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2013-01-29 by Jeff
What are opinions on using an electric paint sprayer to spray etch a board? Could an electric sprayer be modified to run etchant so it can resist corroding? Would the spray pattern, droplet size, and spray force be acceptable? Jeff
2013-01-29 by Todd F. Carney
On Mon, Jan 28, 2013 at 8:47 PM, Jeff <jeff.heiss@...> wrote: > > What are opinions on using an electric paint sprayer to spray etch a > board? Could an electric sprayer be modified to run etchant so it can > resist corroding? Would the spray pattern, droplet size, and spray force be > acceptable? > Jeff, Just to clarify, do you mean for the sprayer to resist corrosion? If you use ferric chloride, that doesn't seem likely. Maybe not even a persulfate etchant. I used to use shop-built bench-top (actually, lab-sink-top) spray-based etching machine that was pretty much all plastic. It consisted of an open-top plastic tank, an immersion heater (from a small hot-water heater), an immersion pump from a "swamp" cooler, and sprayers made of PVC pipe, and a holder that clamped the board to be etched in a frame. The sprayers hit the board evenly on both sides at once. The little spray heads were made for drip-irrigation use. We placed a sheet of plexiglass on top to contain overspray and so we could monitor the etching. We used persulfate etchant in it (which we left in it until it had to be replaced) so it was not a source of staining-or-toxic ferric chloride. I don't know how or if that damn stuff would work in such a machine. We never used it. I don't think any professional or commercial pcb outfits use it either. These days, a darkroom tray works for the one or two boards I might make in a month. I use home-made peroxide-muriatic-salt etchant. I just hand agitate the tray. I was toying with the idea of making a motorized rocking agitator, but then I came to my senses. 73, Todd ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ K7TFC / Medford, Oregon, USA / CN82ni / UTC-8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ QRP (CW & SSB) / EmComm / SOTA / Homebrew / Design [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
2013-01-29 by Jeff Heiss
Todd, I like your ideas. What is a "swamp" cooler pump? I am not familiar with drip irrigation spray heads. Are they like mister nozzles for gardens? Jeff
-----Original Message----- From: Todd F. Carney <k7tfc@...> Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 2:35 AM To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] thoughts on electric paint sprayer for spray etching On Mon, Jan 28, 2013 at 8:47 PM, Jeff jeff.heiss@...> wrote: > > What are opinions on using an electric paint sprayer to spray etch a > board? Could an electric sprayer be modified to run etchant so it can > resist corroding? Would the spray pattern, droplet size, and spray force be > acceptable? > Jeff, Just to clarify, do you mean for the sprayer to resist corrosion? If you use ferric chloride, that doesn't seem likely. Maybe not even a persulfate etchant. I used to use shop-built bench-top (actually, lab-sink-top) spray-based etching machine that was pretty much all plastic. It consisted of an open-top plastic tank, an immersion heater (from a small hot-water heater), an immersion pump from a "swamp" cooler, and sprayers made of PVC pipe, and a holder that clamped the board to be etched in a frame. The sprayers hit the board evenly on both sides at once. The little spray heads were made for drip-irrigation use. We placed a sheet of plexiglass on top to contain overspray and so we could monitor the etching. We used persulfate etchant in it (which we left in it until it had to be replaced) so it was not a source of staining-or-toxic ferric chloride. I don't know how or if that damn stuff would work in such a machine. We never used it. I don't think any professional or commercial pcb outfits use it either. These days, a darkroom tray works for the one or two boards I might make in a month. I use home-made peroxide-muriatic-salt etchant. I just hand agitate the tray. I was toying with the idea of making a motorized rocking agitator, but then I came to my senses. 73, Todd ---------------------------------------------------------- K7TFC / Medford, Oregon, USA / CN82ni / UTC-8 ---------------------------------------------------------- QRP (CW & SSB) / EmComm / SOTA / Homebrew / Design [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
2013-01-29 by Randall Morgan
