Homebrew PCBs

As the subject....how to plate the etched pcb? liquid alloy?

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Giuseppe" <peppe685@...> wrote:
>
> As the subject....how to plate the etched pcb? liquid alloy?
>


I use a product called Tinnit that comes as two powders you mix with water and heat. I've been eying a bottle of liquid tinning solution that doesn't require mixing which I think I'll try once I use this stuff up.

Well, I'm new enough to this etching process, that I wish to ask a question.. First, I'll say I am very happy to see a nicely etched board, having good solid copper carriers..  So now what is the purpose of tinning.?  Can someone give me a quick answer.  Thanks.


Harvey L. McRae, 
838 McKenzie Rd.,
Kelowna, BC. V1X2B3,
www.webs.com/harriscreekcentral

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: James 
  To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 6:59 PM
  Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: how homemade tinning?


    


  --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Giuseppe" <peppe685@...> wrote:
  >
  > As the subject....how to plate the etched pcb? liquid alloy?
  >

  I use a product called Tinnit that comes as two powders you mix with water and heat. I've been eying a bottle of liquid tinning solution that doesn't require mixing which I think I'll try once I use this stuff up.



  


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Prevents oxidation of the copper, and flows solder well.

Kerry


Harvey & Betty McRae wrote:
> Well, I'm new enough to this etching process, that I wish to ask a question.. First, I'll say I am very happy to see a nicely etched board, having good solid copper carriers..  So now what is the purpose of tinning.?  Can someone give me a quick answer.  Thanks.
>
>
> Harvey L. McRae, 
> 838 McKenzie Rd.,
> Kelowna, BC. V1X2B3,
> www.webs.com/harriscreekcentral
>
>   


-- 
Kerry Wentworth
The Skunk Works
85 N Main St
Boscawen, NH 03303
603 753-8933

Giuseppe wrote:
>  
>
> As the subject....how to plate the etched pcb? liquid alloy?
>
I came across this method of electro tin plating recently:

http://translate.google.com/translate?client=tmpg&hl=en&u=http://www.py2bbs.qsl.br/banho_estanho.php&langpair=pt|en 
<http://translate.google.com/translate?client=tmpg&hl=en&u=http://www.py2bbs.qsl.br/banho_estanho.php&langpair=pt%7Cen>

(The site is in Portuguese, but Google does a fair job with the 
translation).  Has anyone tried this?


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

If that is your only goal you could also paint it with a solution of
rosin flux and alcohol.
I bought a large spray can of that stuff and it will do many boards,
but you can also brush paint or dip.

The flux dries to a clear hard coating.

ST

On Sat, May 22, 2010 at 6:47 AM, Kerry Wentworth
<kwentworth@...> wrote:

> Prevents oxidation of the copper, and flows solder well.
>
> Kerry
>

Mega Electronics (UK) sells a tinning compound that is mixed with warm 
water. I bought some, but haven't tried it yet.

I find that the small amount of resist left on the copper when my PCBs 
are cleaned protects them from oxidation.

Leon
-- 
Leon Heller
G1HSM

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Giuseppe" <peppe685@...> wrote:
>
> As the subject....how to plate the etched pcb? liquid alloy?

What you really need is an electroless Tin plating solution.  You
can do a search on "electroless tin" and you should get some hits, 
both of commercially available plating solutions, and instructions
on how you can make your own.  One of the better discussions is
here (Note the post by Ted Mooney):

<http://www.finishing.com/0200-0399/260.shtml>

Back when I was young and immortal [1], I used one of the Cyanide
based Tin plating solutions, and it worked quite well.  However,
now that I'm older and more mortal, I refuse to use Cyanide in a
home lab.

[2] Hey, I said "immortal", not "immoral"!  :*)

Dave

On Sat, 22 May 2010 13:49:21 -0000, you wrote:

>--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Giuseppe" <peppe685@...> wrote:
>>
>> As the subject....how to plate the etched pcb? liquid alloy?
>
>What you really need is an electroless Tin plating solution.  You
>can do a search on "electroless tin" and you should get some hits, 
>both of commercially available plating solutions, and instructions
>on how you can make your own.  One of the better discussions is
>here (Note the post by Ted Mooney):
>
><http://www.finishing.com/0200-0399/260.shtml>
>
>Back when I was young and immortal [1], I used one of the Cyanide
>based Tin plating solutions, and it worked quite well.  However,
>now that I'm older and more mortal, I refuse to use Cyanide in a
>home lab.
>
>[2] Hey, I said "immortal", not "immoral"!  :*)
>
>Dave
>
>
One thing to watch out for with electroess plating is to keep everything
ABSOLUTELY CLEAN. The slightest hint of contamination and you will have
spots 8=(. 

Along the same lines you want the purest water you can get if you are mixing
or diluting your own solutions. Several years ago a gunsmith friend was having 
consistency problems with his nickel plating setup. He finally got a carboy of 
reagent grade water from a laboratory supply house and the problems went away. 
If you think what comes out of your tap is pure water, fill Pyrex container from 
the tap, boil it dry and look at the crud on the sides. In fact that's probably not 
a bad first test for any water you plan to use in your PCB processing.
Keith Bowers WB4LSJ- Thomasville, NC

O.K.  Thanks for the info:

Harvey L. McRae, 
838 McKenzie Rd.,
Kelowna, BC. V1X2B3,
www.webs.com/harriscreekcentral

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Kerry Wentworth 
  To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 9:47 PM
  Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: how homemade tinning?


