PCB for etching

[keysandguitars]

Hello all- just wondering where you guys buy your pcb boards for etching. Are there brands/boards that are better than others? I'm looking to do several builds in the near future and have wondered if a fabbed board sounds better or different than a home etched board. Any and all opinions welcome and appreciated.

[flanagan0718]

I get mine through this guy.
http://www.ebay.com/usr/abcfab?_trksid=p2047675.l2559
If he doesn't have the quantity/size/color you are looking for on his eBay page, email him. he is super cool and willing to work out what ever you need. He is the least expensive I have found and his product is top notch.

[davent]

That's going to depend on where you live and how you plan on preparing the boards for etching, toner transfer, photosensitive boards, tape and pads and sharpies etc...

eg. abcfab shipping free within the states goes to double the cost of the board or more with shipping to Canada

dave

[flanagan0718]

That's going to depend on where you live and how you plan on preparing the boards for etching, toner transfer, photosensitive boards, tape and pads and sharpies etc...

eg. abcfab shipping free within the states goes to double the cost of the board or more with shipping to Canada

dave

Very true, didn't take that into consideration. I should really stop assuming

[copachino]

I get mine through this guy.
http://www.ebay.com/usr/abcfab?_trksid=p2047675.l2559
If he doesn't have the quantity/size/color you are looking for on his eBay page, email him. he is super cool and willing to work out what ever you need. He is the least expensive I have found and his product is top notch.

i also buy from him, great boards, i have never lifted a pad, and i have desolder and resolder boards many times, cem and fr-4 are deadly good, i usually buy many boards since i live outside USA. 

but you can make some prefab boards, adding soldermask, and plating the pads, you can have a nice finish board, i do both, and get really good quality

[davent]

No worries Mike, have only read good things about abcfab and where else can you get the cool coloured boards he has available?
dave

[keysandguitars]

Thanks for the info guys. I should've given more info!

I'm in the US. I've only etched boards using laser printer transfers and ferric chloride. I've done 10 or so pedals with my etched boards and haven't had any issues. 

As I'm gearing to start building again I'm looking into other methods to see if there is a "better" method, or just understand the pro's and con's better. Friends and a few guys at my local shop have asked me to make them some pedals so I'm looking to improve my quality and efficiency where I can.

Again, thanks for the link and info.

[copachino]

I can give you some tips..... Use positive photoresist; put a Soler mask eventos you can plate the pads to make amazing PCBs as i do... Will upload something next week

[keysandguitars]

Copachino, that would be awesome. Sounds like you're putting out a professional product. Thanks.

[copachino]

Copachino, that would be awesome. Sounds like you're putting out a professional product. Thanks.

I made them form myself... But they look si good the one thing i dont use its the silkscreen

[m-Kresol]

I can give you some tips..... Use positive photoresist; put a Soler mask eventos you can plate the pads to make amazing PCBs as i do... Will upload something next week

Photoresist works good, but ONLY if it is an even coat! So either buy coated ones or stick to the toner transfer if you have done it successfully before. I have a rattle can photoresist which gave very mixed results.

[davent]

I'm not sure you can even get the chemical materials used to make diy photoresist boards in North America. MG Chemicals used to make them but they were discontinued,  commercially prepared boards are easily acquired.

Photoresist is such an easy, high quality and foolproof method i wouldn't consider recommending any other option. I found toner transfer totally frustrating and stopped wasting my time, never came even close to getting the results from commercial products sold for the purpose or other recommendations to those i achieved with my first attempt with photoresist.
dave