I made my first pcb...

[syndromet]

and I hate the gues that made the etchant-kit I bougt. The marker that came with the set isn't etchant-resistant......

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

IF you bought a PCB kit from Radio Shack, the pen is probably mostly dried out & not putting enough resist on the copper board. A Staedtler Lumocolor pen is much better. Hint: draw slowly, to get maximum ink on. If all else fails, use nail varnish.

[Peter Snowberg]

Congratulations on your first PCB.

I had the same problem with my first boards because the marker just didn't lay down enough ink. The RS kits used to include a special marker that had very thick ink. Later they switched to using a Sharpie marker which doesn't work well at all (at least for me).

I would suggest using photo paper or PnP blue. You'll like the results much more.

[Mark Hammer]

Tips for using waterproof markers:

1) Put that cap back on!  Now!  Hurry!!  They dry out quickly.

2) Store them upside down, with the tips pointing down so they stay wet inside the cap.

3) Keep a little bit of alcohol nearby to dip the tip into.  That can loosen and reflow the ink if the tip gets dry.

4) Use two different coloured pens.  This does two things.  First, you will be able to tell which parts you have put a second layer/coat on because the second coat will be a different colour.  Second, by rotating which pen you use, neither pen will stay uncovered long enough to get dry.

[syndromet]

Thanx a lot for the tips, guys!
I was actualy using photopaper, and it turnes out great on my Orange sqeezer PCB. I made a pcb for the dr. Boogey at the same time, but didn't get all the traces over on the PCB. Thats when I used the marker to touch up the ad points. I did 4 coats with the marker, but the inc dissapeared before the copper. Guess I have to get myself a new pen, or learn how to copy the layouts perfectly.