Have had reasonable success using the "Sharpies." What kicks me is way back
when, when I bought a PCB kit from the Shack, I tried to make one and the
ink came right off. I gave up - I was still young and stupid, but it was the
ink that failed. A few years later, I decided to give it another go, using
sharpies after reading some others having used them. I did nothing else
different. The success was in the pen. Had I tried a different pen way back
when, instead of giving up, I could have been very good at it by now, rather
than OK. I have made a few PC boards and though "my" artistic talent isn't
that great, the boards came out ok and work as intended. When I do decide to
make a project, I actually enjoy going through the whole process including
making the board. It is fun to go from nothing to a working item. I've made
some test equipment for my shop that has saved me a few hours time already
and paid for themselves in parts, time and effort. Just out of curiosity,
anyone else buy the Shacks PCB kits and have any problems with the pens? OR
solution? For me, the solution has been ok. MNS


"Avery Fineman" wrote in message
...
In article , "Ian White, G3SEK"
writes:

In Europe there's a gadget called a Dalo resist pen which is made
specifically for hand-drawing on PCBs. It has a fine fibre tip and very
thick, quick-drying ink. It's very expensive for what it is (namely a
not very good fibre-tip pen) but with care it can be quite effective.

As many people already know, the Staedtler marker pens (waterproof/
wasserfest grade) are excellent for touching-up photo and iron-on resist
patterns, but they're not as good as the Dalo for filling large areas.

I'll add something from the machine shop that is probably in
the UK as well: Marker lacquer used to make marks on metal
about to be machined. Over here it is usually a deep blue and
is very dilute lacquer, obvious from the acetone odor. Various
brands, some are available in red or green (not good colors).
Scribes nicely. Brushes well with small brushes available from
craft stores.

From the drafting department of old: K&E ink pens, the two-part
cylindrical, concentric ones. Those will hold dilute lacquers and
there is a pen holder that takes the nibs. Must soak them in
acetone after using since the capilliary clearance is tiny. With
practice those pens can draw straight lines but any dilute lacquer
likes to migrate to the straightedge...:-)

Office Depot and Office Max chains over here carry the Sanford
"Sharpie" pens (permanent marker type) whose ink is ferric
chloride resistant. I find it difficult to maintain a fine nib on
those
for small foil lines and prefer a small brush. Mileage varies.

I once tried acetone-diluted liquid rosin as a resist, had mixed
results. Nice odor combination while doing it. :-)

As always, with any kind of resist, the unetched copper surface
must be clean and oxide free, smooth in order to take the resist
evenly.

Len Anderson
retired (from regular hours) electronic engineer person