Print it, Iron it, Etch it, Mask it, Drill it...

[karbomusic]

I have no miracles to perform nor great knowledge to disperse, just sharing the immense satisfaction that comes along with creating stuff. I just moved to a new house so the "lab" has been down for a few weeks and just now getting set back up...

[armdnrdy]

I must have missed this thread...what did you use for the mask? Or are you using black PCB?

[karbomusic]

I must have missed this thread...what did you use for the mask?

Funny you ask, typically acrylic spray but I couldn't find it (still unpacking) so I grabbed some enamel spray that I found first. Fingers crossed it "burns" through OK when soldering but I expect it should since it is pretty thin.

[armdnrdy]

So you have a clear coat over a black PCB?

[karbomusic]

It's a regular ole MG Chemicals copper clad board post etch (Maybe the photo makes it appear black?). I spray the clear coat over it right after etching to create a solder mask. I've been doing that for awhile now since it works out so well and the iron burns right through it when soldering the parts in.

[davent]

This works great, works much better then Liquid Tin and looks far superior to it as well.
dave

[bluebunny]

I thought this was gonna be about the latest Daft Punk release.   

Nice boards.

[Brisance]

What medium do you use for toner transfer? I once tried that magazine paper(maybe the wrong kind) and failed miserably. Then I tried that cooking paper, which did not get toner on perfectly. Still salvaged that one though, by using CD marker to fill in the gaps. I am desperate enough to try photoresist, whose boards cost about 4 times as much, unless I can get my toner transfer working.

[deadastronaut]

I spray the clear coat over it right after etching to create a solder mask.  the iron burns right through it when soldering the parts in.

+1, ive been using car spray clear coat...boards are as shiny as new still...

easy to solder through too.

[arma61]

So you "melt" the sprayed cleat coat with the soldering iron on the pad you're soldering?

[deadastronaut]

yep..

i usually give it a squirt of clear after populating..

but i have sprayed boards after etching, and solder fine still..

cheap mask..

[karbomusic]

I thought this was gonna be about the latest Daft Punk release.   

Nice boards.

LOL! I almost posted that video as part of my post.

[karbomusic]

yep..

i usually give it a squirt of clear after populating..

but i have sprayed boards after etching, and solder fine still..

cheap mask..

Yep, amazing but true. You'd think it would cause problems but it burns right away.

[karbomusic]

What medium do you use for toner transfer? I once tried that magazine paper(maybe the wrong kind) and failed miserably. Then I tried that cooking paper, which did not get toner on perfectly. Still salvaged that one though, by using CD marker to fill in the gaps. I am desperate enough to try photoresist, whose boards cost about 4 times as much, unless I can get my toner transfer working.

I use press-n-peel. The biggest challenge I have is dust and static attracting it but I mostly got around that with damp air and an "attractive" microfiber towel. press-n-peel is fine so long as you take your time and do it right IMHO.

[free electron]

My favorite PCB coat, which i have been using basically since i started making my own pcbs  is rosin dissolved in acetone/IPA. When dried it makes a thin flux film all over the board, stops the oxidation and makes the solder joints nice and shiny. Some of the boards spent like 15 years in basement, still looking good. The trick is to use a solvent that evaporates not too quickly (you'll have enough time to paint the pcb) and not too slow (the board will by sticky for a very long time). Acetone does a great job for me. I just buy the rosin in pieces, crush it into powder ,dissolve it in acetone and paint the pcb after drilling. Usually i let them dry overnight. Really recommend that method, it makes the soldering and repairs much easier (there is no such thing as too much flux!). Here is one example:

[davent]

^Looks really good! A new trick for the trade, where can you find chunks of rosin for sale? Violin dealer?
dave

[Brisance]

Usually electronics stores carry solid rosin with other soldering supplies, ask them

[italianguy63]

Ha!!  You can probably get it already powdered from a Sporting Goods store...

[tubegeek]

rosin dissolved in acetone/IPA

Vewwy vewwy kwever!

I thought the India Pale Ale was for after you were finished though?

[GGBB]

So what should one expect to pay for rosin? Big G found me a lot of options.  What's the difference between this and this ($6.99/lb. versus $3.97/0.5oz.)