Etching questions

[rasco22862]

Hi, i´m gonna etch for the first time, and i have a couple of questions_

1)How can i clean the copper? What materials?
2)Can i use the etchant again?
3)What are the diferrents way to transfer the traces to the copper?(Except the sharp way)
4)When the etch is finished, i still have the ink in the board, is this conductive? or i have to clean it?
5)Can I use a copier to toner a paper and then use that paper with an iron, and transfer it?
6)What about a printed fax paper?

Thanks!

[ubersam]

Here are a couple of very cool photoessays depicting the step-by-steps, from printing the PnP, to etching w/ ferric chloride.

http://www.tonepad.com/photoessay.asp?photoEssayID=10&sequenceNo=1
http://www.tonepad.com/photoessay.asp?photoEssayID=11&sequenceNo=1

[rasco22862]

Here are a couple of very cool photoessays depicting the step-by-steps, from printing the PnP, to etching w/ ferric chloride.

http://www.tonepad.com/photoessay.asp?photoEssayID=10&sequenceNo=1
http://www.tonepad.com/photoessay.asp?photoEssayID=11&sequenceNo=1

Yes, thanks, i already read it .i´m trying to find another opinions.

[choklitlove]

Here are a couple of very cool photoessays depicting the step-by-steps, from printing the PnP, to etching w/ ferric chloride.

http://www.tonepad.com/photoessay.asp?photoEssayID=10&sequenceNo=1
http://www.tonepad.com/photoessay.asp?photoEssayID=11&sequenceNo=1

Yes, thanks, i already read it .i´m trying to find another opinions.

but those are the best opinions...  i follow those to a T and have never had any problems.  the only thing i do differently is cleaning the tranfer off of the board.  i think they suggest acetone, or nail polish remover, but steel wool works way faster and better.  seriously, i think the tonepad essays are the way to go if you don't want any troubles.

[markm]

the tonepad essays are the way to go if you don't want any troubles.

Agreed 

[rasco22862]

What about the copier, and the fax printed sheet?

[choklitlove]

What about the copier, and the fax printed sheet?

follow the essays, except use a copier instead of a laser printer.  do a couple test sheets without PNP on them to figure out which direction the paper will be sent, which side will be printed on, which paper tray will be used, etc.  then you've got it!  i don't know about the fax thing.  if you don't have access to a laser printer, then just use a copier at the local library, kinko's, post office, etc.

make sure you cut the piece of PNP a little bigger than you'll need, then tape it on the paper.  copiers change their minds more than printers.

[ubersam]

The tonepad examples were my starting point as well. I have to admit though, it takes a bit of trial and error to get the hang of ironing on the PnP transfer. Too hot and the transfer smears (I actually melted a hole through the transfer backing), too much pressure and it smears as well, so on and so forth... I wasted a sheet and a half before I got an acceptable transfer my first time through. I eventually got the hang of it.

[rasco22862]

can i do a transfer without a PnP paper?, because in Argentina, that doesn´t exist

I mean, can i put the the sheet of paper(NO PnP) printed  by the copier or the fax, directly on the copper, and the put the iron to transfer???

[fixr1984]

can i do a transfer without a PnP paper?, because in Argentina, that doesn´t exist

I mean, can i put the the sheet of paper(NO PnP) printed  by the copier or the fax, directly on the copper, and the put the iron to transfer???

Yes, photo paper works best for that. The gloss surface will release the toner
pretty easily. I have just started using PNP but before that used photo paper. Even regular
paper will work, just not as well.

[markm]

Yeah, Hiwatt25 has been getting some darn good results using photo paper.