Homebrew PCBs

Trev,

The disposal of the chemistry for a setup the way I use it is much less 
of a problem than it may seems. This is because

a) Most of the chemistry is the SAME I originally sat up 5 years ago. 
It's still ok and as such there was nothing to dispose. I.e. the copper 
bath for the electrolytics is one you probably can't kill ever :-)

b) Other baths just have to be replished with either distilated water or 
some more chemistry.

The palladium bath is definately the most delicate one. I had to replace 
it already about five times (if you want once every year). At the size 
of my containers (2.2 liters for all baths except the copper one which 
is 4.4liters) this does not really give a lot to dispose and the costs 
for getting the expensive chemistry for this bath is also very 
reasonable (~$20).

I just bring the used chemistry to the same place I also bring the used 
etchant. Where I live, such small quantities can be given to any 
drugstore. Here they are obliged to take such chemistry back and then 
it's then collected at the drugstores once every month by a public 
service and brought to a professional place that deals with it 
acordingly. I'm aware that this is something which is probably different 
in every country. The all important thing is that everywhere there is 
chemistry which must be disposed propperly (i.e. painture etc. etc.) and 
if you ask your local gouverment I'm sure you get the right guidance.

I for myself of course use my through plating and well, the complete PCB 
manufacturing I do exclusively for prototypes. I never ever would want 
to make a "series" production this way no matter how small it would be. 
In other words, I use a professional PCB service for everything that 
goes into production. I consider boards I make for personal use of 
course to be prototypes.

As for the web page, I know I'm "behind". I will set up such a page. I 
alredy registered a domain for it and belive it or not, I'm truly 
working on it right now :-). That of course should not hinder you to set 
up whatever page/information you like. I just want to state that I will 
put up the pages as promissed. Workload job wise just slowed things 
down, and since I have quite something in mind about it it will also 
take some more time until it's ready.

HTH

Markus

trevwhite74 schrieb:
>
>
> Hi all.
>
> I am looking at sorting out my own plating process based on the great
> information in this message. I do not think it would have been
> possible without the fantastic work done here.
>
> I was wondering what the latest is with using the system. Has it
> proven reliable? I did get in touch with a company that supply the
> chemicals and one point they brought up was disposal of the chemicals.
> Are there any safe practices for getting rid of the used chemistry?
>
> It would be great to get all the information sorted out for the whole
> process. I would be happy to put the work in to process the pages and
> put them up on a website somewhere if it helps. It seems the original
> place is a bit broken. Maybe a googlepage could be created. Maybe just
> a nice document for this group? Anyway, the information is so great it
> would be a shame to not make it available to others if that is the
> original intention?
>
> Anyway, really interested to here more about this process in action.
>
> Trev
>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com 
> <mailto:Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>, Markus Zingg <homebrew-pcb@...>
> wrote:
> >
> > Suske,
> >
> > I'm glad to hear that my tip getting in touch with a local board shop
> > also payed off for you. I can only encureage others to do the same
> thing.
> >
> > Markus
> >
> > _bojan_ schrieb:
> > >
> > > Hi to all of you,
> > >
> > > This is an eruption of very very useful information and tank you
> all.:)
> > >
> > > Yesterday I visit an board house and man who is boss there,
> promise me hi
> > > will help me to setup my TH plating
> > > station. I will buy chemicals from they but first I must setup station
> > > what will take me some time.
> > >
> > > Daniel, it is an local board house and in fact they do not
> > > sell chemicals, but we have good cooperation in last several years,
> > > therefore they will help me.
> > >
> > > Oh man, I must now find some plastic plates for
> > > tank walls. I am so busy this days. Maybe it will wait some free
> time to
> > > start that project. I'll see.
> > >
> > > Best regards
> > >
> > > Suske
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>