Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "tboneuk_2000" 
<a_reynolds@b...> wrote:
> Hello all,
>   I would like to make my own uv exposure box, but I am having some 
> trouble locating a suitable tube. Could anyone tell me if 
replacement 
> aquariam uv tubes would work (do they opperate at a different 
> wavlength), also can you use disco uv tubes?
> 
> If anyone knows of a supplier in the uk other than maplin I would 
> appreciate it (RS do sell them but they are very expensive, maplin 
> are out of stock)
> 
> Thanks for your help

Hello All, sorry for not posting sooner but I have been away on 
buisness for a while.
A big thankyou for all your surgestions and comments, this has helped 
a lot.
Although this maybe not the best solution I managed to pick up a 
couple of blacklight tubes for £5 the pair from a local market
stall 
(the guy had a stockpile of them and it wasn't finacialy viable to 
stock the 1FT fittings so he was more than pleased to sell at a 
reduced price). Also at a local car boot sale (same sort of thing as 
a garage sale for our american cousins) I picked up a couple of 1FT 
fittings including Balasts, starter etc fot £2. I have made a base 
out of plywood with all the part on and put the whole lot into an 
aluminium case. I'm using Glass for the top, although perspex may be 
preferable (due to UV absorsion on glass) and a timer based on a pic 
circuit.
The timer isn't finished yet but I hope to complete in the next 
couple of weeks (time permiting).
So all being well I should be exposing my first board this weekend, 
(probebly the pcb for the timer circuit to find exposure times etc)I 
have made many boards with profesional equipment so I look forward to 
finding out if my homemade box works.
If the the Blacklight tubes do not work very well I will replace them 
with the correct ones from Megauk or Rs (thankyou for the info on 
tube availability), they did not cost much so there is no great loss 
if they do require replacement.