Homebrew PCBs

Getting back into this after many years absence, and am looking to etch my first simple PCB - the idea is to create the mask via a laser printer on inkjet photo paper, and then 'ironing' on the mask and etching with ferric chloride. My question is what do people do with the 'used' solution - I used to stick it back in the bottle and replace it when it took too long to etch a board, ie it was 'saturated'?

Is this a good approach or is it better to use (fresh) small amounts each time and dump it, in which case where?

In any event I would end up with a bottle of old etchant to get rid of, is there a safe/green approach?

Any comments/observations are welcome

Thanks

Chris

Look up Edinburgh Etch, by adding citric acid to the ferric you can make it last a long long time.

Malcolm

I don't suffer from insanity I enjoy it!

--- On Mon, 9/20/10, csit044 <parsons.cj@...> wrote:

From: csit044 <parsons.cj@...>
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Etching with Ferric Chloride
To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, September 20, 2010, 1:27 PM







 



  


    
      
      
      Getting back into this after many years absence, and am looking to etch my first simple PCB - the idea is to create the mask via a laser printer on inkjet photo paper, and then 'ironing' on the mask and etching with ferric chloride. My question is what do people do with the 'used' solution - I used to stick it back in the bottle and replace it when it took too long to etch a board, ie it was 'saturated'?



Is this a good approach or is it better to use (fresh) small amounts each time and dump it, in which case where?



In any event I would end up with a bottle of old etchant to get rid of, is there a safe/green approach?



Any comments/observations are welcome



Thanks



Chris





    
     

    
    


 



  






      

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

On 20/09/2010 13:27, csit044 wrote:
> Getting back into this after many years absence, and am looking to etch my first simple PCB - the idea is to create the mask via a laser printer on inkjet photo paper, and then 'ironing' on the mask and etching with ferric chloride. My question is what do people do with the 'used' solution - I used to stick it back in the bottle and replace it when it took too long to etch a board, ie it was 'saturated'?
>
> Is this a good approach or is it better to use (fresh) small amounts each time and dump it, in which case where?
>
> In any event I would end up with a bottle of old etchant to get rid of, is there a safe/green approach?

I make up a litre of the FeCl3 solution. I use a small quantity each 
time, with constant agitation in a small container with an outer 
container of very hot (just boiled) water. I just pour it back into the 
bottle when I've finished. It does lots of boards.

Leon
-- 
Leon Heller
G1HSM