Homebrew PCBs

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Hello, group.

It's probably already been discussed, here, before (I'm relatively new to this group. So I apologize if this has already been mentioned.), but: 

I have seen "plastic storage containers" that look like they would make good etching tanks, for those on a budget.  They are relatively low cost.

The containers to which I am referring are often found in the "kitchen" sections of "discount stores". Sometimes they are sold as "breakfast-cereal containers". They are relatively tall and thin, often similar in size and shape to a box of breakfast cereal. And they have tight-fitting snap-on lids, often with large-ish snap-open "sub-lids" within the main lid (usually on one end of the main lid, for pouring the cereal out without removing the main lid).

I just saw a set of three of them, all for something like $5.00, at a WalMart store, very recently, which included sizes of 1.5 L (6"w x 6"h x 2.5"d to 3.5"d), 3.1 L (8"w x 8.5"h x 3"d to 4"d), and 5.4 L (8.5"w x 10"h x 3.75"d to 4.75"d). (These particular containers have rounded sides.  So the "w" measurements are for the largest-sized dimension, across the centerline from left to right. And I gave two "d" numbers, for the bottom and top measurements, since they are "deeper" (front-to-back) at the top than at the bottom.)  The "sub-lid" within the main lid of the largest-sized container has a rounded opening that is approximately 3"d x 3.75"w.

Those containers were made, or imported (from China) by, "Alco Inducstries" of NJ, USA. But I have seen many other similar ones, at other times and in other places, sometimes for even lower costs.

I didn't see any symbols on them, denoting the type of plastic they were made from. But the containers are made of a gray-ish, semi-transparent plastic, which is about 2 mm thick, at the top at least. And the plastic lids, which seem to be air-tight, are white.

Just a thought.

Regards,

Tom Gootee (tomg AT fullnet.com)

http://www.fullnet.com/u/tomg (Good used Tektronix and HP test 

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

On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 15:06:45 -0500, Thomas P. Gootee <tomg@...>  
wrote:

> ---------------
>
> Hello, group.
>
> It's probably already been discussed, here, before (I'm relatively new  
> to this group. So I apologize if this has already been mentioned.), but:
>
> I have seen "plastic storage containers" that look like they would make  
> good etching tanks, for those on a budget.  They are relatively low cost.
>

they were all too thick for me. my tank is 2cm.
not only do you need less etchant for the same size but you also have  
better visibility.

Good idea though (but not new, there are even kits sold with these  
containers).

thanks

ST

> I didn't see any symbols on them, denoting the type
> of plastic they were made from. But the containers
> are made of a gray-ish, semi-transparent plastic,
> which is about 2 mm thick, at the top at least. And
> the plastic lids, which seem to be air-tight, are
> white.
> 

I've been using those exact containers now for 5-6
weeks.  I have had no problems with the plastic and
chemicals, I think its polypropylene or polyethylene.
They are however brittle. I have a high school
assistant, and he has broken 4 of them.

The other issue, is that the tops are not are tight,
so one should use para-film or something similiar. My
assistant also built up wooden holder, to prevent them
from tipping. I am going to add temperature control in
the future, as well as changing the holder to Corian
or someother plastic material. For now, I put the
containers in a 5 gallon bucket of hot water to get
them up to temp. It works pretty well.

Ron


		
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