Homebrew PCBs

Oh lordy, I sure didn't want to get into chemistry when I started 
tinkering with electronics, but that is just the way it goes sometimes.
I will be using up my FhCl till it's gone which may be a long time, 
but, trying to figure out which to switch to is confusing me.  I have 
started a comparison list below and am not even sure if what I have so 
far is accurate.  Clarify it if I am wrong, add to it if there are 
attributes I missed.

Chris



FhCl 
 Advantages - 
   Easy to get, Radio Shack

 Dissadvantages -- 
   Can't see what is going on inside the tank
   Stains everything it gets on
   Disposal - flush down the toilet?
   Somewhat slow process (in my few experiences)


AP
 Advantages - 
   Clear in color
   Does not stain

 Dissadvantages -- 
   More difficult to obtain
   Cannot be rejuventated
   Disposal - Not sure what to do with it


CuCl 
 Advantages - 
   Does not need a heater
   is somewhat clear in color?
   Can be rejuvenated

 Dissadvantages -- 
   Difficulty finding the high concentrations chemicals
   A little more complex in use to maintain (but lasts longer)

FhCl?

lcdpublishing <lcdpublishing@...> wrote:Oh lordy, I sure didn't want to get into chemistry when I started 
tinkering with electronics, but that is just the way it goes sometimes.
I will be using up my FhCl till it's gone which may be a long time, 
but, trying to figure out which to switch to is confusing me.  I have 
started a comparison list below and am not even sure if what I have so 
far is accurate.  Clarify it if I am wrong, add to it if there are 
attributes I missed.

Chris



		
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

ferric chloride 

Like I said, I didn't want to get into chemicals ;-)





--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, guja <guja2001bg@y...> wrote:
> FhCl?
> 
> lcdpublishing <lcdpublishing@y...> wrote:Oh lordy, I sure didn't 
want to get into chemistry when I started 
> tinkering with electronics, but that is just the way it goes 
sometimes.
> I will be using up my FhCl till it's gone which may be a long 
time, 
> but, trying to figure out which to switch to is confusing me.  I 
have 
> started a comparison list below and am not even sure if what I 
have so 

> far is accurate.  Clarify it if I am wrong, add to it if there are 
> attributes I missed.
> 
> Chris
> 
> 
> 
> 		
> ---------------------------------
> Yahoo! Mail for Mobile
>  Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Check email on your mobile phone.
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> FhCl 
>  Advantages - 
>    Easy to get, Radio Shack

>  Dissadvantages -- 
>    Can't see what is going on inside the tank
>    Stains everything it gets on
>    Disposal - flush down the toilet?
>    Somewhat slow process (in my few experiences)

I've always used it and never anything else. Mind you, I didn't know about
the alternatives until I started reading this group about a year ago.

Typically takes about 15min in a heated bubble etch tank and, if the
resist is good, longer does no harm. You can get undercutting which could
be a problem with narrow tracks but I take a look after 15m and judge how
much longer it will take (if it needs it) so I've never found opacity a
problem.

There are propriety stain removers available, based on Oxalic acid it
seems, and with care it's not a problem. I usually stand the tank etc on
some old newspapers to catch any accidental drips.

For the small time user I don't think disposal is a problem.

I have:

Poured down an outside (foul sewer) drain and flushed with lots of water.
Poured onto a patch of ground in the garden I subsequently laid a path
over.
Poured into an open dish and allowed to evaporate, collecting the solid
and placing inside a sealed jar. (Original plastic container the stuff
came in) and thrown out with household rubbish.