Modified Laser Printer Iron PCB Method

[tranceracer]

Not sure if this has been mentioned but I found this method seems to provides more consistent heat to the whole board and results in a more consistent toner transfer.

-Basically just turn the iron upside down and place the clean prepped Cu PCB on the iron Cu side up.
-Place the image on the board before it gets hot or place the image on the board before it's placed on the iron.

-Use a cotton rag (I used an old t-shirt) and rub-a-dub-dub the image on the PCB.  The board will get very hot and may slide around a little especially if you have a teflon coated iron like I have. 

Use the rag to xport the PC board to a waiting container of water and slowly peel off the paper. 



If anyone else tries this method and has good (or bad) results pls post results.

[MarcoMike]

yes, I did the same at my lab... (were we have only heaters, no clothes irons  )
I was really impressed with the result. I don't know if it was better or worst than usual, but definetly better than expected!

[tranceracer]

MarcoMike, Lke you mentioned, the final result is about the same as the regular method but I found that I get a better transfer on the first or 2nd try w/ minimal number of redos.  Since this method worked, I'm going to look around at my local Goodwill and Salvation Army for a cheap used hot plate to see if this concept can be expanded to doing larger boards. 

I usually use Avery Sticker backing to do my laser transfers but ran out and had to resort back to the magazine transfer.

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

This may be a stroke of genius!
The PCB is going to smooth out the heat distribution, and by rubbing onto the PCB you overcome the problem of edge burrs preventing uniform contact between PCB & transfer.
Only downside, is that I'd probably burn myself..

[tranceracer]

This may be a stroke of genius!

Nah, Just the old saying, "necessity is the mutha of invetion" in play here. 
I inverted the iron because I misplaced the board that I used to iron my PCBs on and was too lazy to go around looking for another one and thought, HEY, WHAT IF....

overcome the problem of edge burrs preventing uniform contact between PCB & transfer.

YUP! I noticed that the edges came out very nice using this method.

Only downside, is that I'd probably burn myself..

... Not if you wear oven mitts!