A "Swamp" cooler is a type of air conditioning device that works by the evaporation process to cool air. They are very simple. Water is pumped to the top of panels usually filled with burlap or hemp fibers. The water runs down through the fibers soaking them. Air is then pulled through the fiber panels and blown into the room. As the air is pulled through the fibers it picks up maximum humidity. Once released into the room the air evaporates its excess humidity to conform with current atmospheric conditions. As the water is released from the air it takes heat with it. Air itself is a very poor storage medium for heat and stores most of its heat in the moisture contained in it. Swamp pumps can be purchased at most hardware stores and even walmart. On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 7:26 AM, Jeff Heiss <jeff.heiss@comcast.net> wrote: > ** > > > Todd, I like your ideas. What is a "swamp" cooler pump? I am not familiar > with drip irrigation spray heads. Are they like mister nozzles for gardens? > > Jeff > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Todd F. Carney k7tfc@...> > Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 2:35 AM > To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com > Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] thoughts on electric paint sprayer for spray > etching > > On Mon, Jan 28, 2013 at 8:47 PM, Jeff jeff.heiss@...> wrote: > > > > What are opinions on using an electric paint sprayer to spray etch a > > board? Could an electric sprayer be modified to run etchant so it can > > resist corroding? Would the spray pattern, droplet size, and spray force > be > > acceptable? > > > > Jeff, > > Just to clarify, do you mean for the sprayer to resist corrosion? If you > use ferric chloride, that doesn't seem likely. Maybe not even a persulfate > etchant. > > I used to use shop-built bench-top (actually, lab-sink-top) spray-based > etching machine that was pretty much all plastic. It consisted of an > open-top plastic tank, an immersion heater (from a small hot-water heater), > an immersion pump from a "swamp" cooler, and sprayers made of PVC pipe, and > a holder that clamped the board to be etched in a frame. The sprayers hit > the board evenly on both sides at once. The little spray heads were made > for drip-irrigation use. We placed a sheet of plexiglass on top to contain > overspray and so we could monitor the etching. We used persulfate etchant > in it (which we left in it until it had to be replaced) so it was not a > source of staining-or-toxic ferric chloride. I don't know how or if that > damn stuff would work in such a machine. We never used it. I don't think > any professional or commercial pcb outfits use it either. > > These days, a darkroom tray works for the one or two boards I might make in > a month. I use home-made peroxide-muriatic-salt etchant. I just hand > agitate the tray. I was toying with the idea of making a motorized rocking > agitator, but then I came to my senses. > > 73, > > Todd > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > K7TFC / Medford, Oregon, USA / CN82ni / UTC-8 > ---------------------------------------------------------- > QRP (CW & SSB) / EmComm / SOTA / Homebrew / Design > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > -- If you ask me if it can be done. The answer is YES, it can always be done. The correct questions however are... What will it cost, and how long will it take? [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
2013-01-29 by Jeff Heiss
I checked Walmart for immersion pump and swamp pump but did not see any listed. Could you give a reference to one online? Jeff
-----Original Message----- From: Randall Morgan <rmorgan62@...> Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 3:25 PM To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] thoughts on electric paint sprayer for spray etching A "Swamp" cooler is a type of air conditioning device that works by the evaporation process to cool air. They are very simple. Water is pumped to the top of panels usually filled with burlap or hemp fibers. The water runs down through the fibers soaking them. Air is then pulled through the fiber panels and blown into the room. As the air is pulled through the fibers it picks up maximum humidity. Once released into the room the air evaporates its excess humidity to conform with current atmospheric conditions. As the water is released from the air it takes heat with it. Air itself is a very poor storage medium for heat and stores most of its heat in the moisture contained in it. Swamp pumps can be purchased at most hardware stores and even walmart. On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 7:26 AM, Jeff Heiss <jeff.heiss@...> wrote: > ** > > > Todd, I like your ideas. What is a "swamp" cooler pump? I am not familiar > with drip irrigation spray heads. Are they like mister nozzles for gardens? > > Jeff > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Todd F. Carney k7tfc@...> > Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 2:35 AM > To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com > Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] thoughts on electric paint sprayer for spray > etching > > On Mon, Jan 28, 2013 at 8:47 PM, Jeff jeff.heiss@...