how to stop pcbs from etching away

Google Groups
1

hi all,

apologies for another pcb etching question. how to stop it from etching
once it’s taken out of the etching bath. despite washing off the ferric
chloride for a few minutes it seems still to stick on as the i’ve made
board loses bits of copper over time. any hints on this?

cheers!

bests,
const

2

Constantin…it sounds like you are either over etching the pcb (its been
in the etching fluid too long) or the glue is failing to hold the copper on
to the glass fibre - cheap pcb material and thin tracks…you can laquer
the pcb afterwards which helps protect it and might keep tracks on longer.

Can you show me a photo of your board?

Send me your layout and I will etch the board for you and see if the same
issues occur.

Cheers

AlexOn 7 Jun 2014 17:12, “Constantin Popp” constantin.popp@gmail.com wrote:

hi all,

apologies for another pcb etching question. how to stop it from etching
once it’s taken out of the etching bath. despite washing off the ferric
chloride for a few minutes it seems still to stick on as the i’ve made
board loses bits of copper over time. any hints on this?

cheers!

bests,
const

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3

hey alex,

thanks for the quick response and the offer. will come back to this. :slight_smile:

i’ll send you a photo of it tomorrow from the hackspace. that way i think
it’s easier to compare the photos ( i did one after the etching). good idea
with the varnish. will try this.

cheers.

:slight_smile:
constOn Saturday, 7 June 2014 18:27:19 UTC+1, Alexander Lang wrote:

Constantin…it sounds like you are either over etching the pcb (its been
in the etching fluid too long) or the glue is failing to hold the copper on
to the glass fibre - cheap pcb material and thin tracks…you can laquer
the pcb afterwards which helps protect it and might keep tracks on longer.

Can you show me a photo of your board?

Send me your layout and I will etch the board for you and see if the same
issues occur.

Cheers

Alex
On 7 Jun 2014 17:12, “Constantin Popp” <constan...@gmail.com <javascript:>> wrote:

hi all,

apologies for another pcb etching question. how to stop it from etching
once it’s taken out of the etching bath. despite washing off the ferric
chloride for a few minutes it seems still to stick on as the i’ve made
board loses bits of copper over time. any hints on this?

cheers!

bests,
const

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<javascript:>.
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4

hi alex,

i wonder if my etching problem has to do with the way i’m cleaning the
board prior etching. could some strange new chemicals come into existance
through mixing an invisible film of acetone and alcohol with the etchant?

i was using alcohol and acetone to clean it. i simply dry it with paper.
then i iron the design onto the board with the glossy paper (in the
yellow/blue box, the matte wilkinsons paper doesn’t really work). then i
soak the board for like 1 or 2 hours to get the paper off again and then 30
mins etching. then i wash the ferric chloride off and then use acetone to
get the toner off. then more washing and washing.

cheers,
constOn Saturday, 7 June 2014 21:54:54 UTC+1, Constantin Popp wrote:

hey alex,

thanks for the quick response and the offer. will come back to this. :slight_smile:

i’ll send you a photo of it tomorrow from the hackspace. that way i think
it’s easier to compare the photos ( i did one after the etching). good idea
with the varnish. will try this.

cheers.

:slight_smile:
const

On Saturday, 7 June 2014 18:27:19 UTC+1, Alexander Lang wrote:

Constantin…it sounds like you are either over etching the pcb (its been
in the etching fluid too long) or the glue is failing to hold the copper on
to the glass fibre - cheap pcb material and thin tracks…you can laquer
the pcb afterwards which helps protect it and might keep tracks on longer.

Can you show me a photo of your board?

Send me your layout and I will etch the board for you and see if the same
issues occur.

Cheers

Alex
On 7 Jun 2014 17:12, “Constantin Popp” constan...@gmail.com wrote:

hi all,

apologies for another pcb etching question. how to stop it from etching
once it’s taken out of the etching bath. despite washing off the ferric
chloride for a few minutes it seems still to stick on as the i’ve made
board loses bits of copper over time. any hints on this?

cheers!

bests,
const

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5

Constantin,

I think you are using the wrong paper…the cleaning process with acetone
should help not hinder. It sounds like you are over soaking too.

Perhaps if we were to go through the process together you will improve your
results…I don’t have too much trouble with this method.

