[FoxHunt] Not so bad...

[KD7JYK]

Actually it depends on skills and materials.  I onlyhave experience making a
couple boards, but it wasn't nearly as bad as you make it sound:


>I've done the iron-on, etch pen, grind methods

Some of the most difficult and time consuming methods.

>When you consider that you will  need to buy blank copper boards,  etchent,
small >Drill bits, some way to trim the PCB, some soft of iron-on "stuff"

Could cost upwards of $10, maybe as much as $20

>and spend a lot of time screwing around with all?

Patience...

> For what?  It won't make a better (or even as good) a board.

At least as good as mass produced boards, usually better since more time can
be spent on the board, depends on what you want the finished product to look
like.

>The used chemicals stain your cloths (and fingers)

Wear a smock and thin rubber gloves.

>and are bad news (What?  you flush them down the drain???)

You told someone???

> it stinks, it's hard work and it's pretty close to pointless.

It's really not all that bad, schematic to finished PCB should take about
four hours for beginners.

I suggest:

PCB, spray-on photo resist, press on PCB traces and pads, clear plastic to
do your work on....  Single and double sided boards can be done with ease,
though as with all things practice will make it easier.  Cut the PCB with
shears, table saw, paper cutter, certain tin snips that don't twist the
board etc., spray with photo resist, lay plastic sheet with traces on it
over the board, you can use tape, a sharpie marking pen, whatever (this
should be done with a safety light by the way, you can do the traces ahead
of time in regular lightng) flick the room light on and off quickly to
expose, lay in small tub of etchant, wait about fifteen minutes (agitate
once or twice) use 0000 steel wool to remove photo resist from traces, drill
holes, stuff parts.  A couple times you should have it down pat.

Kurt