Homebrew_PCBs

I read about it and it uses an inkjet paper in Laser printer (and
then one places the paper ink-side down onto a clean copper board. At
that time one uses toluene on a cotton ball and gently massages the
toluene onto the paper which in turn transfers the toner to copper. I
couldn't resist but try this method but since I didn't have toluene I
tried the leftover acetone that just keeps oozing out of the can by
itself.... The results were interesting. Within seconds I got a nice
image trasferred, all of it and almost uniform. The quality of image
was poor because I used a very fine SMD image, to challenge the
method. It was fuzzy and unfocused and I wonder if that would be
enough to resist the etching...

Has anybody tried with toluene? Maybe toluene behaves differently but
I personally doubt it. Thsi method was described somwhere in Europe
and they claimed it was a great method. I wonder if they tried it on
Power Supply board or RF... or never tried to etch it. From what I
see it appears to be another urban legend.

Mike

On Wed, 24 Mar 2004 18:28:30 -0000, mikezcnc <eemikez@...> wrote:

> I read about it and it uses an inkjet paper in Laser printer (and
> then one places the paper ink-side down onto a clean copper board. At
> that time one uses toluene on a cotton ball and gently massages the
> toluene onto the paper which in turn transfers the toner to copper. I
> couldn't resist but try this method but since I didn't have toluene I
> tried the leftover acetone that just keeps oozing out of the can by
> itself.... The results were interesting. Within seconds I got a nice
> image trasferred, all of it and almost uniform. The quality of image
> was poor because I used a very fine SMD image, to challenge the
> method. It was fuzzy and unfocused and I wonder if that would be
> enough to resist the etching...
>
> Has anybody tried with toluene? Maybe toluene behaves differently but
> I personally doubt it. Thsi method was described somwhere in Europe
> and they claimed it was a great method. I wonder if they tried it on
> Power Supply board or RF... or never tried to etch it. From what I
> see it appears to be another urban legend.
>
> Mike
>

THAT is interesting...

toluene must be in those "transfer pens" i read about.
it was described that you place the paper as you said, and then "paint
with the marker on the back"

is't tolulene a bit unhealthy?

ST

I would not base an assessment of toluene based on trying acetone. I
have seen (and used) acetone as the suggested method to quickly remove
toner from a board after etching. Your toner may look fuzzy because
the acetone partly dissolved it.

Hmmm... gonna have to Google. What is toluene and where would I find
it? Maybe it is supposed to dissolve the coating on the inkjet paper
while not dissolving the toner?

Steve

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "mikezcnc" <eemikez@c...> wrote:
> I read about it and it uses an inkjet paper in Laser printer (and
> then one places the paper ink-side down onto a clean copper board. At
> that time one uses toluene on a cotton ball and gently massages the
> toluene onto the paper which in turn transfers the toner to copper. I
> couldn't resist but try this method but since I didn't have toluene I
> tried the leftover acetone that just keeps oozing out of the can by
> itself.... The results were interesting. Within seconds I got a nice
> image trasferred, all of it and almost uniform. The quality of image
> was poor because I used a very fine SMD image, to challenge the
> method. It was fuzzy and unfocused and I wonder if that would be
> enough to resist the etching...
>
> Has anybody tried with toluene? Maybe toluene behaves differently but
> I personally doubt it. Thsi method was described somwhere in Europe
> and they claimed it was a great method. I wonder if they tried it on
> Power Supply board or RF... or never tried to etch it. From what I
> see it appears to be another urban legend.
>
> Mike

Toluene is the main ingredient in your basic lacquer thinner, also sold as
straight up toluene for those DIYer;s, any hardware store w/ a paint dept
should have it, but beware. The VOC's are more volatile and brain killing
than acetone.
This is all very fresh in my mind, as I was just cleaning some sanding
sealer off a brush with it.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve" <alienrelics@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 2:12 PM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Toner Transfer with Toluene


> I would not base an assessment of toluene based on trying acetone. I
> have seen (and used) acetone as the suggested method to quickly remove
> toner from a board after etching. Your toner may look fuzzy because
> the acetone partly dissolved it.
>
> Hmmm... gonna have to Google. What is toluene and where would I find
> it? Maybe it is supposed to dissolve the coating on the inkjet paper
> while not dissolving the toner?
>
> Steve
>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "mikezcnc" <eemikez@c...> wrote:
> > I read about it and it uses an inkjet paper in Laser printer (and
> > then one places the paper ink-side down onto a clean copper board. At
> > that time one uses toluene on a cotton ball and gently massages the
> > toluene onto the paper which in turn transfers the toner to copper. I
> > couldn't resist but try this method but since I didn't have toluene I
> > tried the leftover acetone that just keeps oozing out of the can by
> > itself.... The results were interesting. Within seconds I got a nice
> > image trasferred, all of it and almost uniform. The quality of image
> > was poor because I used a very fine SMD image, to challenge the
> > method. It was fuzzy and unfocused and I wonder if that would be
> > enough to resist the etching...
> >
> > Has anybody tried with toluene? Maybe toluene behaves differently but
> > I personally doubt it. Thsi method was described somwhere in Europe
> > and they claimed it was a great method. I wonder if they tried it on
> > Power Supply board or RF... or never tried to etch it. From what I
> > see it appears to be another urban legend.
> >
> > Mike
>
>
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Bookmarks and files:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <alienrelics@y...>
wrote:

> Hmmm... gonna have to Google. What is toluene and where would I
> find it? Maybe it is supposed to dissolve the coating on the
> inkjet paper while not dissolving the toner?

Toluene is another solvent. It was used in cement for plastic
(styrene) models, maybe still is if you know where to shop. Some
kids got high by sniffing model glue which is why they came out with
the new "sniff safe" model glues. You might be able to find toluene
in a well-stocked home improvement center.

Whatever solvent you use, it has to at least soften the toner to get
it to stick to the copper. I was thinking you could also try xylol
(xylene) since it is less active than acetone, but it is slow drying
and somewhat oily-feeling, so probably will not give good results.

Alan "A.J." Franzman

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Alan J. Franzman"
<a.j.franzman@v...> wrote:

> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <alienrelics@y...>
> wrote:
> > Hmmm... gonna have to Google. What is toluene and where would I
> > find it? Maybe it is supposed to dissolve the coating on the
> > inkjet paper while not dissolving the toner?
>
> Toluene is another solvent. It was used in cement for plastic
> (styrene) models, maybe still is if you know where to shop. Some
> kids got high by sniffing model glue which is why they came out with
> the new "sniff safe" model glues. You might be able to find toluene
> in a well-stocked home improvement center.
>
> Whatever solvent you use, it has to at least soften the toner to get
> it to stick to the copper. I was thinking you could also try xylol
> (xylene) since it is less active than acetone, but it is slow drying
> and somewhat oily-feeling, so probably will not give good results.

I misread... I thought you meant iron it on and use toluene only to
dissolve the paper.

I think I'd be more interested in making a slow laminator.

Steve