Etched first board...

jlullo · September 18, 2006, 07:27:13 PM

...and it took 2 hours and 15 minutes. I warmed the etchant before, and followed the instructions on Tonepad.com. Is there any reason it should take this long?

markm · September 18, 2006, 07:33:52 PM

Did you "swish" it around at all?
I sometime use a small paint brush to brush the top of the board off occassionally.

$uperpuma · September 18, 2006, 07:43:29 PM

that and that radio shack copperboard is all but crap... It will get the job done though. a board that size shouldn't tke more than 30 minutes, 45 with the double sided copperboard

jlullo · September 18, 2006, 07:46:40 PM

that's why i was so confused... it is from radio shack, and i did think it was only supposed to be like 30 minutes. i'm sure the painbrush would help- thanks for the tip! i thought i was doing something seriously wrong, but i was swishing it around.

Oh well, at least it came out okay... right?

$uperpuma · September 18, 2006, 07:54:36 PM

looks fine, get some 100% acetone and get the toner off of there, drill it and get soldering!

then use your newfound etching skills to decorate the box... check out MarkM's tutorial... can't go wrong if you follow it exactly...

Gilles C · September 18, 2006, 07:54:54 PM

It can also happen if there is not enough etchant. You end up having an etchant that is not strong enough too soon.

I keep warming the etchant while the pcb is in it by placing the container inside another bigger container having hot water. I change the water when it's getting too cold.

I also place the pcb with the copper below the surface (upside down), and keep it moving. Normally it floats, so the copper that is dissolving is not staying on the pcb as when the copper side is on the top, but going to the bottom of the container when the copper side is on the bottom.

But you did a good job on the pcb.

Gilles

QSQCaito · September 18, 2006, 08:30:02 PM

It happened something similar the first time to me. I just put it in the etchant and left it there, half and hour later, it seemed almost the same.. put the etchant and PCB in Ziploc in water bath of hot water, nice agitation.. and it was done in 10 minutes.. I now use my "bubbler" that i used to have in the fish tank.

Bye!

DAC

jlullo · September 18, 2006, 09:26:10 PM

thanks for the tips guys. i'll definitely put them all to use the next time i whip one of these bad boys up. I'm excited to FINALLY get started on this guy

News:

Etched first board...