Homebrew PCBs

Hi! 
I saw the comment abot the HP Presentaion paper. So I went to staples yesterday and bought a package!
I  took a board design and printed it on this paper and I am very happy with the results! It was easy to iron on in only about three or four minutes,and a soak of ten minutes in water and the paper was fairly easy to remove.I will try the Vinegar on my next ry in a day or two!
I will make a test pattern to see how thin a trace I can make with it.I got a decent line down to 15 mils so far.Using a iron..

Thanks for the info

Mike T




________________________________
From: flightofharmony <flight@...>
To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, April 12, 2009 7:10:10 PM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: Which paper for toner transfer, traces and silk screen





--- In Homebrew_PCBs@ yahoogroups. com, Alessio Sangalli <alesan@...> wrote:
>
> Hi, I moved recently to USA and I am building up my hobby "lab" from
> scratch.
> 
> I already got a laminator (I hate to use the iron, the results are so
> uncertain), the etching tank, H2O2 and muriatic acid, and the like.
> 
> I'm using Tom's page as a reference:
> http://www.fullnet. com/~tomg/ gooteepc. htm
> 
> I've read that a very good paper for toner transfer is the one found at
> staples, SKU 471861 or 471865, called "photo basic" "gloss". I have
> found one with the same name but a different SKU (648181):
> 
> http://www.staples. com/office/ supplies/ StaplesProductDi splay?storeId= 10001&jspStoreDi r=Staples& productId= 274671&cmSearchK eyword=photo+ basic+glossy& fromUrl=home& cmArea=SEARCH& catalogId= 10051&langId= -1
> 
> It should be the same, right?
> 
> 
> Then, Tom says the JetPrint "Multi-Project" paper is perfect for the
> silk screen side. I have not found this paper at Wal*Mart or Staples.
> Any idea which paper is good for this application?
> 
> 
> Thank you
> Alessio
>

The Staples paper is OK, but not great - It takes a LOT of work to get all the paper off. One that works much better is HP Presentation paper Q2546A - http://www.staples. com/office/ supplies/ StaplesProductDi splay?storeId= 10001&jspStoreDi r=Staples& productId= 156882&cmSearchK eyword=q2546a& fromUrl=home& cmArea=SEARCH& catalogId= 10051&langId= -1

This requires less pressure and heat than the Glossy Photo paper - I assume this is because of the lower thermal mass? - and comes off very cleanly.
A neat trick to help remove the paper: instead of soaking in water, soak the PCB+paper in ordinary white vinegar. The longer you leave it, the easier it is to remove, but about 10 minutes in room-temperature vinegar works great. Then a quick wipe with your thumb or a paper towel dipped in the vinegar and all the glue/coating comes right off.

~flight




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