[dorkbotpdx-blabber] Buying the stuff to make PCBs..

[Victor Yurkovsky]

I've had great results using HCl (muriatic acid) that is readily
available from Home Despot for very cheap mixed with Hydrogen Peroxide,
also dirt cheap.  The solution is supposedly renewable by blowing air
bubbles through it using an aquarium aerator.  It needs to be warm to
work and I use a $20 griddle set on low heat with the solution in a
pyrex tray (with a lid for when I am done).

The solution is
emerald green and other than fuming a little when hot is a lot cleaner
thant Ferric Chloride.  The etch time is fast and you can see what you
are doing.

For tinning I've used Tinnit
(http://www.oselectronics.com/ose_p55.htm).  It is truly weird as the
solution instantly settles into a milky kefir consistency (except with
white crystals instead of lumps).  I am not sure if it is supposed to
or not, but it happened to me 3 times in a row over several years, so I
am assuming it's ok.  It seems to tin the circuit with a darkishmetallic layer, although it is not
great and does not draw solder as well as I would like it to.

If anyone has any other experiences or tried products, please let me know.

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