Homebrew PCBs

Stumbled across this method while reading up on etching.  I'm still waiting
on my ferric chloride, which you cannot buy around here.

 

Anyway, the procedure is 'simply' mix cleaning vinegar (higher acid
concentration than regular vinegar) and peroxide at 1:1 and let her rip,
adding table salt to speed up up or maintain the reaction.

 

Here's a few pics of the process:

 

http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/unclefalter/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016061
8_145928_zpsyjqawclk.jpg.html

 

Further along:

 

http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/unclefalter/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016061
8_165549_zpsrgxs32nq.jpg.html

 

And almost done:

 

http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/unclefalter/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016061
8_170642_zpso2duc8vd.jpg.html

 

In terms of how it worked.. not bad. kind of slow.  On my first PCB, I made
a batch of 'etchant' from peroxide and regular vinegar and dumped it in.  I
thought it had to keep bubbling to work, so I kept adding salt.. but I think
I killed the reaction.  I then went out and bought the more powerful
cleaning vinegar, took the board out (it had been sitting in that first bath
for about 1.5hrs) drained the old solution, then put in a new batch, again
1:1 with the more powerful vinegar.  The board upon removal had little bits
of green PCB showing but there was still tons of copper, in a finish that is
sort of like what rusty pennies get when you put them in cola.  I put the
board back in.. wow. that remaining copper really began to disappear fast.
I also put the whole thing in my laundry tub and put a few inches of hot
water under while gently rocking it back and forth.  That's how it got to
the state shown in the third picture.  

 

I'm not sure why, but there were some stubborn parts where the original
shiny copper was still holding out.  I poured a bit of salt onto those spots
and it seemed to help get things moving.

 

Anyway, off to try to finish it.. if anyone out there has more tips on this
method I'm all ears.  I like that it's a lot less nasty than ferric, etc.