Homebrew PCBs

I was etching a PCB a few minutes ago. I thought I'd beef up the 
FeCl3 with a little HCl so I went in the other room, got the bottle 
and opened it. On my back to the kitchen sink where I was doing the 
etching I tripped, splashed a little of the HCl into my face (luckily 
the cap was still partly on) and dropped the bottle. A little of the 
acid went into my left eye so I put my head under the tap and flushed 
the eye out thoroughly. Of course, I shouldn't have removed the cap 
until I was at the sink. I suppose I ought to get the eye checked, 
but I can see perfectly out of it, although it's a little sore, so I 
won't bother. The effect was like peeling onions, but a *lot* worse. 
Onions generate H2SO4 when the juice gets into the eyes, same sort of 
effect.

It's 30% HCl, BTW, quite concentrated.

Leon

On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 12:34:14 -0000, leon_heller <leon_heller@...> 
wrote:

> I was etching a PCB a few minutes ago. I thought I'd beef up the
> FeCl3 with a little HCl so I went in the other room, got the bottle
> and opened it. On my back to the kitchen sink where I was doing the
> etching I tripped, splashed a little of the HCl into my face (luckily
> the cap was still partly on) and dropped the bottle. A little of the
> acid went into my left eye so I put my head under the tap and flushed
> the eye out thoroughly. Of course, I shouldn't have removed the cap
> until I was at the sink. I suppose I ought to get the eye checked,
> but I can see perfectly out of it, although it's a little sore, so I
> won't bother. The effect was like peeling onions, but a *lot* worse.
> Onions generate H2SO4 when the juice gets into the eyes, same sort of
> effect.
>
> It's 30% HCl, BTW, quite concentrated.
>
> Leon
>


I will not ask where you goggles were.
I just assume they were absent just as your brain was.

Take care man!

ST

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "leon_heller" 
<leon_heller@h...> wrote:
> I was etching a PCB a few minutes ago. I thought I'd beef up the 
> FeCl3 with a little HCl so I went in the other room, got the bottle 
> and opened it. On my back to the kitchen sink where I was doing the 
> etching I tripped, splashed a little of the HCl into my face 
(luckily 
> the cap was still partly on) and dropped the bottle. A little of 
the 
> acid went into my left eye so I put my head under the tap and 
flushed 
> the eye out thoroughly. Of course, I shouldn't have removed the cap 
> until I was at the sink. I suppose I ought to get the eye checked, 
> but I can see perfectly out of it, although it's a little sore, so 
I 
> won't bother. The effect was like peeling onions, but a *lot* 
worse. 
> Onions generate H2SO4 when the juice gets into the eyes, same sort 
of 
> effect.
> 
> It's 30% HCl, BTW, quite concentrated.
> 
> Leon


I am VERY happy you lived to tell your tale.

I think I would have hit the shower and rinsed for another 20 
minutes.  OF course I don't have much hair left (age, not mistakes) 
and would worry about more of that falling out as well.

My story is of poor housekeeping.  I bought a gallon of HcL called 
Muriatic Acid and made some etchant.  did the work and then put the 
bottle on the floor.  A few days later I came back and found that a 
board scrap was sitting nect to the bottle had a thick green haze on 
it.

A few drops of acid ran down the case and behind the label.  as it 
evaporated, it 'etched' everything around it.

Dave

Leon

I truly hope all will be well with your eye! I'm thankfull you took
the time to post this here so as it serves as a warning to others!

I ALWAYS wear eye gloves when working with any dangerous chemicals. I
first also thought to get away without doint it, but then once also
spoiled a bit. Even though nothing came into the eyes, I just realized
what COULD have happened and this then made me think twice. Wearing
protective eye gloves IS a pain but loosing the eye light is no
alternative.

Markus

>I was etching a PCB a few minutes ago. I thought I'd beef up the 
>FeCl3 with a little HCl so I went in the other room, got the bottle 
>and opened it. On my back to the kitchen sink where I was doing the 
>etching I tripped, splashed a little of the HCl into my face (luckily 
>the cap was still partly on) and dropped the bottle. A little of the 
>acid went into my left eye so I put my head under the tap and flushed 
>the eye out thoroughly. Of course, I shouldn't have removed the cap 
>until I was at the sink. I suppose I ought to get the eye checked, 
>but I can see perfectly out of it, although it's a little sore, so I 
>won't bother. The effect was like peeling onions, but a *lot* worse. 
>Onions generate H2SO4 when the juice gets into the eyes, same sort of 
>effect.
>
>It's 30% HCl, BTW, quite concentrated.
>
>Leon
>
>
>
>
>Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Bookmarks and files:
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs 
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

----- Original Message ----- 

From: "Markus Zingg" <m.zingg@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 5:33 PM
Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] HCl - a cautionary tale!


> Leon
>
> I truly hope all will be well with your eye! I'm thankfull you took
> the time to post this here so as it serves as a warning to others!

Thanks, Markus.

It seems OK and isn't even sore any more, just watering slightly. The PCB
looks very nice: it's my version of the MRX-40, a simple direct-conversion
amateur radio receiver for CW on 7.030 MHz or thereabouts.

