My First Etch!

[toneman]

Good job there  pappasmurfsharem 

now you just have to put the parts on 

build it, and you will play 

[pappasmurfsharem]

Good job there  pappasmurfsharem 

now you just have to put the parts on 

build it, and you will play 

Thanks!

Did.

Do.

[Mustachio]

Nice Project Tube!

Thats a bummer it didn't work out but I think using a pen with the sponge method may be the problem. I think your agitating the ink from the pen to much with the sponge. I just wouldn't really use the sponge try it again and just every once in a while swirl the etchant around I usually tilt the container just a lil to make it move around. You can try to sponge lightly every say minute or 2 just a lil to help clear out some of the copper that's breaking down. Just be gentle and take your time when using a pen for hand drawn traces. Lately I've been doing the toner transfer and what ever doesn't stick perfect ill touch up with a sharpie that's labeled industrial (its cheap and works well).

Good luck!

[tubegeek]

@papasmurfsharem: I don't mean to threadjack you: if you want I can start a new thread. But I thought that since I was also doing my first etches right now I'd add to your incredibly apropos thread instead - let me know if you want me to split it off?

@Mustachio: thanks! Note that the link is not mine, I'm just piggybacking onto that mic maniac's excellent work.

So: good news to report.

My Second Etch.

It came out MUCH better. Here's how it looks before I remove the resist:



This board was started at the same time as the first one, but I stopped it under cold water when I saw the resist coming off. Then I went back, cleaned it thoroughly, and retraced the resist pattern. I used the same Dykem pen again,  but I had done some searching around the forum before I did. When I saw people saying that they used stuff like nail polish and model car enamel, I understood that I was laying down too thin a layer with my pen. I used it more in "paint" mode than "draw" mode this time, with more of a flooding type of action, and the results were much better - very little resist came away as I was etching, as you can see in the photo, and those areas are where I was being stingier with the resist, writing fine lines to try to add my monicker onto the board.

There are a couple of spots I'll need to scrape away using an Xacto, but all in all this board looks good to go. Cleaning and tedious drilling up next. Thanks again to all who add their knowledge to the forums - I found what i needed here to get started, I'm very happy with these early results.

Question:

Does anyone drill through multiple boards at a time? I realize the tiny drills are fragile enough and wear out so fast that this might not work too well, but damned if I want to drill out every hole one board at a time if I make up a batch of these!

[pappasmurfsharem]

@papasmurfsharem: I don't mean to threadjack you: if you want I can start a new thread. But I thought that since I was also doing my first etches right now I'd add to your incredibly apropos thread instead - let me know if you want me to split it off?

@Mustachio: thanks! Note that the link is not mine, I'm just piggybacking onto that mic maniac's excellent work.

So: good news to report.

My Second Etch.

It came out MUCH better. Here's how it looks before I remove the resist:



This board was started at the same time as the first one, but I stopped it under cold water when I saw the resist coming off. Then I went back, cleaned it thoroughly, and retraced the resist pattern. I used the same Dykem pen again,  but I had done some searching around the forum before I did. When I saw people saying that they used stuff like nail polish and model car enamel, I understood that I was laying down too thin a layer with my pen. I used it more in "paint" mode than "draw" mode this time, with more of a flooding type of action, and the results were much better - very little resist came away as I was etching, as you can see in the photo, and those areas are where I was being stingier with the resist, writing fine lines to try to add my monicker onto the board.

There are a couple of spots I'll need to scrape away using an Xacto, but all in all this board looks good to go. Cleaning and tedious drilling up next. Thanks again to all who add their knowledge to the forums - I found what i needed here to get started, I'm very happy with these early results.

Question:

Does anyone drill through multiple boards at a time? I realize the tiny drills are fragile enough and wear out so fast that this might not work too well, but damned if I want to drill out every hole one board at a time if I make up a batch of these!

Feel free to keep using this thread, doesn't bother me. 

If you're not getting the responses you want you may try another thread.

But I think personally you would get better results with a sharpie. When I was attempting to hand draw the board above apart from my shaky hands the sharpie worked great with the sponge method.

I didnt even use the industrial one which I imagine would be much better. I let it dry for a few minutes to be sure and it worked just fine. I think that circuit drawing pen your using is a joke, seeing that it flakes off so easily.

Also you can clean the sharpie resist off with Rubbing alcohol instead of just using acetone.