John, I am not based in California, I am in Kentucky. I would be dealing with line/spacing of about 10mils. I am just wanting to make small to medium sized boards for hobbyist projects. Most of the boards would be single sided, maybe a few double sided. I had read about heating up the ferric acid to make the etching process faster, but after just coming out of a chemistry class, I didn't like the approach!!! If it takes 30mins, then it will have to take 30mins, I can wait!!! I have used a couple of previous mentioned board houses, but it cost more money after tooling costs to than it would have just to get a setup for making small boards at home. But, if I do decide to make it a professional grade board, then I will fork out the money and have it fabricated elsewhere. Thanks for all the info. Toby On Thu, May 13, 2010 at 10:47 PM, John Burke <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Toby I am praying you are not based in California.....8-) > > I have made boards this way using ferric chloride but that was nearly 35 > years ago - it can be very health hazardous if approached incorrectly to > give an example I knew a guy who read it would be better with hotter ferric > chloride so he put it on the stove, he had to buy his wife a new stove > after > the first couple of months as the old one "corroded in place". > > You have not stated what line/space you will be using as you might get some > better direction with this information. > > I think everyone on the link has taken it as given that these boards are > either single or double sided........8-) > > Strongly suggest that you price out your projects with some of the proto > shops that others on the link have mentioned unless of course you are doing > this for fun?...and do bear in mind with surface mount you may do better > with those shops unless you intend setting up printing solder resist > yourself? > > Best regards, > > John > > -----Original Message----- > From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Toby Carrier > Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 10:06 AM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: [TN] Hobbyist PCB Fab Equipment > > Hello all, > > I want to start making PCB's at home for prototyping small to medium > projects, but I have a few questions about materials, kits and equipment: > > 1. What is the best kit to buy? > 2. What equipment do I need? > 3. Where is the best place to get the equipment and/or kits? > 4. What safety hazards do I need to worry about? > > I will be dealing with through-hole and surface mount parts. > > Thanks for the help. > > Toby Carrier > > --------------------------------------------------- > Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 > To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in > the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet > To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to > [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) > To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to > [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest > Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives > Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 > for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or > 847-615-7100 ext.2815 > ----------------------------------------------------- > > ______________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. For more information please contact helpdesk at x2960 or [log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________ --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 -----------------------------------------------------