> wrote: > > > > What are opinions on using an electric paint sprayer to spray etch a > > board? Could an electric sprayer be modified to run etchant so it can > > resist corroding? Would the spray pattern, droplet size, and spray force > be > > acceptable? > > > > Jeff, > > Just to clarify, do you mean for the sprayer to resist corrosion? If you > use ferric chloride, that doesn't seem likely. Maybe not even a persulfate > etchant. > > I used to use shop-built bench-top (actually, lab-sink-top) spray-based > etching machine that was pretty much all plastic. It consisted of an > open-top plastic tank, an immersion heater (from a small hot-water heater), > an immersion pump from a "swamp" cooler, and sprayers made of PVC pipe, and > a holder that clamped the board to be etched in a frame. The sprayers hit > the board evenly on both sides at once. The little spray heads were made > for drip-irrigation use. We placed a sheet of plexiglass on top to contain > overspray and so we could monitor the etching. We used persulfate etchant > in it (which we left in it until it had to be replaced) so it was not a > source of staining-or-toxic ferric chloride. I don't know how or if that > damn stuff would work in such a machine. We never used it. I don't think > any professional or commercial pcb outfits use it either. > > These days, a darkroom tray works for the one or two boards I might make in > a month. I use home-made peroxide-muriatic-salt etchant. I just hand > agitate the tray. I was toying with the idea of making a motorized rocking > agitator, but then I came to my senses. > > 73, > > Todd > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > K7TFC / Medford, Oregon, USA / CN82ni / UTC-8 > ---------------------------------------------------------- > QRP (CW & SSB) / EmComm / SOTA / Homebrew / Design > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > -- If you ask me if it can be done. The answer is YES, it can always be done. The correct questions however are... What will it cost, and how long will it take? [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
2013-01-29 by Rick Sparber
Swamp coolers are common here in Arizona but never saw one until I came here. Rick
-----Original Message----- From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jeff Heiss Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 3:19 PM To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [Homebrew_PCBs] thoughts on electric paint sprayer for spray etching I checked Walmart for immersion pump and swamp pump but did not see any listed. Could you give a reference to one online? Jeff -----Original Message----- From: Randall Morgan <rmorgan62@...> Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 3:25 PM To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] thoughts on electric paint sprayer for spray etching A "Swamp" cooler is a type of air conditioning device that works by the evaporation process to cool air. They are very simple. Water is pumped to the top of panels usually filled with burlap or hemp fibers. The water runs down through the fibers soaking them. Air is then pulled through the fiber panels and blown into the room. As the air is pulled through the fibers it picks up maximum humidity. Once released into the room the air evaporates its excess humidity to conform with current atmospheric conditions. As the water is released from the air it takes heat with it. Air itself is a very poor storage medium for heat and stores most of its heat in the moisture contained in it. Swamp pumps can be purchased at most hardware stores and even walmart. On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 7:26 AM, Jeff Heiss <jeff.heiss@...> wrote: > ** > > > Todd, I like your ideas. What is a "swamp" cooler pump? I am not > familiar with drip irrigation spray heads. Are they like mister nozzles for gardens? > > Jeff > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Todd F. Carney k7tfc@...> > Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 2:35 AM > To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com > Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] thoughts on electric paint sprayer for > spray etching > > On Mon, Jan 28, 2013 at 8:47 PM, Jeff jeff.heiss@...> wrote: > > > > What are opinions on using an electric paint sprayer to spray etch a > > board? Could an electric sprayer be modified to run etchant so it > > can resist corroding? Would the spray pattern, droplet size, and > > spray force > be > > acceptable? > > > > Jeff, > > Just to clarify, do you mean for the sprayer to resist corrosion? If > you use ferric chloride, that doesn't seem likely. Maybe not even a > persulfate etchant. > > I used to use shop-built bench-top (actually, lab-sink-top) > spray-based etching machine that was pretty much all plastic. It > consisted of an open-top plastic tank, an immersion heater (from a > small hot-water heater), an immersion pump from a "swamp" cooler, and > sprayers made of PVC pipe, and a holder that clamped the board