Etching PCB:s with your microwave oven

[solderman]

Hi All
I have Just found a way to etch PCB:s with the microwave oven. Well not etch them but make life, or at least the etching part of it, much easier.

The one thing I hate most with etching my PCB:s besides the horrid drilling, is to stir the etching fluid around the PCB. Yes I know I can bye a tank with a heater an air pump. And yes I know I don't need to by the special stuff, used aquarium stuff works as well. But I don't wane hunt all that stuff down. Usually I will use my micro wave oven to heat the fluid. I usually take the PCB out of the plastic bowl I use when I need to reheat the stuff. But I got lazy and tried without removing the PCB. Normally you would expect a minor thunderstorm inside the micro when you have conducting stuff inside. But submerged in to the etching fluid noting happened. That's when I got the idea to try to use the microwave oven for the process. Mine is one of those with a plate that rotates in the bottom. What I did was to put together a wooden suspension bracket and added a clothespin and suppsed the spring for a rubber band. I attached the PCB to the clothespin and submerged the PCB in to the fluid in the bawl. The bawl rotates and the PCB stands still and stirs the fluid. This way I can etch 3 PCB:s at the time keeping the fluid warm with the defrost program on the micro and let it go for 12 minutes and READY. And I do not have to lift a finger to get the job done.

I don't know if my micro is odd. It's a Electrolux with a grill heater in the roof and it's 850 Watt

anyone else who has tried this method???
 
//Solderman

[Ripthorn]

Never tried it, but sounds nice.  I just might have to next time I etch anything.  I wonder how mad the wife will get...

[Ice-9]

Never tried it, but sounds nice.  I just might have to next time I etch anything.  I wonder how mad the wife will get...

If there enough space in there your wife might want to microwave you dinner at the same time.

[head_spaz]

I can't even begin to imagine what the corrosive fumes are doing to the microwave ducting, the fans, and that kind of stuff!
You are either a very brave man, or a potential darwin award nominee!

[sfx]

Uhh yeah.. I hope you aren't using that microwave in the kitchen anymore.

[guilds100]

I can't even begin to imagine what the corrosive fumes are doing to the microwave ducting, the fans, and that kind of stuff!
You are either a very brave man, or a potential darwin award nominee!

+1  Don't ever, ever, ever, ever use a microwave to heat corrosive chemicals, or any chemicals or componds that you dont intend to eat! But not in that microwave you just used, make it inoperable and dispose of it immediately!

[WLS]

I'll stick with the old fashion way of using a thermostatically controlled fish tank heater and an aquarium air pump.

Bill

[cloudscapes]

If you've already "tried" it, you should throw that microwave out immidiatelly. It's now useless/harmful for food and with chemicals it isn't a good idea anyway.

I usually dip my bottle of ferric int othe sink full of warm/almost-hot water for a while to warm it up.

[orangetones]

I usually just use old plastic salad greens containers, I fill one with hot water from the tap, and the other with my ferric.  Put one inside the other and I stand there and agitate the container for about 15 minutes or so.  I change the water sometimes if I want to speed things up.  However, I don't find that you eally need to get the ferric that hot.  MaybeI just have patience, but it seems like people are always talking about speeding up what is a fairly quick process.

[sean k]

Go to the hydrochloric/peroxide mix that eventually becomes cupric acid.

Doesn't need heating, hardly needs moving and doesn't need any more supplies bought except for the odd bit of copper wire and a little oxygen. Even works quickly!

[solderman]

I can't even begin to imagine what the corrosive fumes are doing to the microwave ducting, the fans, and that kind of stuff!
You are either a very brave man, or a potential darwin award nominee!

Hi
I'm overwhelmed with all your concern about my and my familie health, Thanks. Sorry for not describing the surrounding details.

1. This is a 10 yer old micro that is a still working left over after we reconstructed or kitchen and do not process food any more. I primarily use it for all kind of drying and heating. Among this wood that is a tiny bit to dry to be a good material for some wood work (low heat long time) i have found that a micro is very useful besides to heat food with.
2. Its in a well ventilated workshop part of the House wher I also spray paint my boxes, witch include many times mor toxic fumes than this although not acide.
3. I've have used it to heat etching fluid for 1,5 years, that means  about 100 PCB without electrical or health problem. (with the exception that I turn green an bust all my clothes when I get angry)
4. I use Natrriumperoxidisulphate as for an etching compound, witch is not as harmful to handle as ferric.

But I do agree with you all that this is nothing you should do in your kitchen and mix with food. I see this micro more as a tool than a food processor. Its the same as I'v read about people here using  sandwitch ovens as tools to harden paint faster.

//Solderman