I came across this tutorial a while ago detailing how to etch PCBs using common household chemicals instead of ferric chloride. Being a lazy person who doesn’t want to drive out to Sayal (in Cambridge) to get ferric chloride, I decided to give it a shot and take pictures documenting the attempt. Here’s the result:
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Pouring muriatic acid into the etchant (add the peroxide first)
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The design printed onto magazine paper (for toner transfer)
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Loaded into the heat press
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Using the press to transfer the toner onto the board
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Cooling the board down before removing the paper
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Paper carefully removed from the board to keep the toner intact
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The other side
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Freshly made etchant starts to turn green as it absorbs copper from the board
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Starting to etch the copper off the board
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The front of the (almost) finished board
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The reverse side of the (almost) finished board
As can be seen from the last picture, I left the board in the etchant a little too long (it was more active than I expected). Apparently, after a few uses it becomes a little slower acting, although I’ve considered using this effect to somehow watermark my boards.
