Homebrew PCBs

Here is someone who used a laminator from Harbor Freight, modified by using a light dimmer to slow down the motor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg0ARoUSHfA

<http://lowpowerlab.com/blog/2013/09/09/laminator-dimmer-hack-for-pcb-or-stencil-toner-transfer/>

This laminator:
<http://www.harborfreight.com/9-inch-hot-laminator-92499.html>

Interesting... he's making SMD solder stencils out of aluminum soda cans.

Steve Greenfield AE7HD

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, <sylentskyes@...> wrote:
>
> Hi, I'm new to the group and joined because I am interested in using the toner transfer method to etch images into copper. I saw that it was a method used to make pcbs and thought I would be able to translate it to what I do (make jewelry). I've purchased a laminator from Harbor Freight to use to melt the toner to the copper I will be etching, but it isn't hot enough on its own.  
> 
> I received this information from another source: "I had to change the thermostat from 125C to 160C, and then I built a circuit to slow it down by turning the motor on for 1/2 second and off for a variable number of seconds. 5 seconds off works perfectly. I used a microcontroller to do the motor control with an opto-isolated SSR to switch the motor. But this could easily be done with an NE555 timer in place of the microontroller."
> 
> 
>  Thing is, I don't know the first thing about actually doing this- can anyone help me do this or know where I would start to look to hire someone to alter the laminator for me?
> 
> Thank you in advance for any help/insight you can provide.
>