Homebrew_PCBs

> I was etching a PCB a few minutes ago. I thought I'd beef up the
> FeCl3 with a little HCl so I went in the other room, got the bottle
> and opened it. On my back to the kitchen sink where I was doing the
> etching I tripped, splashed a little of the HCl into my face (luckily
> the cap was still partly on) and dropped the bottle. A little of the
> acid went into my left eye so I put my head under the tap and flushed
> the eye out thoroughly. Of course, I shouldn't have removed the cap
> until I was at the sink. I suppose I ought to get the eye checked,
> but I can see perfectly out of it, although it's a little sore, so I
> won't bother. The effect was like peeling onions, but a *lot* worse.
> Onions generate H2SO4 when the juice gets into the eyes, same sort of
> effect.
>
> It's 30% HCl, BTW, quite concentrated.
>
> Leon
>

> I was etching a PCB a few minutes ago. I thought I'd beef up the
> FeCl3 with a little HCl so I went in the other room, got the bottle
> and opened it. On my back to the kitchen sink where I was doing the
> etching I tripped, splashed a little of the HCl into my face

> the cap was still partly on) and dropped the bottle. A little of

> acid went into my left eye so I put my head under the tap and

> the eye out thoroughly. Of course, I shouldn't have removed the cap
> until I was at the sink. I suppose I ought to get the eye checked,
> but I can see perfectly out of it, although it's a little sore, so

> won't bother. The effect was like peeling onions, but a *lot*

> Onions generate H2SO4 when the juice gets into the eyes, same sort

> effect.
>
> It's 30% HCl, BTW, quite concentrated.
>
> Leon

>I was etching a PCB a few minutes ago. I thought I'd beef up the
>FeCl3 with a little HCl so I went in the other room, got the bottle
>and opened it. On my back to the kitchen sink where I was doing the
>etching I tripped, splashed a little of the HCl into my face (luckily
>the cap was still partly on) and dropped the bottle. A little of the
>acid went into my left eye so I put my head under the tap and flushed
>the eye out thoroughly. Of course, I shouldn't have removed the cap
>until I was at the sink. I suppose I ought to get the eye checked,
>but I can see perfectly out of it, although it's a little sore, so I
>won't bother. The effect was like peeling onions, but a *lot* worse.
>Onions generate H2SO4 when the juice gets into the eyes, same sort of
>effect.
>
>It's 30% HCl, BTW, quite concentrated.
>
>Leon
>
>
>
>
>Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Bookmarks and files:
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

----- Original Message -----
From: "Markus Zingg" <m.zingg@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 5:33 PM
Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] HCl - a cautionary tale!


> Leon
>
> I truly hope all will be well with your eye! I'm thankfull you took
> the time to post this here so as it serves as a warning to others!

Thanks, Markus.

It seems OK and isn't even sore any more, just watering slightly. The PCB
looks very nice: it's my version of the MRX-40, a simple direct-conversion
amateur radio receiver for CW on 7.030 MHz or thereabouts.

Leon

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Markus Zingg" <m.zingg@...>
> To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 5:33 PM
> Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] HCl - a cautionary tale!
>
>
>
>>Leon
>>
>>I truly hope all will be well with your eye! I'm thankfull you took
>>the time to post this here so as it serves as a warning to others!

> On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 12:34:14 -0000, leon_heller <leon_heller@h...>
> wrote:
>
> > I was etching a PCB a few minutes ago. I thought I'd beef up the
> > FeCl3 with a little HCl so I went in the other room, got the

> > and opened it. On my back to the kitchen sink where I was doing

> > etching I tripped, splashed a little of the HCl into my face

> > the cap was still partly on) and dropped the bottle. A little of

> > acid went into my left eye so I put my head under the tap and

> > the eye out thoroughly. Of course, I shouldn't have removed the

> > until I was at the sink. I suppose I ought to get the eye checked,
> > but I can see perfectly out of it, although it's a little sore,

