Homebrew PCBs

> > > I have very good luck with elctroless tin. The formula I use came from the September 1971 issue of Ham Radio magazine.
> > >
> > > .5g Stannous Chloride
> > > 2.0g Thiourea
> > > 3.0g Sulfamic Acid
> > > 100.0 mL Distilled water
> > >
> > > The solution is ued cold, I never tired heating it. It plates up in a few minutes and does a goog job but can't be use as a resist for further etching. The solution does not keep and I always make up a fresh batch for each board making session. I would usually mix up less than 100 mL depending on the size and number of boards I was doing.
> > >
> > > Craig

Has anyone else tried this?  I ordered the chemicals off eBay and
tried it with sulfamic and sulfuric acid (separate times) and it does
not seem to work.  I was very careful measuring, used distilled water,
and cleaned the copper with sandpaper so it was completely exposed.
The recipe using sulfuric came from here:
http://www.finishing.com/0200-0399/260.shtml

 The only thing I can think of is that the Stannous Chloride I have is
not actually what it seems to be since it's the only thing I haven't
been able to substitute something else for.  I tried a recipe for
electroplating which uses Stannous Chloride and Hydrochloric Acid and
also had no luck-- it turned the copper I was trying to plate black.
Perhaps I have Stannic Chloride?  I have no idea how they differ.

Thanks-
Larry Battraw