Homebrew PCBs

I am a complete newbie at this, trying to learn enough to do it right-
ish the first time...

I'll be doing a toner-transfer from a photocopier. Does it need to be 
a laser copier or will a regular copier do?

I don't plan on using ferric chloride. That leaves, as I understand 
it, sodium persulphate and ammonium persulphate. Are both these going 
to work OK with the Sharpie I plan to use for touch-up? I read in the 
archives of muriatic acid being used, which frankly is not somewhere 
I plan to go, but if I ever do, does toner transfer work with it?

The strong peroxide in wood bleaching kits-- I read of someone using 
this in the archives, but don't know if it needs thinning, or whether 
it even works with toner transfer.

Is there anywhere I can buy just an ounce or so of each of the 
persulphates, to try them out, see which one works for me? Hate to 
buy a kilogram of something and find out it is no good for my 
purposes... and since all I have right now to do is one photoetch 
pattern I've made for some brass detailing parts I want to make, I 
don't need a huge amount of anything.

TIA for any helpful advice!