Homebrew PCBs

On 12/03/2010 02:26, 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.

I'm coming up to 68 and my eyes aren't anything like as good as they 
were, but I don't have any problems with tracks between pads on my 
home-made PCBs. I get the occasional short, but it's easily removed.

Leon
-- 
Leon Heller
G1HSM