Homebrew PCBs

Dear Gang,

 

I'm having quite a bit of trouble when I solder a component lead (or
jumper wire) to a through-hole pad that is connected to a ground plane.
When I heat the component lead/pad and begin to apply solder, the solder
flows outwards over the plane around the pad but not to the lead and/or
pad itself. The more solder I continue to feed in just continues to
build up outside of the pad.  Every now and then , I'll get a pad that
the solder will stay within, but most wont.  

 

I do NOT have a single problem soldering through hole pads NOT connected
to a plane.   Anyone else have this problem and/or know what the
solution is or what Im doing wrong ?

 

Love this list and thanks in advance. 

 

Best Regards,

Steve Maroney

 

Business Computer Support, LLC

Mobile Phone:504-914-4704

Office Phone: 504-904-0266

Fax: 866-871-7797

 

 

From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Russell Shaw
Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 8:14 PM
To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Precipitate in ferric chloride storage
bottle

 

  

Philip Pemberton wrote:
> Hi guys.
> 
> I just dumped the contents of my 2-litre concertina bottle of FeCl3
into 
> my etching tank, and about half way through I was treated to a loud 
> HISSSSS as this lot got dumped in the funnel:
> 
>
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs/photos/album/338698001/pic/1
053817307/view
> 
> Basically, it's a dark brown precipitate that's formed into round
loops, 
> not unlike dead leaves in autumn. I now have the unenviable job of 
> dismantling the tank and cleaning out the base and the air bubbler.
One 
> of these days I'll rig up a proper circulation pump and filter system 
> (not unlike those on photo-lab machines if you've ever seen inside one

> of those)...
> 
> But anyway, back to the subject of my question. Does anyone know what 
> this stuff is? My FeCl3 is a somewhat greenish brown at this point,
but 
> I've got a 5-litre bottle of "hyper-activated" FeCl3 in the garage. 
> Would there be any benefit to adding a bit more concentrate to the 
> working tank?
> 
> And the final question: how the hell do I get rid of this stuff? Flush

> it down the loo? Double-bag it and chuck it in the bin? Call a local 
> haz-chem company who won't touch it until I've got some arbitrary
number 
> of litres of the stuff and am willing to pay several hundred quid in 
> disposal fees?

See if HCl dissolves it. If so, you can keep using it as etchant.
If you have a bubbler to agitate the tank when etching, things will
get much easier.





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