How To Etch Your Own Circuitboards

[VisioninScience]

don't be rude if you can't understand english. he speaks clearly, and shows images of everything required.

[MrROTD]

why not have conductive ink and print on paper or plastic film? did anyone think of that?

[diredesire]

@MrROTD Because people generally solder to the traces.. you're going to burn or melt plastic/paper substrates. that's why they use copper clad fiberglass boards.

[chamath1985]

Dude no offense but your video sucks. You didn't detail enough the recipe on the use of chemicals. All you did was just a waste of both yours and ours time.

[Dark3ndWarrior]

I bought some photoresistant(although on their website it says universal) sodium metasilicate from maplin (UK) and i was wondering would it work with this method of etching?

[ChrisONGuitar1]

you look like a guy from the BEATLES

[elektronickz]

Be careful with the above method:

1. It is highly exothermic.

2. The output is chlorine gas which is a poisonous gas, and can choke you to death if you keep inhaling it throughout your life.

3. This process is even more time consuming and messy compared to etching with the old faithful Ferric Chloride.

4. If you don't take care of yourself while using HCL, it will burn you to death! It is a HIGHLY TOXIC and HIGHLY CORROSIVE TO HUMAN TISSUE.

[goffy44]

@elektronickz did you also know that you can make a high explosive with all three together well really you dont need the hcl it will create a high explosive by itself and will go off at the touch if left at room temp for 48 hrs or so and by all three i mean acetone & hcl & hydrogen peroxide boom 5300 m/s

17,384 ft/s

3.29 miles per second c4 not much greater but c4 (RDX) has to have a det cap this nooooooooo not good shit to leave around the house TOXIC thats the less of worrys lol

[chrismicro1]

@elektronickz This is the cleanest method (15 seconds) much faster than the messy Ferric Chloride (15-20 minutes) and there is no danger if you use it in the open with proper clothing

[chickenpoper]

did he say copper flat board?

[karlkid333]

Thanks, this has helped illuminate a seemingly daunting process.

[handsupbud]

I make Meth the same way..thanks.

[billkab]

I never use glossy paper. use ordinary hammermill 28 lb paper and when you are finished ironing the board slowly peel off the paper while moving the iron away. This way you dont need water.

[addzkebabs]

awesome video, though how long do you keep it in water for, do you use hot or cold water and do you wait for it to cool down after ironing it?

[hoolaput]

desolving the copper was so sick

[33256989]

This video rocks its so easy to understand

[ru5h224]

Does anyone know if a sharpie or acrylic paint will work with ferric chloride if i don't have a laser jet?

[billkab]

Great video , easy to understand. thanks

[Mountain117]

''You'll need tinsnips, laser printer, copper clad board, glossy paper, clothes iron, abrasive pads, razor, permanent marker, plastic tub, hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid), hydrogen peroxide, acetone, paper towels, tape and scissors.''

[DontTurnAround0]

is the echant you used considered hazardous waste after you use it?

[TheArtisticPro]

The Etchant is always considered hazardous, so dispose of it properly.

[DigiTan000]

Personally, I always send the used stuff to Hazardous Wastes. Titrating and neutralizing the acid is an option, but still leaves the issue of the toxic copper salts. So I just store the leftovers in HDPE or PTFE plastic bottles until I can dispose of it properly.

[streethero9]

is this works whit inkjet?

[thebestofall007]

no because inkjet printers use ink, which would be washed away by the acid. laser printers on the other hand use a plastic like powder substance called toner that melts onto the copper and forms a strong bond with the copper and resists the acid.

[zambination]

Things to use: bla bla bla.. bla bla bla.. Could u please use the keyboard and write down the materials and chemicals u use.. We r not all americans sorry. Thanks for the video nice job

[wpkg]

what does not being american have to do with anything

[zambination]

I just can't understand what you say thats all! Happy new year

[obrien135]

If you want to etch a two sided board, do you iron both sides, flipping it over after doing the first side, or does the heat transfer well enough through the board from one side?

[obrien135]

Do you print the pattern of the artwork out onto the glossy paper you got from magazines? I didn't see that part in the video. Does it have to be white or can there be colors or black printing on it before you print the toner onto the paper, if it's from magazines? It looked like you suggested using magazine pages. Can you use glossy photo paper instead?

