Homebrew PCBs

I picked up a fish tank pump and a container that should be good for 
my first etching tank.  When I picked up the fish tank pump, I also 
noticed they had these thing that looked like porous stone that are 
used to spread out the bubbles.  I bought one, but dropped it on the 
floor before I had a chance to see if it worked.

So, I am wondering if there is a good way to get bubbles to spread out 
across the bottom of my container?

The fish tank thing only cost $1.00 or so, so I really don't mind 
buying another one to try, but I figure some of you creative folks 
here might have better method.

Chris

On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 23:27:29 +0200, lcdpublishing  
<lcdpublishing@...> wrote:

> I picked up a fish tank pump and a container that should be good for
> my first etching tank.  When I picked up the fish tank pump, I also
> noticed they had these thing that looked like porous stone that are
> used to spread out the bubbles.  I bought one, but dropped it on the
> floor before I had a chance to see if it worked.
> So, I am wondering if there is a good way to get bubbles to spread out
> across the bottom of my container?
> The fish tank thing only cost $1.00 or so, so I really don't mind
> buying another one to try, but I figure some of you creative folks
> here might have better method.
> Chris


I use a bubbler hose. It is kind of a hose made of foam rubber with holes  
punched in one side. It makes many small bubbles. I tried different things  
before, and always encountered uneven etching. I still see some unevenness  
with this hose, but it is much better already. You might need to get the  
lead(?) wire out of it and instead glue it to a plastic stick which you  
sink.
I want to try a long bubbler stone one day.

for larger tanks think and tinker shows a way to build a bubbler...

ST

You might want to test the chunks for compatability with your 
etchant too, the HCl I'm using to brew CuCl just disintigrated mine! 
 
Stan 
 
--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Stefan Trethan" 
<stefan_trethan@g...> wrote: 
> On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 23:27:29 +0200, lcdpublishing   
> <lcdpublishing@y...> wrote: 
>  
> > I picked up a fish tank pump and a container that should be good 
for 
> > my first etching tank.  When I picked up the fish tank pump, I 
also 
> > noticed they had these thing that looked like porous stone that 
are 
> > used to spread out the bubbles.  I bought one, but dropped it on 
the 
> > floor before I had a chance to see if it worked. 
> > So, I am wondering if there is a good way to get bubbles to 
spread out 
> > across the bottom of my container? 
> > The fish tank thing only cost $1.00 or so, so I really don't 
mind 
> > buying another one to try, but I figure some of you creative 
folks 
> > here might have better method. 
> > Chris 
>  
>  
> I use a bubbler hose. It is kind of a hose made of foam rubber 
with holes   
> punched in one side. It makes many small bubbles. I tried 
different things   
> before, and always encountered uneven etching. I still see some 
unevenness   
> with this hose, but it is much better already. You might need to 
get the   
> lead(?) wire out of it and instead glue it to a plastic stick 
which you   
> sink. 
> I want to try a long bubbler stone one day. 
>  
> for larger tanks think and tinker shows a way to build a 
bubbler... 
>  
> ST

Hi Stan,

Do you remember what color the bubbler stones were and how long it 
took for them to dissolve?

Chris






--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "stan4312" <stanman@t...> 
wrote:
> You might want to test the chunks for compatability with your 
> etchant too, the HCl I'm using to brew CuCl just disintigrated 
mine! 
>  
> Stan 
>  
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Stefan Trethan" 
> <stefan_trethan@g...> wrote: 
> > On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 23:27:29 +0200, lcdpublishing   
> > <lcdpublishing@y...> wrote: 
> >  
> > > I picked up a fish tank pump and a container that should be 
good 
> for 
> > > my first etching tank.  When I picked up the fish tank pump, I 
> also 
> > > noticed they had these thing that looked like porous stone 
that 
> are 
> > > used to spread out the bubbles.  I bought one, but dropped it 
on 

> the 
> > > floor before I had a chance to see if it worked. 
> > > So, I am wondering if there is a good way to get bubbles to 
> spread out 
> > > across the bottom of my container? 
> > > The fish tank thing only cost $1.00 or so, so I really don't 
> mind 
> > > buying another one to try, but I figure some of you creative 
> folks 
> > > here might have better method. 
> > > Chris 
> >  
> >  
> > I use a bubbler hose. It is kind of a hose made of foam rubber 
> with holes   
> > punched in one side. It makes many small bubbles. I tried 
> different things   
> > before, and always encountered uneven etching. I still see some 
> unevenness   
> > with this hose, but it is much better already. You might need to 
> get the   
> > lead(?) wire out of it and instead glue it to a plastic stick 
> which you   
> > sink. 
> > I want to try a long bubbler stone one day. 
> >  
> > for larger tanks think and tinker shows a way to build a 
> bubbler... 
> >  
> > ST

On Tue, 06 Sep 2005 15:35:44 +0200, lcdpublishing  
<lcdpublishing@...> wrote:

> Hi Stan,
> Do you remember what color the bubbler stones were and how long it
> took for them to dissolve?
> Chris


I tried a blue round one that came with my pump, and that one didn't  
dissolve during 2 weeks or so.
As it was too small it is unsuitable, but i wanted to see if it would hold  
up.
It had a ceramic/glued together sand appearance, and if there was a shaft  
instead of the connection for the hose i would have thought it is one of  
these grinding bits.


ST

Sounds like the one I got - I will give it a try.

Thanks!

Chris


--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Stefan Trethan" 
<stefan_trethan@g...> wrote:
> On Tue, 06 Sep 2005 15:35:44 +0200, lcdpublishing  
> <lcdpublishing@y...> wrote:
> 
> > Hi Stan,
> > Do you remember what color the bubbler stones were and how long 
it
> > took for them to dissolve?
> > Chris
> 
> 
> I tried a blue round one that came with my pump, and that one 
didn't  
> dissolve during 2 weeks or so.
> As it was too small it is unsuitable, but i wanted to see if it 
would hold  
> up.
> It had a ceramic/glued together sand appearance, and if there was 
a shaft  
> instead of the connection for the hose i would have thought it is 
one of  

> these grinding bits.
> 
> 
> ST