Homebrew PCBs

gmanca101 wrote:
> the replenishment of solder. The ability to acquire cheap salts is 
> the daunting task; anyone have any ideas on that? I think that the 
> machine can be homebrewed and be cheaper then TiNNiT and lasts longer 
> as well. 
> 

   Not sure about the more modern stuff, but plenty of older printers etc had a 
solid steel core for the platen.  Strip the rubber off and one may work fine, 
and another with the rubber for the top roller.

   May be quite useable if everything is very cheap.  If not then only those 
with med/high quantity of boards could justify it, it'll represent 10 years 
worth of Tinnit for many if there's much cost to it.

   And if they're not particularly special, the salts can be found after the 
fact for cheap.  Hunt down a bulk supplier and they shouldn't be too big an 
issue, finding them may take some time though.  $2-$3 a pound for bulk and no 
doubt solder will be cheaper, and it doesn't go bad very fast either.

   There are also many methods to deal with solder, like a thin layer of oil on 
top to keep it from oxidizing etc.  With a little experimentation there may be 
ways other than the salts that are more cost/ease effective for home use.

   Also there is always the frying pan dip soldering, it works well enough for 
soldering components and should really do well enough for most people's solder 
plating too for low quantities.  A friend has a commercial machine built around 
the same basic principle, it works very well for both uses.

Alan