Etch Fluid ??

[TorqueRanger]

I have seen around people using Vinger mixed with other chems to etch PCBs .. Has anyone ever tried this and how did this and how did it come out..

[Psi]

Search YouTube if you want to see how well vinegar works. I've not tried it myself.

Hydrochloric acid and peroxide works very well and is easily available

[bitshift]

Hydrochloric acid and peroxide works very well and is easily available

Second this. I've used this on a number of occasions and it works perfectly. For simple boards its much quicker than waiting for a manufacturer + shipping.

[forrestc]

I have seen around people using Vinger mixed with other chems to etch PCBs .. Has anyone ever tried this and how did this and how did it come out..

If you must do it yourself, I'd try some ammonium persulphate (have used with good results), or sodium persulphate (understand it's similar).   See http://www.circuitspecialists.com/printed-circuit-board-fabrication for a USA source for that and other PCB supplies.   I'm not a big fan of ferric chloride.  What a nasty chemical - not that the others are extremely better, just they seem cleaner and safer (but that's all relative to everything being nasty)

Personally with osh park and dirtypcbs.com around, I sure don't see why anyone would even want to bother anymore.   Especially with all the disposal worries.

-forrest

[sleemanj]

At least they will have some  [...] waste treatment processes.

 

I doubt anybody would want to see the "waste treatment processes" employed at a mainland china pcb factory.  Probably it involves pouring it into the back alley. 

[coppice]

At least they will have some  [...] waste treatment processes.

 

I doubt anybody would want to see the "waste treatment processes" employed at a mainland china pcb factory.  Probably it involves pouring it into the back alley.

A commercial PCB operation which produced large amounts of waste to be treated would quickly go bankrupt. They need to recover the copper, and recycle the etchant to be economically viable.

[Chris C]

I've used this process.  2:3 ratio of 3% hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar, plus some salt.

Results can be as good as any other etch solution, if you're willing to wait.  A PCB just sitting in the solution with no agitation can take an hour or two!  You can get the time down if you actively rub the PCB with a sponge soaked in the etchant, but still, expect no better than 10 minutes.

Best disposal method that's realistic to a hobbyist:  Neutralize with baking soda.  Pour in a wide glass or plastic container (may stain the latter).  Set outside in a sheltered area, until evaporated.  Scrape up the crystallized cupric chloride and sodium acetate.  Use for experiments (like making colored flames), or wrap and dispose of in solid waste, or accumulate in a container and give to hazardous waste facility.

[KL27x]

I etch with cupric chloride, as do most larger manufacturers. The end product is essentially just more cupric chloride. (Some water and hydrochloric acid are added along the way to keep copper salts from precipitating out of solution). I simply siphon off excess etchant as it's created, dry it in the sun, and then I collect the copper chloride/oxide salts in a Tupperware container; pretty, green, dry (not a hygroscopic sticky mess like ferric) crystals. As long as the copper doesn't get thrown in a land fill where it gets into open water, there is no toxic danger to land animals or humans.  I don't neutralize with baking soda; bulks up the end solids.

Last I checked, copper is pretty expensive. If scrappers and junkies can get money for copper pipe, I figure copper salts should have some scrap value. I haven't gone quite that far, yet. It'll be another lifetime or two before I have enough to bother with.

Simply pouring used etchant down the drain isn't all that bad for the environment, either. As long as you're not on a septic system. But your pipes are a different matter. Fun fact: ferric chloride is used by the ton to treat waste water.

[technix]

A friend of mine used to use HCl/H2O2/NH4Cl solution as etchant. The trick here is ammonia.

[Fat]

1/3 Muriatic Acid (used in swimming pools and to wash brick, pick it up at the hardware store or pool supply) and 2/3 hydrogen peroxide (druggist or dollar store).

Works great.

[oldway]

Hydrochloric acid and peroxide works very well and is easily available

I agree and you can reuse it a lot of times: only add a little more peroxide each time.
NB: use concentrated comercial peroxide. (400 vol)
Etching time depends from how much peroxide you added.