to be > etched in a frame. The sprayers hit the board evenly on both sides at > once. The little spray heads were made for drip-irrigation use. We > placed a sheet of plexiglass on top to contain overspray and so we > could monitor the etching. We used persulfate etchant in it (which we > left in it until it had to be replaced) so it was not a source of > staining-or-toxic ferric chloride. I don't know how or if that damn > stuff would work in such a machine. We never used it. I don't think any professional or commercial pcb outfits use it either. > > These days, a darkroom tray works for the one or two boards I might > make in a month. I use home-made peroxide-muriatic-salt etchant. I > just hand agitate the tray. I was toying with the idea of making a > motorized rocking agitator, but then I came to my senses. > > 73, > > Todd > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > K7TFC / Medford, Oregon, USA / CN82ni / UTC-8 > ---------------------------------------------------------- > QRP (CW & SSB) / EmComm / SOTA / Homebrew / Design > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > -- If you ask me if it can be done. The answer is YES, it can always be done. The correct questions however are... What will it cost, and how long will it take? [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links ------------------------------------ Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
2013-01-29 by cunningfellow
> Jeff wrote: > > What are opinions on using an electric paint > sprayer to spray etch a board? Could an electric > sprayer be modified to run etchant so it can > resist corroding? Would the spray pattern, droplet > size, and spray force be acceptable? Jeff, Look at http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Etchinator-low-cost-spray-etcher/ The instructable also contains a link to Adam Seychells more professional etcher (a member here also) There are also a few more ideas such as the splash etcher someone oft mentions here (search is your friend) All of them are reasonable ideas. Most of them would actually be cheaper than an electric spray paint gun and NOT have corrosion problems. Ferric Chloride does have its place BTW. Just not for PCBs unless you don't do them very often.
2013-01-30 by mvkkeller
Jeff, The official name is "Evaporative Cooler"... One source of parts online: http://www.plumbersurplus.com/Cat/Evaporative-Cooler-Pumps-Parts/1244/List Another: http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/Search?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&keyword=Evaporative%20Cooler%20pumps&Ns=None&Ntpr=1&Ntpc=1&selectedCatgry=Search+All Another: http://www.johnstonesupply.com/storefront/hvacr-parts/air-conditioning-refrigeration-components/evaporative-cooler-parts/c1027991-c1027234-c1028291-p1.html - Ken - --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Jeff Heiss wrote:
> > I checked Walmart for immersion pump and swamp pump but did not see any listed. Could you give a reference to one online? > > Jeff > > -----Original Message----- > From: Randall Morgan > Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 3:25 PM > To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com > Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] thoughts on electric paint sprayer for spray etching > > A "Swamp" cooler is a type of air conditioning device that works by > the evaporation process to cool air. They are very simple. Water is pumped > to the top of panels usually filled with burlap or hemp fibers. The water > runs down through the fibers soaking them. Air is then pulled through the > fiber panels and blown into the room. As the air is pulled through the > fibers it picks up maximum humidity. Once released into the room the air > evaporates its excess humidity to conform with > current atmospheric conditions. As the water is released from the air it > takes heat with it. Air itself is a very poor storage medium for heat and > stores most of its heat in the moisture contained in it. > > Swamp pumps can be purchased at most hardware stores and even walmart. > > > > On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 7:26 AM, Jeff Heiss wrote: > > > ** > > > > > > Todd, I like your ideas. What is a "swamp" cooler pump? I am not familiar > > with drip irrigation spray heads. Are they like mister nozzles for gardens? > > > > Jeff > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Todd F. Carney k7tfc@...> > > Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 2:35 AM > > To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com > > Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] thoughts on electric paint sprayer for spray > > etching > > > > On Mon, Jan 28, 2013 at 8:47 PM, Jeff jeff.heiss@...