New at PCB etching

[SpicyBrown]

When tracing out the connections on a regular copper-clad board that
will be etched with ferric chloride, is it really necessary to use one
of those "special" ink-resist pens? Can't I just use like a..
Sharpie?

Thanks

 

[Tim Dicus]

"SpicyBrown" <spicybrown@spicy.brown> wrote in message news:1r1e20pvqngc1l1pa86b19qeooounaae5p@4ax.com...

When tracing out the connections on a regular copper-clad board that
will be etched with ferric chloride, is it really necessary to use one
of those "special" ink-resist pens? Can't I just use like a..
Sharpie?

Thanks

Sharpies work great! Put it on as thick as you can tho!

Tim

 

[SpicyBrown]

Excellent! Thanks, I'm off to try it right now...

On Sun, 8 Feb 2004 22:09:56 -0600, "Tim Dicus" <tim@prolectron.com>
wrote:

"SpicyBrown" <spicybrown@spicy.brown> wrote in message news:1r1e20pvqngc1l1pa86b19qeooounaae5p@4ax.com...
When tracing out the connections on a regular copper-clad board that
will be etched with ferric chloride, is it really necessary to use one
of those "special" ink-resist pens? Can't I just use like a..
Sharpie?

Thanks


Sharpies work great! Put it on as thick as you can tho!

Tim

 

[vladdy]

On Mon, 09 Feb 2004 04:08:05 GMT, SpicyBrown <spicybrown@spicy.brown>
wrote:

When tracing out the connections on a regular copper-clad board that
will be etched with ferric chloride, is it really necessary to use one
of those "special" ink-resist pens? Can't I just use like a..
Sharpie?
Basically..sure...You need to go over a couple of times, it 'washes'

away fairly easily.. another readily available choice is the Staedler
Mars red [#3 if memory hasn't failed??]

enjoy..

 

[nemo]

Bob Masta <NoSpam@daqarta.com> wrote in message
news:402792e9.3459681@news.itd.umich.edu...

On Mon, 09 Feb 2004 04:48:54 GMT, SpicyBrown <spicybrown@spicy.brown
wrote:

Excellent! Thanks, I'm off to try it right now...

On Sun, 8 Feb 2004 22:09:56 -0600, "Tim Dicus" <tim@prolectron.com
wrote:

"SpicyBrown" <spicybrown@spicy.brown> wrote in message
news:1r1e20pvqngc1l1pa86b19qeooounaae5p@4ax.com...
When tracing out the connections on a regular copper-clad board that
will be etched with ferric chloride, is it really necessary to use one
of those "special" ink-resist pens? Can't I just use like a..
Sharpie?

Thanks


Sharpies work great! Put it on as thick as you can tho!

Tim



Just make sure you use black only, other colors don't
seem to work very well if at all.


Bob Masta
dqatechATdaqartaDOTcom

I use Humbrol enamel intended for model-making. By using a fine "pencil"

signwriting brush I can flow it on nicely and form smooth-edged tracks and
pads etc, quite easily. Nitromors paint stripper removes it OK afterwards,
as long as you don't leave it on long enough to attack the board.

 

[Bryan Swadener]

When tracing out the connections on a regular copper-clad board that
will be etched with ferric chloride, is it really necessary to use one
of those "special" ink-resist pens? Can't I just use like a..
Sharpie?

Thanks

Those etch-resist pens ARE Sharpies (with another name on them). Also, I
stopped using ferric chloride after I discovered ammonium persulfate.
Unlike ferric chloride, it never becomes opaque -- you can see the PC board
even when the solution is all-but dead. It's widely available (except thru
Radio Shack).
Bryan

 

[Bob Masta]

On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 08:43:01 GMT, "Bryan Swadener"
<bryan.swadener@comcast.net> wrote:

When tracing out the connections on a regular copper-clad board that
will be etched with ferric chloride, is it really necessary to use one
of those "special" ink-resist pens? Can't I just use like a..
Sharpie?

Thanks

Those etch-resist pens ARE Sharpies (with another name on them). Also, I
stopped using ferric chloride after I discovered ammonium persulfate.
Unlike ferric chloride, it never becomes opaque -- you can see the PC board
even when the solution is all-but dead. It's widely available (except thru
Radio Shack).
Bryan

Bryan: Many years ago in the shop I worked in then we
tried ammonium persulphate, but it seemed to attack
the Sharpie traces. Do you have a special trick to
avoid this, or have Sharpies maybe changed their
formula in the intervening decades? Thanks!


Bob Masta
dqatechATdaqartaDOTcom

D A Q A R T A
Data AcQuisition And Real-Time Analysis
www.daqarta.com

 

[Bryan Swadener]

"Bob Masta" <NoSpam@daqarta.com> wrote in message
news:4030caeb.2375384@news.itd.umich.edu...

On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 08:43:01 GMT, "Bryan Swadener"
bryan.swadener@comcast.net> wrote:

When tracing out the connections on a regular copper-clad board that
will be etched with ferric chloride, is it really necessary to use one
of those "special" ink-resist pens? Can't I just use like a..
Sharpie?

Thanks

Those etch-resist pens ARE Sharpies (with another name on them). Also, I
stopped using ferric chloride after I discovered ammonium persulfate.
Unlike ferric chloride, it never becomes opaque -- you can see the PC
board
even when the solution is all-but dead. It's widely available (except
thru
Radio Shack).
Bryan

Bryan: Many years ago in the shop I worked in then we
tried ammonium persulphate, but it seemed to attack
the Sharpie traces. Do you have a special trick to
avoid this, or have Sharpies maybe changed their
formula in the intervening decades? Thanks!


Bob Masta
dqatechATdaqartaDOTcom

D A Q A R T A
Data AcQuisition And Real-Time Analysis
www.daqarta.com

I started using amonium persulfate at the same time I started making boards
using photosensitive etch resist. I can't recall whether or not I've used a
Sharpie with amonium persulfate.
Bryan