PCB Etching

[DeanM]

Hmmm didnt see a forum for this in the "How to" section. maybe i missed it? appologies if i did.

Well there are tonnes of DIY pcb etching guides online. most using ferric chloride etc etc.

I came accross this before and thought it would be good to share. (maybe its been posted before?)

http://www.instructables.com/id/Stop-us ... etter-etc/

i think its much cooler than producing all that hazardous waste etc etc and people should consider using it instead of Ferric Chloride!

Anyone using this method?

Cheers.
DeanM

[Grendahl]

Hmmm didnt see a forum for this in the "How to" section. maybe i missed it? appologies if i did.

Well there are tonnes of DIY pcb etching guides online. most using ferric chloride etc etc.

I came accross this before and thought it would be good to share. (maybe its been posted before?)

http://www.instructables.com/id/Stop-us ... etter-etc/

i think its much cooler than producing all that hazardous waste etc etc and people should consider using it instead of Ferric Chloride!

Anyone using this method?

Cheers.
DeanM

I'm sure the link has floated by me on these forums before, but don't remember where it is. This is the method that several of us already use. Just be careful that if you do use it that you do so in a very well ventilated area. (The solution throws off toxic chlorine gas.)

[DeanM]

Cool thanks for the response Grendahl. well if it has been posted before then atleast now it might be read by newer members who wouldnt have seen it!

yeah would prob use it in the kitchen with both windows open!

[JOHNO]

i find this very interesting indeed. I notice the guy in the instructables doesnt mind just flushing water down the drain and recommends everyone else to do it also. Obviously he dont give a shit about water. I use ferric my self and I dump it right in the back yard next to my "plants" if you know what i mean.
They dont seem to mind it at all. Ya know copper comes from the ground so why not put it back? Its not like I'm bumping tonnes of the shit like some of these huge companys dump shit in our rivers and the ocean, like whats going on off the coast of florida as we speak. There are copper pipes in the ground all over the world and they are leaching out into the soil so whats the differance? Shit our water comes through copper pipes. Anyway thats my 20 cent worth I'm sure i'll cop some flack for it but thats ok.i've got thick skin.
Johno

[DeanM]

well he doesnt flush it down the sink. he just says keep some runnin while you have the solution near the sink in case it spills. not to run it constantly or anythin. just enought to dilute any that may drip or spill while your near the sink. you can turn it off when your not near it!

copper may come from the earth but its not copper your putting back!! the hazardous waste you produce when you etch doesnt come from the ground!! The cupric chloride used in that tutorial is also hazardous waste...but its reusable!so eliminates dumping it! so does that not make sense? and thats true your not dumping masses of it. so if everyone thought that it was ok to just dump a lil once in a while then how much is being dumped between the whole forum? or other forums? or DIYers around the world? just cos someone else is doin it doesnt make it pointless! your just makin excuses for takin the lazy way out! I dont mean that to be offensive, i just dont see the point when you can buy that stuff and use it over and over again where as the other stuff you cant! you could avoid producing hazardous waste and save money in the process!

Anyway thats my 20c! just sharin opinions!

[Grendahl]

well he doesnt flush it down the sink. he just says keep some runnin while you have the solution near the sink in case it spills. not to run it constantly or anythin. just enought to dilute any that may drip or spill while your near the sink. you can turn it off when your not near it!

copper may come from the earth but its not copper your putting back!! the hazardous waste you produce when you etch doesnt come from the ground!! The cupric chloride used in that tutorial is also hazardous waste...but its reusable!so eliminates dumping it! so does that not make sense? and thats true your not dumping masses of it. so if everyone thought that it was ok to just dump a lil once in a while then how much is being dumped between the whole forum? or other forums? or DIYers around the world? just cos someone else is doin it doesnt make it pointless! your just makin excuses for takin the lazy way out! I dont mean that to be offensive, i just dont see the point when you can buy that stuff and use it over and over again where as the other stuff you cant! you could avoid producing hazardous waste and save money in the process!

Anyway thats my 20c! just sharin opinions!

[DeanM]

So heres an update! i wanted to start using this method to etch so i'v been tryin to gather the ingrediants. Couldn't get muriatic acid! but i talked to a place near me that said they would try source soome for me. in the end they couldnt either but they could get HCl off a local company. pure HCl!! so i will have to dilute it down.

I also stopped at a pharmacy the other day and asked for hydrogen peroxide. they had it but only had small bottles (120ml) so i bought two. assumed it would be the usual stuff! but i read the label and it says

Hydrogen Peroxide (20vol) 6% B.P

Does that mean its 6% rather than the usual 3%? the ratio for the above starter etchant was 2:1 H2O2 to HCl so if thats 6% how would that effect the ratio? would the 2:1 ratio work fine aswel? would it make that much difference? maybe if i compensate by diluting to 35% HCl rather than 32%?

Cheers