[coolboarder44]

I don't think you can use a picture from a magazine directly and put it onto your copper clab board. What you might have to do is scan the pic into your computer and put it into photoshop or something to trace it out. I think it has to be only black ink (not sure how the colour ink reacts to the acids) plus you can't really get colours on your PCB anyways :) But just as long as you get the image onto photo-glossy paper (ie, printed it off of your comp.) you should be good to go.

[stiffcookie]

it doesnt matter what kind of paper you print the original image to, as long as the toner sticks to it, but will give it up easily onto the copper when you heat it. glossy used magazines are perfect, so is glossy photo paper and "press n peel". I think its because they are less porous than normal paper so the toner has less chance of getting trapped into it.

[oneskirvin]

very nice man thanks for the video

[killitb]

I really liked the part where it showed the copper being etched away. that was pretty cool.

[stupidfish100]

lol this is much more easy then the make thing and cheaper to

[rmitoday]

Hi, can anybody tell me what kind of scissors he 's used to cut PCB. I'm looking for one. Thanks

[captainmarmalade]

yeah they're called tin snips. i used to use them when i was roofing. they're somewhat like what you would use to trim small hedges, but they don't have a curve in them. they sell them at pretty much any hardware store if you haven't found them yet.

[TheBypasser]

I tried both metal-cutting and just strong cardboard-cutting scissors - both worked perfectly.

[addictedtowwe]

looks like that took a day to etch because it was daylight when you put it into the acid and took it out at night...... does it really take this long??

[LeoDJ1992]

you can just use ferric chloride

[RudyChickenz]

ferric chloride is more expensive, non-reusable, you have to use more of it, and it produces a lot of copper salts that are bad for the environment when you pour em down the drain. this method is way better IMO.

[TheBypasser]

hehe I use ferrum too - if the mixture is dense, you need like 20-30 minutes per average board, also it's reusable, non-toxic (so you can turn and grab your board with bare hands) and can be restored if overused by putting iron nails in it.

[ratgod]

What is the acid you used? you called it by 2 names in the video, I couldnt quite get the first one but the seconds time you said hydrochloric acid. and was that 2 parts acid to 1 part hydrogen peroxide? great project

[lehjr1]

That's muriatic acid also known as hydrochloric acid and its most often used for swimming pools. The ratio is 2 parts peroxide to 1 part muriatic acid. Also note that he did this outside. The fumes are toxic and you should really avoid breathing them in. You should also avoid getting any of the acid or the mixture on yourself.

[jvm270880]

the glossy paper you use is from a printed magazine? or is it a pretty new sheet or photo sheet?

[BMSWEB]

I'm not sure what sort of paper you used? Is it Glossy Lazer Paper, or Glossy Inkjet Paper? or something else?

[MeisterHenning]

good job

[balloonsarecool]

that guys name is dutch! his name translated is actually: mike upearly

[brunomdinis]

One question... the glossy paper you use is from a printed magazine? or is it a pretty new sheet?

[brunomdinis]

One question... is the glossy paper you use from a printed magazine? or is it a pretty new sheet?

[vrogy]

Acetone==fingernail polish.

Where do you get Ferric Chloride? How much does it cost?

We're posting an instructable soon, these are definitely problems we need to address.

[xorfive]

Tile several copies of your artwork per sheet of glossy paper. If the transfer doesn't take the first time (and it often doesn't), you will have spares, plus you won't be wasting expensive inkjet photo-paper.

Most people use Ferric Chloride (available in most places). It's less dangerous to people than hydrochloric acid.

Acetone is very hazardous to humans, and passes through the skin. Always use gloves (not vinyl) when handling acetone.

[xorfive]

It's a lot harder with the thin traces of a real circuit.  When drawing your board, try to use thick traces and lots of fill areas (ie grounding planes). Not only does it use less etchant, but also helps the toner transfer properly.

Also, you MUST rough up the board or the toner will not take to the copper. 200 grit sand paper or SOS pads work well. I use a power drill to help.

[ageowns]

Great video. I'll be using that in my lessons!