> > won't bother. The effect was like peeling onions, but a *lot*

> > Onions generate H2SO4 when the juice gets into the eyes, same

> > effect.
> >
> > It's 30% HCl, BTW, quite concentrated.
> >
> > Leon
> >
>
>
> I will not ask where you goggles were.
> I just assume they were absent just as your brain was.
>
> Take care man!
>
> ST

> I want to mention that cleaners and degreasers ( solvents in
> general ) can also be very dangerous, and that eye protection

> be worn AT ALL TIMES ...no matter how much of a pain it is to put
> goggles on for a " quick task " ... it can save you a LOT of pain a
> grief later.
>
> When cleaning one small touched-up solder connection with a solvent
> known as MEK , a TINY drop of the stuff splashed up from the end of
> the acid brush and went into my eye. I ran to the water fountain

> washed my eye out with the cold water from the spigot. I stood

> for almost a half hour running that cold water into my eye.
> Hell ...my NOSE FROZE from the water . But the eye would not stop
> hurting.
> A trip to the hospital emergency room revealed that the solvent

> WELDED the eyelid to the surface of the eyeball !!!
> Luckily NOT over the cornea or lens ! ...but many weeks of painfull
> recovery followed with eyedrops and salves .
>
> It was a horrible experiance, and even now ...20 years later , I

> still feel the "rough spot" on the surface of my eye when I blink.
>
> Today I make sure I use a FULL FACE SHIELD to protect not only my
> eyes ...but the REST of my "Handsome Visage" !!
>
> Wear protection while clipping component leads too !!
>
> TPR

> Stefan,
>
> I am terribly sorry to read about your unfortunate mishap. I am
> equally shocked as if it happened to me. When I deal with HCl and
> HzO2, I treat them as venomous anacondas, really, that they can bite
> me any time. Tahnks for posting the message so we can be doule
> careful. Mike
>

> On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 21:02:03 -0000, mikezcnc <eemikez@c...> wrote:
>
> > Stefan,
> >
> > I am terribly sorry to read about your unfortunate mishap. I am
> > equally shocked as if it happened to me. When I deal with HCl and
> > HzO2, I treat them as venomous anacondas, really, that they can

> > me any time. Tahnks for posting the message so we can be doule
> > careful. Mike
> >
>
> Leon did the thing with the HCL, not me.. (luckily ;-) )
>
> We all have learnt from his mishap i think.
> I'm thinking maybe a face shield would be easier to use than

> i think the viewing area must be much better, and it seems it would
> protect a lot better.
> Never seen a faceshield sold anywhere here though.
>
>
> ST

> There are ways to make one. A motor cycle helmet is big and clumsy,
> but the plastic face shield can be purchased and added to those
> magnyfing glass/head visors we like to use.
>
> I have a bunch of safety glasses mostly because I do some grinding
> and metal work.
>
> I had a piece of stainless pulled from the center of my eye when I
> was young. it took 3 visits to the doctors to find it. the third
> visit, he turned off the lights and shined a light sideways to see it.
>
> it was dead center and had looked like a reflection on any straight
> in looking.
>
> And, My first job out of high school was for a man who had lost one
> eye when his grinder wheel exploded.
>
> My neighbors think I'm overdoing it when I wear safety glasses when
> using engine cleaner. But I can look them in the eyes and laugh !
>
> "Learn the mistakes of others, you'll never live long enough to make
> them all yourself" unknown
>
> The key word there is LEARN !
>
> Dave
>

> I have googled and found a few, not even expensive, 10-20eur or so.
> Now i use closed goggles, but they are no 100% protection.
> I found this out using the proxxon grinder (these tiny grinding

> don't look like much, but they have a speed which throws the dust

> a shotgun.

>
>> I have googled and found a few, not even expensive, 10-20eur or so.
>> Now i use closed goggles, but they are no 100% protection.
>> I found this out using the proxxon grinder (these tiny grinding
> wheels
>> don't look like much, but they have a speed which throws the dust
> like
>> a shotgun.
>
>
> I use a shop vac on the grinder to pull as much dust out of the air I
> breath and more importantly so it does not settle on my machine tools.
>
> Dave
>
>