutions usually only last for a one time
plating.
-Mike

> Thanks Peter for the MG Chemicals link. This sounds like it is worth

trying.

> Tinnit and the other similar solutions usually only last for a one time
> plating.

I use Tinnit too. Works great. Just dip an etched board with clean copper
traces in Tinnit for two minutes and it's zinc plated, protected and easy to
solder! I keep it in a wide necked Rubbermade container and dip small
boards in from the top.


- Chris Graham

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Peter Welty" <peter.welty@n...>
wrote:

> I don't know if this is obtainable for most people or not, but what I
> use is "liquid tin" from M.G. Chemicals (www.mgchemicals.com)
>
> I don't know what it really is, but its awesome stuff. The 500 ml
> bottle I have has lasted longer than I can remember (many years) as I
> don't throw it away after using it. I have even done "spot rework"
> with a cotton swap of the stuff - just brush is on like paint and it
> instantly plates. The solderability is great, I do SMT stuff by
> hand all the time and have no problem making connections and good
> looking joints.

I added this to the Links page.

Liquid Tin page is here:
http://www.mgchemicals.com/products/421.html

Steve

> I added this to the Links page.
>
> Liquid Tin page is here:
> http://www.mgchemicals.com/products/421.html
>
> Steve

Wow! I just read the MSDS sheet on this stuff. Take care when using and read
this if you buy it. A lot of the chemicals used in board processing are
pretty harsh. It should be mentioned to read the MSDS sheet on any chemicals
used to insure safety.
-Mike

i also read it.. is really no funny stuff...

but remember that a big amoumt of chemicals is known to may produce cancer and is still used.

i don't really need plating and i also won't get the stuff here so it is not of much interest for me.

i i need plating, i would need gold plating for pcb edge connectors.
this can be done by electroplyting (but you have to primer the copper, gold on copper isn't good.

simply connect all the wires on the lower side of the connector and when plated cut this strip (and the
connection) away.

regards
stefan

22.05.2003 04:48:50, "Mike Putnam" <circuit@...> wrote:

>> I added this to the Links page.
>>
>> Liquid Tin page is here:
>> http://www.mgchemicals.com/products/421.html
>>
>> Steve
>
>Wow! I just read the MSDS sheet on this stuff. Take care when using and read
>this if you buy it. A lot of the chemicals used in board processing are
>pretty harsh. It should be mentioned to read the MSDS sheet on any chemicals
>used to insure safety.
>-Mike
>
>
>
>
>Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Bookmarks and files:
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
>
>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>Homebrew_PCBs-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>