Heres my stoopid question on PCB's

TheAttackman · Post by **TheAttackman** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 7:13 pm

How do you make your own... i read something about acid and printing and other stuff is this the only way... knowing me id probably kill myself...

euan · Post by **euan** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 7:30 pm

Easiest way is press and peel blue and a laser printer.

NickS · Post by **NickS** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:20 am

I did use nitric acid once, with Humbrol enamel as resist. That was in the days when the school labs used to have bottles of nasty stuff (sulphuric, hydrochloric and nitric, Millon's Reagent*, etc.) stuff in the middle of every workbench. It was a bit nailbiting as to whther the paint would last long enough, but it did (just). I wouldn't recommend it.

If you Google for "PCB etching tutorial" you'll get loads of advice. Along with the old Ferric Chloride etch (leaves brown stains on everything) there are newer chemicals around.

Cheaper but trickier than the the press 'n' peel blue is laser printing onto high-quality paper then ironing the toner onto the board. I've not done that yet - so far I've used photoresist with that lovely caustic soda developer that unblocks drains, kills warts and leaves your fingertips without prints.

Justin J · Post by **Justin J** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 3:02 pm

i've used ferric chloride and a sharpie before. it seemed to work ok.

NickS · Post by **NickS** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 3:51 pm

What did I mean "newer chemicals"? Engage brain before typing. Other less staining chemicals are now more widely available, along with laser printers.

I have used an etch resist pen but I wasn't impressed.