Homebrew PCBs

You could try machinist's layout fluid.  It's commonly available, easily 
removed with acetone, denatured alcohol or layout fluid remover.  It 
seems to stand up to temperature.  I have it in a spray can, but I 
believe you can get brush-on as well.

Kerry


jimofc300 wrote:
> Hi,
>
> An couple of upcoming projects of mine will require traces between pads of 100mil through-hole headers and, probably, some TH ICs. The projects wouldn't be practical if I didn't run between the pads. Now, maybe some of you youngsters with sharp eyes and steady hands wouldn't blink twice at hand-soldering this, but I foresee problems. With my elderly eyes and shaky hands, I sometimes have trouble not solder-bridging 100mil pads alone, much less with a trace between them.
>
> So, I'm searching for some sort of goo that I can paint over those traces with a small paintbrush to prevent soldering to them. It needs to be removable with acetone or IPA or the like in case I make a painting mistake. I suppose this could be called a solder mask of sorts; would some chemical used in solder masking work here? If, so what is it and who sells it?
>
> (This, BTW, is why I'm not considering getting into SMD unless someone comes up with an easy way to apply a solder mask. I, for one, am not capable of hand-soldering those tiny, tiny parts.)
>
> Other suggestions are welcome, too.
>
> Jim
>