Do you folks tin plate your etched PCBs or do you just leave them as bare copper?
I tried tinning an etched board with solder paste and a small solder reflow oven. It didn't work very well. :-) It was a total mess. I don't think I am going to bother doing that on any board that isn't solder masked. A proper stencil helps a lot as well.
I tinned another board by hand. That worked, but tool a lot of time and a bit of solder braid.
I ordered some liquid tin from mouser and will give that a go. I hear it is nasty stuff, but we'll see.
So what does everybody here do?
Btw, let me put in a note on the quality of Haberdasher's etched PCBs. I beat the living hell out of that first board and it is still usable (and finally reasonably cleaned up). His boards are really well made.
Liquid Tin FTW.
Quote from: madbean on January 22, 2012, 10:28:26 PM
Liquid Tin FTW.
Good. I am looking for an easier solution.
After you plate a bunch of boards, do you have to dispose of it, or can you put it back in the container and use it again?
If I understood what you are talking about, you want a way to cover your etched pcbs not to get oxidized. If this is the thing you want, check out the Pictures thread at DIYSB for Guero builds and azrael's questions! ;D (http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=36392.18380 (http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=36392.18380)) Guero, uses a very interesting way, a transluscent spray paint! ;)
Hope it helps!!