Punches for making pads for Manhattan?

[0culus]

I'm getting to the point where the projects I want to build are high speed/wideband enough that I need to be doing Manhattan style construction.

What's everyone's favorite techniques and tools for making the basic building blocks?

[MarkF]

Some examples from Alan Wolke:






Actually, this whole thread on the subject: 
   https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/copperless-perfboard-wire-wrap-for-rf-prototyping/

[ChristofferB]

A pair of tin snips are great for cutting square islands of pcb stock. A wide bladed hobby knife (that you can put more force on than an xacto) is also a must.

Cyanoacrylate glue for sticking down dip packages and islands is a nice thing too.

I would get some sheets of thin, 0.1 or 0.2mm copper foil stock. It's pretty cheap and let's you fold little shielding boxes to put over the most sensitive parts.

[ledtester]

I've used a hand punch like this:

https://www.amazon.com/ABN-Power-Punch-Heavy-Duty/dp/B07D7HJQ5Z/ref=lp_2225057011_1_20?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1568961074&sr=1-20

[German_EE]

I have the same model of punch but mine was purchased about ten years ago from Harbor Freight and then a friend brought it across the Atlantic in her luggage. It makes good clean pads even now but you have to modify one side of the die to get rid of the locating bump or your pads will not be flat.

As for the CA glue, this is what Dollar stores and Euro stores are for, that way a tube that hardens overnight will not be too much of a financial burden.

[ledtester]

I have the same model of punch but mine was purchased about ten years ago from Harbor Freight

Indeed, I got mine at Harbor Freight around that time, too. It's interesting that they don't seem to sell it any longer.

[iMo]

As for the CA glue, this is what Dollar stores and Euro stores are for, that way a tube that hardens overnight will not be too much of a financial burden.

Put the tube into a small plastic zip bag, add silicagel balls.