Leon

Leon Heller wrote:
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Markus Zingg" <m.zingg@...>
> To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 5:33 PM
> Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] HCl - a cautionary tale!
> 
> 
> 
>>Leon
>>
>>I truly hope all will be well with your eye! I'm thankfull you took
>>the time to post this here so as it serves as a warning to others!

There must of been only trace amounts of acid that got into your eye. The 
stuff would sting like buggery if a bit directly got into your eye. Think 
rubbing fresh chilly in you eye. Its unfortunate that us humans still 
prefer to learn from experiences rather than intuition. I remember getting 
a cut in my lower eye lid from a flying piece of steel when I was using the 
bench grinder. If it landed 4 mm closer I would of lost some eye sight for 
sure. Since then I wear goggles religiously at the grinding wheel, no 
matter HOW SMALL A JOB it is. Thanks for sharing your experience, it keeps 
us reminded to make an effort of being prepared for the worst.

Adam

I want to mention that cleaners and degreasers ( solvents in 
general ) can also be very dangerous, and that eye protection should 
be worn AT ALL TIMES ...no matter how much of a pain it is to put 
goggles on for a " quick task " ... it can save you a LOT of pain a 
grief later.

When cleaning one small touched-up solder connection with a solvent 
known as MEK , a TINY drop of the stuff splashed up from the end of 
the acid brush and went into my eye. I ran to the water fountain and 
washed my eye out with the cold water from the spigot. I stood there 
for almost a half hour running that cold water into my eye. 
Hell ...my NOSE FROZE from the water . But the eye would not stop 
hurting.
 A trip to the hospital emergency room revealed that the solvent had 
WELDED the eyelid to the surface of the eyeball !!!
Luckily NOT over the cornea or lens ! ...but many weeks of painfull 
recovery followed with eyedrops and salves . 

It was a horrible experiance, and even now ...20 years later , I can 
still feel the "rough spot" on the surface of my eye when I blink.

Today I make sure I use a FULL FACE SHIELD to protect not only my 
eyes ...but the REST of my "Handsome Visage" !!

Wear protection while clipping component leads too !! 

TPR

Stefan,

I am terribly sorry to read about your unfortunate mishap. I am 
equally shocked as if it happened to me. When I deal with HCl and 
HzO2, I treat them as venomous anacondas, really, that they can bite 
me any time. Tahnks for posting the message so we can be doule 
careful. Mike




--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Stefan Trethan 
<stefan_trethan@g...> wrote:
> On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 12:34:14 -0000, leon_heller <leon_heller@h...> 
> wrote:
> 
> > I was etching a PCB a few minutes ago. I thought I'd beef up the
> > FeCl3 with a little HCl so I went in the other room, got the 
bottle
> > and opened it. On my back to the kitchen sink where I was doing 
the
> > etching I tripped, splashed a little of the HCl into my face 
(luckily
> > the cap was still partly on) and dropped the bottle. A little of 
the
> > acid went into my left eye so I put my head under the tap and 
flushed
> > the eye out thoroughly. Of course, I shouldn't have removed the 
cap
> > until I was at the sink. I suppose I ought to get the eye checked,
> > but I can see perfectly out of it, although it's a little sore, 
so I
> > won't bother. The effect was like peeling onions, but a *lot* 
worse.
> > Onions generate H2SO4 when the juice gets into the eyes, same 
sort of

> > effect.
> >
> > It's 30% HCl, BTW, quite concentrated.
> >
> > Leon
> >
> 
> 
> I will not ask where you goggles were.
> I just assume they were absent just as your brain was.
> 
> Take care man!
> 
> ST

This is another great story that had to be told. Thanks!  Mike


--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "thepackrat741" 
<thepackrat741@y...> wrote:
> I want to mention that cleaners and degreasers ( solvents in 
> general ) can also be very dangerous, and that eye protection 
should 
> be worn AT ALL TIMES ...no matter how much of a pain it is to put 
> goggles on for a " quick task " ... it can save you a LOT of pain a 
> grief later.
> 
> When cleaning one small touched-up solder connection with a solvent 
> known as MEK , a TINY drop of the stuff splashed up from the end of 
> the acid brush and went into my eye. I ran to the water fountain 
and 
> washed my eye out with the cold water from the spigot. I stood 
there 
> for almost a half hour running that cold water into my eye. 
> Hell ...my NOSE FROZE from the water . But the eye would not stop 
> hurting.
>  A trip to the hospital emergency room revealed that the solvent 
had 
> WELDED the eyelid to the surface of the eyeball !!!
> Luckily NOT over the cornea or lens ! ...but many weeks of painfull 
> recovery followed with eyedrops and salves . 
> 
> It was a horrible experiance, and even now ...20 years later , I 
can 

> still feel the "rough spot" on the surface of my eye when I blink.
> 
> Today I make sure I use a FULL FACE SHIELD to protect not only my 
> eyes ...but the REST of my "Handsome Visage" !!
> 
> Wear protection while clipping component leads too !! 
> 
> TPR

On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 21:02:03 -0000, mikezcnc <eemikez@...> wrote:

> Stefan,
>
> I am terribly sorry to read about your unfortunate mishap. I am
> equally shocked as if it happened to me. When I deal with HCl and
> HzO2, I treat them as venomous anacondas, really, that they can bite
> me any time. Tahnks for posting the message so we can be doule
> careful. Mike
>

Leon did the thing with the HCL, not me.. (luckily ;-) )

We all have learnt from his mishap i think.
I'm thinking maybe a face shield would be easier to use than goggles,
i think the viewing area must be much better, and it seems it would
protect a lot better.
Never seen a faceshield sold anywhere here though.