> wrote: > > > > > > What are opinions on using an electric paint sprayer to spray etch a > > > board? Could an electric sprayer be modified to run etchant so it can > > > resist corroding? Would the spray pattern, droplet size, and spray force > > be > > > acceptable? > > > > > > > Jeff, > > > > Just to clarify, do you mean for the sprayer to resist corrosion? If you > > use ferric chloride, that doesn't seem likely. Maybe not even a persulfate > > etchant. > > > > I used to use shop-built bench-top (actually, lab-sink-top) spray-based > > etching machine that was pretty much all plastic. It consisted of an > > open-top plastic tank, an immersion heater (from a small hot-water heater), > > an immersion pump from a "swamp" cooler, and sprayers made of PVC pipe, and > > a holder that clamped the board to be etched in a frame. The sprayers hit > > the board evenly on both sides at once. The little spray heads were made > > for drip-irrigation use. We placed a sheet of plexiglass on top to contain > > overspray and so we could monitor the etching. We used persulfate etchant > > in it (which we left in it until it had to be replaced) so it was not a > > source of staining-or-toxic ferric chloride. I don't know how or if that > > damn stuff would work in such a machine. We never used it. I don't think > > any professional or commercial pcb outfits use it either. > > > > These days, a darkroom tray works for the one or two boards I might make in > > a month. I use home-made peroxide-muriatic-salt etchant. I just hand > > agitate the tray. I was toying with the idea of making a motorized rocking > > agitator, but then I came to my senses. > > > > 73, > > > > Todd > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > > K7TFC / Medford, Oregon, USA / CN82ni / UTC-8 > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > > QRP (CW & SSB) / EmComm / SOTA / Homebrew / Design > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > -- > If you ask me if it can be done. The answer is YES, it can always be done. > The correct questions however are... What will it cost, and how long will > it take? > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links >
2013-01-30 by Jeff Heiss
The prices of the pumps in the spray etcher projects were $180, $77, and $100. They all appear to be water pumps but I'm not sure how the builders knew they would work with etchent. Todd, how much did your pump cost? Jeff _____
From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of cunningfellow Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 6:10 PM To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: thoughts on electric paint sprayer for spray etching > Jeff wrote: > > What are opinions on using an electric paint > sprayer to spray etch a board? Could an electric > sprayer be modified to run etchant so it can > resist corroding? Would the spray pattern, droplet > size, and spray force be acceptable? Jeff, Look at http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Etchinator-low-cost-spray-etcher/ The instructable also contains a link to Adam Seychells more professional etcher (a member here also) There are also a few more ideas such as the splash etcher someone oft mentions here (search is your friend) All of them are reasonable ideas. Most of them would actually be cheaper than an electric spray paint gun and NOT have corrosion problems. Ferric Chloride does have its place BTW. Just not for PCBs unless you don't do them very often. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
2013-01-30 by Randall Morgan
Here is a link to a swamp (also called evaporative cooler) at Home Depot. They seem to be seasonal items at walmart. http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100158379/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=water+cooler+pump&storeId=10051#.UQiOimLAM-A Cost less than $16 USD On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 6:44 PM, Jeff Heiss <jeff.heiss@...> wrote: > ** > > > The prices of the pumps in the spray etcher projects were $180, $77, and > $100. They all appear to be water pumps but I'm not sure how the builders > knew they would work with etchent. Todd, how much did your pump cost? > > Jeff > > _____ > > From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com] > On Behalf Of cunningfellow > Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 6:10 PM > To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: thoughts on electric paint sprayer for spray > etching > > > Jeff wrote: > > > > What are opinions on using an electric paint > > sprayer to spray etch a board? Could an electric > > sprayer be modified to run etchant so it can > > resist corroding? Would the spray pattern, droplet > > size, and spray force be acceptable? > > Jeff, > > Look at > > http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Etchinator-low-cost-spray-etcher/ > > The instructable also contains a link to Adam > Seychells more professional etcher (a member > here also) > > There are also a few more ideas such as the > splash etcher someone oft mentions here (search > is your friend) > > All of them are reasonable ideas. Most of them > would actually be cheaper than an electric > spray paint gun and NOT have corrosion problems. > > Ferric Chloride does have its place BTW. Just > not for PCBs unless you don't do them very often. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > -- If you ask me if it can be done. The answer is YES, it can always be done. The correct questions however are... What will it cost, and how long will it take? [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
