Inkjet Photo Paper etching question

[remmelt]

I've been getting great results with inkjet photo paper instead of pnp blue. It sticks on nicely and can take higher iron settings than the pnp because the paper won't shrink like the plastic film will.

When I soak the enclosure/board, the paper will slide right off and leave great looking toner traces. The trouble is that a thin film of paper stays on the metal and is really hard to take off. When it dries it scratches off with a knife, but that's hardly feasible for intricate designs. When I rub too hard, the toner rubs off as well, so that's no good either.

What do you guys do to take off that last little layer of photo paper?

[spudulike]

Stiff toothbrush gets most of it off, and a wetted %^&*tail stick for the bits between pads/traces thats left.

[Hiwatt25]

I use the laser printer method but I'd wager things are largely the same. 

After I transfer the design, I soak the board in luke warm soapy water for a while and then peel the paper off.  I too find that paper sticks between the traces so what I do is take a wooden skewer and while the paper is still wet, run it between the traces.  The skewer tip is not terribly pointy and when it's wet it actually becomes fairly dull. 

I can scrape all the paper from between the traces off without taking the traces with it.  I give it a good look under my magnifying lamp and throw it into the etchant. 

There is usually no paper on the actual traces but even if there is, it'll come off with some acetone when the board is done etching.

Hope that helps.

[Mark Hammer]

There is only so much you can do with glossy photo paper.  Most layouts can come out pretty clean with photo paper, but every now and then you get one with very thin traces and not much space between them.  At that point, it really IS a job for the higher resolution attainable with PnP.

[rmo]

I use pieces of paper cut from magazines, just taping a suitably sized piece to a regular piece of copy paper. Comes right off in soapy water, just soak it for a minute or two. It's basically free, since most people have a magazine laying about, you might try that if you still have trouble with the inkjet paper.

[spudulike]

Dont be afraid to scrub the board with a toothbrush, remember you dont need an inch thick layer of toner left behind - just enough to stop the etchant getting to the copper. I did a board for a forum member last week that was really tight on the traces. When I had finished with the toothbrush the traces were almost translucent. I couldnt be bothered to re-iron etc so I just etched it anyway and it came out fine. I just had to keep a close eye on it so I didnt leave it too long in the etchant bath.

I normally use photo boards and a UV lamp in an old flatbed scanner box, but i didnt have any photo-board left.