Copper plated vias

[Drirr]

Hi,
Long time ago I succesfully made my first 2 layer copper plated PCBs using mixture of graphite and some other stuff.
But.. I decided to step further and found https://hackaday.io/project/180422-process-01-an-open-source-2-layer-pcb-process

I'm not a chemist. I'll be glad for any advice.
Problem is that final solution is yellow but it should be dark green/dark brown?

Process as described in guide:
----------------
Main Solutions
1. Cleaning solution. Around 10% by weight sulfuric acid. Concentration not critical. Deionized water preferred. You can prepare this solution
by dissolving 13mL of concentrated sulfuric in 225mL of deionized water. Stable, can be stored indefinitely and reused many times.
2. Palladium chloride activator.
Instructions for preparing 50mL
40mL deionized water
0.02g PdCl2
2.25g SnCl2·2H2O
7.75g NaCl
2.5mL 34% HCl
adjust the volume by adding deionized water till 50mL
Stir until every added reagent dissolves before adding the next one.
Should last one year or more in a capped container.
---------

I believe that problem may be using kitchen salt as "NaCl" or maybe PdCl2 bought on ebay is messy? SnCl2 is 97% purity, destilled water was used.

PS I know that making PCBs at home does not worth. Main reason are 50GHz microwave filter prototypes on special substrate.

Thanks! David

[coppercone2]

don't know but I will get off my ass and try it (ordered reagents)

BTW you don't explain the pictures. I don't know what I am looking at.

And also, just talking to people that have been around for a while, some people seem to think that the quality of copper pipes sold at home depot has decreased over the years.

[Drirr]

@coppercone2 I am interested in your results. Today I failed again still not able to make it. I also tried some chemistry forum on reddit. I will let you know.

There are some photos:
    I mixed destilled water with 20mg PdCl2

https://photos.app.goo.gl/JgviyNDDSzt2MHp56

https://photos.app.goo.gl/hDrZPWXGahwFdFt59

https://photos.app.goo.gl/vDFHE7mAC59jSxty5

2) I added SnCl2

https://photos.app.goo.gl/3YW55gwYP8CwFenw7

https://photos.app.goo.gl/VFVfEddPDA3qGKxK8

And now some foggy unsoluble sediment appears:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/YKraQbfikpjnTc3Z8

and now I do not now what to do, I even tried to filter sediment but my final solution (after adding NaCl and 34% HCl) is pale yellow all the time. And.. not working at all.