Pick a suitable time to meet at the space and we can go through it
together…take notes, make videos etc…

Cheers

AlexOn 8 Jun 2014 13:14, “Constantin Popp” constantin.popp@gmail.com wrote:

hi alex,

i wonder if my etching problem has to do with the way i’m cleaning the
board prior etching. could some strange new chemicals come into existance
through mixing an invisible film of acetone and alcohol with the etchant?

i was using alcohol and acetone to clean it. i simply dry it with paper.
then i iron the design onto the board with the glossy paper (in the
yellow/blue box, the matte wilkinsons paper doesn’t really work). then i
soak the board for like 1 or 2 hours to get the paper off again and then 30
mins etching. then i wash the ferric chloride off and then use acetone to
get the toner off. then more washing and washing.

cheers,
const

On Saturday, 7 June 2014 21:54:54 UTC+1, Constantin Popp wrote:

hey alex,

thanks for the quick response and the offer. will come back to this. :slight_smile:

i’ll send you a photo of it tomorrow from the hackspace. that way i think
it’s easier to compare the photos ( i did one after the etching). good idea
with the varnish. will try this.

cheers.

:slight_smile:
const

On Saturday, 7 June 2014 18:27:19 UTC+1, Alexander Lang wrote:

Constantin…it sounds like you are either over etching the pcb (its
been in the etching fluid too long) or the glue is failing to hold the
copper on to the glass fibre - cheap pcb material and thin tracks…you can
laquer the pcb afterwards which helps protect it and might keep tracks on
longer.

Can you show me a photo of your board?

Send me your layout and I will etch the board for you and see if the
same issues occur.

Cheers

Alex
On 7 Jun 2014 17:12, “Constantin Popp” constan...@gmail.com wrote:

hi all,

apologies for another pcb etching question. how to stop it from etching
once it’s taken out of the etching bath. despite washing off the ferric
chloride for a few minutes it seems still to stick on as the i’ve made
board loses bits of copper over time. any hints on this?

cheers!

bests,
const

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6

hi alex,

yeah, this sounds like a splendid idea. thanks. i’ll make a new pcb diagram
one of these days. i’ll keep you posted. maybe we could meet during hacman
times (wednesdays).

thanks again,
constOn 8 June 2014 13:29, Alexander Lang alexanderlang1980@gmail.com wrote:

Constantin,

I think you are using the wrong paper…the cleaning process with acetone
should help not hinder. It sounds like you are over soaking too.

Perhaps if we were to go through the process together you will improve
your results…I don’t have too much trouble with this method.

Pick a suitable time to meet at the space and we can go through it
together…take notes, make videos etc…

Cheers

Alex
On 8 Jun 2014 13:14, “Constantin Popp” constantin.popp@gmail.com wrote:

hi alex,

i wonder if my etching problem has to do with the way i’m cleaning the
board prior etching. could some strange new chemicals come into existance
through mixing an invisible film of acetone and alcohol with the etchant?

i was using alcohol and acetone to clean it. i simply dry it with paper.
then i iron the design onto the board with the glossy paper (in the
yellow/blue box, the matte wilkinsons paper doesn’t really work). then i
soak the board for like 1 or 2 hours to get the paper off again and then 30
mins etching. then i wash the ferric chloride off and then use acetone to
get the toner off. then more washing and washing.

cheers,
const

On Saturday, 7 June 2014 21:54:54 UTC+1, Constantin Popp wrote:

hey alex,

thanks for the quick response and the offer. will come back to this. :slight_smile:

i’ll send you a photo of it tomorrow from the hackspace. that way i
think it’s easier to compare the photos ( i did one after the etching).
good idea with the varnish. will try this.

cheers.

:slight_smile:
const

On Saturday, 7 June 2014 18:27:19 UTC+1, Alexander Lang wrote:

Constantin…it sounds like you are either over etching the pcb (its
been in the etching fluid too long) or the glue is failing to hold the
copper on to the glass fibre - cheap pcb material and thin tracks…you can
laquer the pcb afterwards which helps protect it and might keep tracks on
longer.

Can you show me a photo of your board?

Send me your layout and I will etch the board for you and see if the
same issues occur.

Cheers

Alex
On 7 Jun 2014 17:12, “Constantin Popp” constan...@gmail.com wrote:

hi all,

apologies for another pcb etching question. how to stop it from
etching once it’s taken out of the etching bath. despite washing off the
ferric chloride for a few minutes it seems still to stick on as the i’ve
made board loses bits of copper over time. any hints on this?

cheers!

bests,
const

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