Etching and setup thoughts

[toneman]

Use a LOT of lacquer thinner   
Use a clean portion of an old Tshirt with each wipe.
Work in well ventilated area....     
Works fine 4 me.

[zjokka]

has anyone found a way to remove the mask without using acetone?
i've found with acetone that the board gets stained black around the sides of the traces.

I've always cleaned off bad transfers with acetone/steelwool. Is that toner thinned by acetone sticking to the rough sides of the board? You should be able to clean the plastic board as well as the traces.

Was thinking of going chemical myself, because steel wool really works well, but leaves a lot of nasty thin dust and their really is no use for the abrasive effect of steel wool. Cannot hurt either, of course... Will try to clean my next board with acetone alone 

zj

[John Lyons]

I clean and polish the board before I etch with #0000 steel wool. Works well. You don't need to rub very hard, just polish it up bright.
Wipe off well with Acetone, sometimes twice with a new piece of cloth/paper towel.
After the board is etched I just use a paper towel and acetone. Once the board is wet with acetone you just scrub it a bit and it comes off. The Acetone disolves the toner so you get it wet and wait a few seconds for it to soften up.

Sometimes you will get toner on the edge of the board and it will turn black but you can sand, file that off if it really matters. Usually I just try not to rub the board edge with the cloth/towel.

John

[Cardboard Tube Samurai]

Any PCB that you can't find available-
I would be happy to make for you. It's a very relaxing thing for me to make them.
PM me or e-mail me and we'll chat about pricing etc..
Sean Harris

If I was to give you a schematic, would you be able to make a printable "ready for transfer"-type PCB diagram? I can't seem to find appropriate software to convert schems into PCBs. I have a pedal I want to make but it's in perf-board layout (I have the schem too)

[markm]

If I was to give you a schematic, would you be able to make a printable "ready for transfer"-type PCB diagram? I can't seem to find appropriate software to convert schems into PCBs. I have a pedal I want to make but it's in perf-board layout (I have the schem too)

What circuit is it?

[Cardboard Tube Samurai]

It's the Zack Wylde Fuzz... A friend of a friend has asked me to make it for him

[scaesic]

if you wanted to go from schem->pcb layout, you'd need to use eagle or similar, which means re-drawing the schem or finding an eagle schem somewhere.