    
  Prevents oxidation of the copper, and flows solder well.

  Kerry

  Harvey & Betty McRae wrote:
  > Well, I'm new enough to this etching process, that I wish to ask a question.. First, I'll say I am very happy to see a nicely etched board, having good solid copper carriers.. So now what is the purpose of tinning.? Can someone give me a quick answer. Thanks.
  >
  >
  > Harvey L. McRae, 
  > 838 McKenzie Rd.,
  > Kelowna, BC. V1X2B3,
  > www.webs.com/harriscreekcentral
  >
  > 

  -- 
  Kerry Wentworth
  The Skunk Works
  85 N Main St
  Boscawen, NH 03303
  603 753-8933


  


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  Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
  Version: 9.0.819 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2888 - Release Date: 05/21/10 11:26:00


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I use the rosin flux pen. Seems to work pretty good. After a year or so the board will turn a bit brown, but no corrosion, and you can still easily solder on it if you need to.

Where do you get your can of alcohol thinned rosin? Do you have a link?


--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Stefan Trethan <stefan_trethan@...> wrote:

>
> If that is your only goal you could also paint it with a solution of
> rosin flux and alcohol.
> I bought a large spray can of that stuff and it will do many boards,
> but you can also brush paint or dip.
> 
> The flux dries to a clear hard coating.
> 
> ST
> 
> On Sat, May 22, 2010 at 6:47 AM, Kerry Wentworth
> <kwentworth@...> wrote:
> > Prevents oxidation of the copper, and flows solder well.
> >
> > Kerry
> >
>

I use CRC SK10.
<http://kontakt.com.tw/proimages/SK-10/SK-10(001).jpg>

But you can make it up easily from colophony resin and denatured
alcohol. I just use the spray can for convenience.

ST

On Sun, May 23, 2010 at 4:12 PM, rlspell2000 <rls@...> wrote:
> I use the rosin flux pen. Seems to work pretty good. After a year or so the board will turn a bit brown, but no corrosion, and you can still easily solder on it if you need to.
>
> Where do you get your can of alcohol thinned rosin? Do you have a link?
>
>

Eddie,
I'm new to etching too, so I am going to ask a naive question.

The link you provided looks like the tin plating takes place PRIOR to etching.

I thought the tin plating took place AFTER etching.

I believe Steven's solution of using rosin flux and alcohol is meant to be used after the etching process(I think).

I'm a little confused with the timing. When is tinning meant to take place?

Thanks. 

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Eddie Stassen <eddie@...> wrote:

>
> Giuseppe wrote:
> >  
> >
> > As the subject....how to plate the etched pcb? liquid alloy?
> >
> I came across this method of electro tin plating recently:
> 
> http://translate.google.com/translate?client=tmpg&hl=en&u=http://www.py2bbs.qsl.br/banho_estanho.php&langpair=pt|en 
> <http://translate.google.com/translate?client=tmpg&hl=en&u=http://www.py2bbs.qsl.br/banho_estanho.php&langpair=pt%7Cen>
> 
> (The site is in Portuguese, but Google does a fair job with the 
> translation).  Has anyone tried this?
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Frank P wrote:
>  
>
> Eddie,
> I'm new to etching too, so I am going to ask a naive question.
>
> The link you provided looks like the tin plating takes place PRIOR to 
> etching.
>

For this method, since its electroplating, its done prior to etching.  I 
am not sure if all etchants will work on the tin plating though.  The 
author uses cupric chloride, so at least we know that works.

>
> I thought the tin plating took place AFTER etching.
>
The chemical (electroless) methods are used after etching.  This is the 
usual hobby method of tinning, but its way too exepensive for me,

>
> I believe Steven's solution of using rosin flux and alcohol is meant 
> to be used after the etching process(I think).
>

I normally use flux and tinning with a hot soldering iron.  Its ok for 
small boards, but a bit tedious when you start doing bigger pcb's.

>
> I'm a little confused with the timing. When is tinning meant to take 
> place?
>
> Thanks.
>
>
>

many years ago, I did re-flow soldering.  Put the board in peanut oil and heated it.  Added some solder.  Wiped and then re-flowed it.  I haven't tried the method with the lead free temp solder yet.  An oily residue might be objectionable, though.

--- On Sun, 5/23/10, Frank P <qz9090@...> wrote:

From: Frank P <qz9090@...>
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: how homemade tinning?
To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, May 23, 2010, 4:57 PM







 



  


    
      
      
      Eddie,

I'm new to etching too, so I am going to ask a naive question.



The link you provided looks like the tin plating takes place PRIOR to etching.



I thought the tin plating took place AFTER etching.



I believe Steven's solution of using rosin flux and alcohol is meant to be used after the etching process(I think).



I'm a little confused with the timing. When is tinning meant to take place?



Thanks. 



--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Eddie Stassen <eddie@...> wrote:

>

> Giuseppe wrote:

> >  

> >

> > As the subject....how to plate the etched pcb? liquid alloy?

> >

> I came across this method of electro tin plating recently:

> 

> http://translate.google.com/translate?client=tmpg&hl=en&u=http://www.py2bbs.qsl.br/banho_estanho.php&langpair=pt|en 

> <http://translate.google.com/translate?client=tmpg&hl=en&u=http://www.py2bbs.qsl.br/banho_estanho.php&langpair=pt%7Cen>

> 

> (The site is in Portuguese, but Google does a fair job with the 

> translation).  Has anyone tried this?

> 

> 

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

>





    
     

    
    


 



  






      

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