ST

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Stefan Trethan 
<stefan_trethan@g...> wrote:
> On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 21:02:03 -0000, mikezcnc <eemikez@c...> wrote:
> 
> > Stefan,
> >
> > I am terribly sorry to read about your unfortunate mishap. I am
> > equally shocked as if it happened to me. When I deal with HCl and
> > HzO2, I treat them as venomous anacondas, really, that they can 
bite
> > me any time. Tahnks for posting the message so we can be doule
> > careful. Mike
> >
> 
> Leon did the thing with the HCL, not me.. (luckily ;-) )
> 
> We all have learnt from his mishap i think.
> I'm thinking maybe a face shield would be easier to use than 
goggles,
> i think the viewing area must be much better, and it seems it would
> protect a lot better.
> Never seen a faceshield sold anywhere here though.
> 
> 
> ST


There are ways to make one.  A motor cycle helmet is big and clumsy, 
but the plastic face shield can be purchased and added to those 
magnyfing glass/head visors we like to use.

I have a bunch of safety glasses mostly because I do some grinding 
and metal work.

I had a piece of stainless pulled from the center of my eye when I 
was young.  it took 3 visits to the doctors to find it.  the third 
visit, he turned off the lights and shined a light sideways to see it.

it was dead center and had looked like a reflection on any straight 
in looking.

And, My first job out of high school was for a man who had lost one 
eye when his grinder wheel exploded.

My neighbors think I'm overdoing it when I wear safety glasses when 
using engine cleaner.  But I can look them in the eyes and laugh !

"Learn the mistakes of others, you'll never live long enough to make 
them all yourself"  unknown

The key word there is LEARN !

Dave

> There are ways to make one.  A motor cycle helmet is big and clumsy,
> but the plastic face shield can be purchased and added to those
> magnyfing glass/head visors we like to use.
>
> I have a bunch of safety glasses mostly because I do some grinding
> and metal work.
>
> I had a piece of stainless pulled from the center of my eye when I
> was young.  it took 3 visits to the doctors to find it.  the third
> visit, he turned off the lights and shined a light sideways to see it.
>
> it was dead center and had looked like a reflection on any straight
> in looking.
>
> And, My first job out of high school was for a man who had lost one
> eye when his grinder wheel exploded.
>
> My neighbors think I'm overdoing it when I wear safety glasses when
> using engine cleaner.  But I can look them in the eyes and laugh !
>
> "Learn the mistakes of others, you'll never live long enough to make
> them all yourself"  unknown
>
> The key word there is LEARN !
>
> Dave
>

I have googled and found a few, not even expensive, 10-20eur or so.
Now i use closed goggles, but they are no 100% protection.
I found this out using the proxxon grinder (these tiny grinding wheels
don't look like much, but they have a speed which throws the dust like
a shotgun. i would't like to know what happens if the wheel breaks
and pieces hit your eye.
But back to the goggles, they never fit the form of your head perfectly, 
and
you should look in a mirror where they are open and try to adjust.
I found out when dust kept hitting my eyes with the goggles on (in came in
on the bottom).
(Note that i have optical glasses too, but they provide no protection at 
all.)

I'll see if i can get one of those face-shields, i don't think putting it 
on
takes any longer than putting on the goggles properly.

ST

> I have googled and found a few, not even expensive, 10-20eur or so.
> Now i use closed goggles, but they are no 100% protection.
> I found this out using the proxxon grinder (these tiny grinding 
wheels
> don't look like much, but they have a speed which throws the dust 
like
> a shotgun. 


I use a shop vac on the grinder to pull as much dust out of the air I 
breath and more importantly so it does not settle on my machine tools.

Dave

On Fri, 25 Jun 2004 13:51:31 -0000, Dave Mucha <dave_mucha@...> 
wrote:

>
>> I have googled and found a few, not even expensive, 10-20eur or so.
>> Now i use closed goggles, but they are no 100% protection.
>> I found this out using the proxxon grinder (these tiny grinding
> wheels
>> don't look like much, but they have a speed which throws the dust
> like
>> a shotgun.
>
>
> I use a shop vac on the grinder to pull as much dust out of the air I
> breath and more importantly so it does not settle on my machine tools.
>
> Dave
>
>

i'm talking 'bout the small dremel like tool.
(I just don't want to advertise the bad quality dremel any more).

ST

Face Shields are readily available in the US, I am sure that one of 
the Tool Supply Houses or maybe even Home Depot or Lowes will ship 
outside the US.  

I know try Industrial Safety Company  www.indlsafety.com

Ben