PCB trace

[Le québécois]

Hi,

This is my first PCB drawing attempt and I'm looking for advises. I want to know if there is any problem in respect to noise or frequency loss with big fat traces like these? Mainly for the ground but also to any place where I can put more copper to solder on? 
See the PCB here : http://www.myphotos.yahoo.com/s/20tkmzkk0adaxmwx94gs

Second, although I have search in this forum and elsewhere, I haven't find a place where they explain IF it's possible and how to do home made solder mask?

Thanks
Charles

[MmmPedals]

You will only have problems if your traces are too small. For 9v it would need to be REALLY small to cause problems. That pic looks fine.

[Taylor]

Fat traces are generally good. Until a person gets to the point where they know where all the currents are flowing in a circuit, that's about the best rule I know of.

One thing I'd change is to put thermal relief around your pads to ground. This is because when you solder to the ground pour, all that copper is going to act like a heat sink and make it difficult to heat and flow the joint properly.

As far as soldermask, I haven't ever seen a reasonable way to do it at home. However, I have seen people paint their PCBs to look like solder mask. On one hand, this looks nice, keeps traces from corroding, and sort of acts like real mask would. On the other hand, it makes it a huge pain to solder to, because with each joint you have to heat up and dissolve the paint. You're also breathing fumes, etc. You could paint the PCB with spray paint, then go back and remove paint from each pad with acetone or something, but to me this is so much work that it defeats the purpose of soldermask.

[markeebee]

I had a similar question, replies are here:

http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=88343.msg745439#msg745439

[Le québécois]

Thanks for the fast replies!

fortunately for my soldering skill, fat traces are possible.
I'll keep in mind the thermal relief.

C.

[Mark Hammer]

Tres bien fait!

Bienvenue au forum!  On a plusieurs francophones ici.  Si vous avez des choses a dires et c'est difficile oour vous en anglais n'hesitez pas d'utiliser les "services traductions".