Enclosure Etching in Layouts Gallery

[JimRayden]

Great photoessay. I'm just about to etch a B-sized box along with wome boards, let's see if I can pull this off.

-----------
Jimbo

[markm]

It's not as "bad" as it looks.
Just take your time and really prep that box!
Any questions, give me a shout Jimbo.
  MarkM

[tommy.genes]

Markm:

I'm curious about your process of heat-gunning the paint on the sides. Is that to achieve something similar to what others do through baking? Do you notice signifigantly better results? I ask because I have a heat gun, and it seems more convenient to take that outside instead of a toaster oven or similar.

-- T. G. --

[markm]

Markm:

I'm curious about your process of heat-gunning the paint on the sides. Is that to achieve something similar to what others do through baking? Do you notice signifigantly better results? I ask because I have a heat gun, and it seems more convenient to take that outside instead of a toaster oven or similar.

-- T. G. --

Quite simply....Yes!
I heat gone the paint in my etching process to speed dry time but, in the process of doing so, I discovered that I acheived
results that were similar to the baking process that alot of guys do.
Because I usually sand it with 600 before applying paint, it seems to adhere pretty well.
In the photo-essay, I just scuffed the paint on the sides and shot 2 final coats of semi-gloss black onto it.
Then I heat gunned it for about 5 minutes and let it dry.
Semi + Flat colors dry faster anyway but, I think coupled with the heat gun routine it makes for a strong finish.
This one was painted with semi-gloss  in the etch and on the sides then heat-gunned;



It has been knocked around a little bit and still no chips in the paint!
I personally like using the heat gun rather than baking......I never had good luck with baking at 150.
Paint seemed to get hard but brittle and chipped easily. Not as easy as plain paint but, not as good as I would have liked.
Of course, I work where there is a Auto Body shop and I am friends with the guys there and have obtained LOTS of paint knowledge
from fellas that have been shooting paint for 30 years!!
So.....this is how/why I do it.
Works 4 me!!

[tommy.genes]

Thanks for the info!

-- T. G. --

[markm]

anytime!
Glad to help out.

[markm]

Hi ya fellas,
The Mosfet Boost etching project has been completed and pictures are posted.
If you've been following the progress on this project, you'll be glad to know that the operation
was a complete success!
The circuit even works!!!
Please check it out.
Thanks to all,
    MarkM

[kusi]

hi mark,

wow, very cool

i have some questions;
- how do you protect the sides of the box agianst the FE-3-chlorid? with black paint like at the pictures?
- how strong is your etchant-solution? i use 500g @ 0,5l water for pcb`s, do you think this is strong enough?


thanks a lot,
kusi

[markm]

Hi Kusi,
Yes, the black paint is sprayed on the sides to protect it from the etchant.
It's easily sanded off but, it will resist better than any pen known to man!
The etchant I use is from Rat Shack and is straight out of the bottle however,
sometimes I throw a small amount of water in it but, very small.
I hope this is of some help to you.
Good Luck,
   MarkM