2013-01-30 by Jeff Heiss
I looked up the specs on the pumps. They produce about 2psi at 6 gallons per minute. They look and work like pedestal sump pumps. I guess they won't work with etchant spray nozzles since the nozzles require 30psi. Todd, did your nozzles have a lower psi requirement? Jeff
-----Original Message----- From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Randall Morgan Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 10:09 PM To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: thoughts on electric paint sprayer for spray etching Here is a link to a swamp (also called evaporative cooler) at Home Depot. They seem to be seasonal items at walmart. http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100158379/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalo gId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=water+cooler+pump&storeId=10051#.UQiOimLAM-A Cost less than $16 USD On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 6:44 PM, Jeff Heiss <jeff.heiss@...> wrote: > ** > > > The prices of the pumps in the spray etcher projects were $180, $77, and > $100. They all appear to be water pumps but I'm not sure how the builders > knew they would work with etchent. Todd, how much did your pump cost? > > Jeff > > _____ > > From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com] > On Behalf Of cunningfellow > Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 6:10 PM > To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: thoughts on electric paint sprayer for spray > etching > > > Jeff wrote: > > > > What are opinions on using an electric paint > > sprayer to spray etch a board? Could an electric > > sprayer be modified to run etchant so it can > > resist corroding? Would the spray pattern, droplet > > size, and spray force be acceptable? > > Jeff, > > Look at > > http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Etchinator-low-cost-spray-etcher/ > > The instructable also contains a link to Adam > Seychells more professional etcher (a member > here also) > > There are also a few more ideas such as the > splash etcher someone oft mentions here (search > is your friend) > > All of them are reasonable ideas. Most of them > would actually be cheaper than an electric > spray paint gun and NOT have corrosion problems. > > Ferric Chloride does have its place BTW. Just > not for PCBs unless you don't do them very often. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > -- If you ask me if it can be done. The answer is YES, it can always be done. The correct questions however are... What will it cost, and how long will it take? [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Links, Files, and Photos: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBsYahoo! Groups Links
2013-01-30 by Todd F. Carney
Jeff, I did not build the etcher I described, and as I now recall it wasn't shop-made at all. It was made by Kepro Circuit Systems (now defunct). I did have occasion, though, to replace the pump. It was around $20 (but . . . that was about 1985!!!!). Here's one that looks about like the one in the Kepro: http://www.capitolsupply.com/catalog/15000-2-mighty-cool-pump-c150002-cs6539900.html?cid=gkw_pa. I think you can find them cheaper than at Capitol Supply. Damn me if I didn't just find the Kepro etcher I used on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=reproduction+doll&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313&_nkw=kepro+etcher&_sacat=0 The one I used was the BTD-201, the second on that eBay page. There are several pictures, none very good. The seller wants $489 for it!!! Maybe if it was new, that might be reasonable (I wouldn't pay it--I'd spend a morning at the hardware store and the afternoon putting my own etcher together). As it turns out, this one is an absolute wreck!! 73, Todd ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ K7TFC / Medford, Oregon, USA / CN82ni / UTC-8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ QRP (CW & SSB) / EmComm / SOTA / Homebrew / Design On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 6:44 PM, Jeff Heiss <jeff.heiss@...> wrote: > ** > > > The prices of the pumps in the spray etcher projects were $180, $77, and > $100. They all appear to be water pumps but I'm not sure how the builders > knew they would work with etchent. Todd, how much did your pump cost? > > Jeff > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]