Yahoo Groups archive

Homebrew PCBs

Index last updated: 2026-04-28 23:05 UTC

Message

Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Toner refills

2015-04-02 by Malcolm Parker-Lisberg

I use inkjet photo paper and refilled cartridges on an HP1010. The cartridges are icplus from ebay.  After heating the paper to transfer (I use a domestic iron), put the board in the freezer for 20-30 minutes.
No rubbing or wetting the paper to remove it, just peel and all the toner stays on the PCB copper.  The clay on the paper holds the toner to give a superb crisp image.  You do get a white coating on the toner from the clay on the photo paper, but it has no effect when etching.  

Malcolm


I don't suffer from insanity I enjoy it!
Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin
The writing is on the wall.
Ha-ktovet al ha-kir

--------------------------------------------
On Thu, 4/2/15, Robert Nickels w9ran@... [Homebrew_PCBs] <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Toner refills
 To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
 Date: Thursday, April 2, 2015, 3:25 PM
 
 
  
 
 
 
   
 
 
     
       
       
       Like most of us I suspect, I make PC boards using
 the toner transfer 
 
 method.    I have an HP Laserjet 5000 which is an
 office-grade printer 
 
 capable of up to 11" by 17", which is nice, but my
 toner transfers have 
 
 been of marginal quality.   There's no problem in
 getting the transfer 
 
 to work, but the amount of toner that is transferred seems
 inadequate.   
 
 Before etching, the black areas where toner is present
 appears mottled 
 
 and not solid black, with tiny pinholes visible.   Even
 though I use the 
 
 green film, the copper is rough after etching, traces are
 undercut and 
 
 of inconsistent width.   I've already got my printer
 maxxed-out as far 
 
 as settings go.
 
 
 
 I use the Pulsar transfer paper, and they advise that my
 problems are 
 
 due to using refilled toner cartridges which don't
 contain enough or the 
 
 right kind of materials.  Even though the output looks fine
 on paper I 
 
 can accept this, but the refilled cartridges are a small
 fraction of the 
 
 cost of new HP brand toner cartridges (e.g. HP 29X which
 sells for $235).
 
 
 
 My question is:  are there any recommended alternatives
 which would give 
 
 me better results at a cost somewhere between the bargain
 refills and 
 
 the new HP 29X?
 
 
 
 Thanks and 73,
 
 Bob W9RAN
 
 
 
     
      
 
     
     
 
 
 
 #yiv3585390643 #yiv3585390643 --

Attachments

Move to quarantaine

This moves the raw source file on disk only. The archive index is not changed automatically, so you still need to run a manual refresh afterward.