Many years ago (like, 20) I bought many 24" x 24" sheets of
single-sided PCB that I've been using to homebrew dead-bug style and
for other activities like soldering together little shielded boxes.
Probably mail-order from Fair Radio.I'm sure I paid very little for the
stuff at the time, probably a few bucks a sheet. Now my stash is
almost gone. Anyone care to recommend a good cheap supplier for
similar single-sided PCB? I'm not picky as to phenolic vs glass-epoxy
or whatever, I just need a good ground plane. Big pieces are good but
I can live with little pieces too.

The stuff I got 20 years ago was, for some reason, pre-tinned. (Maybe
this is why it was so cheap?). That was nice because I don't have to
clean off my dirty fingerprints when coming back to a project after a
few weeks or a few years :-). Pre-tinned is a big plus.

In article . com,
says...
Many years ago (like, 20) I bought many 24" x 24" sheets of
single-sided PCB that I've been using to homebrew dead-bug style and
for other activities like soldering together little shielded boxes.
Probably mail-order from Fair Radio.I'm sure I paid very little for the
stuff at the time, probably a few bucks a sheet. Now my stash is
almost gone. Anyone care to recommend a good cheap supplier for
similar single-sided PCB? I'm not picky as to phenolic vs glass-epoxy
or whatever, I just need a good ground plane. Big pieces are good but
I can live with little pieces too.

The stuff I got 20 years ago was, for some reason, pre-tinned. (Maybe
this is why it was so cheap?). That was nice because I don't have to
clean off my dirty fingerprints when coming back to a project after a
few weeks or a few years :-). Pre-tinned is a big plus.



eBay.

-- jm

------------------------------------------------------
http://www.qsl.net/ke5fx
Note: My E-mail address has been altered to avoid spam
------------------------------------------------------

Hello Tim,

See if there is a PCB manufacturer within resonable driving distance and
ask for scraps. That's how I got a huge stash decades ago. Single and
double sided, the good stuff (FR4). But it has to be picked up, in my
case they wouldn't have gone through the trouble of packaging and
mailing it. Basically it had to be no more effort on their part than a
walk to the dumpster would have been.

Mine weren't tinned though. Also, I am not sure if constantly touching a
pre-tinned board during experiments would be too healthy.

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

"Joerg" wrote in message
...
Hello Tim,

See if there is a PCB manufacturer within resonable driving distance
and
ask for scraps. That's how I got a huge stash decades ago. Single and
double sided, the good stuff (FR4). But it has to be picked up, in my
case they wouldn't have gone through the trouble of packaging and
mailing it. Basically it had to be no more effort on their part than a
walk to the dumpster would have been.

Mine weren't tinned though. Also, I am not sure if constantly touching
a
pre-tinned board during experiments would be too healthy.

Why is that? Lead? I thought that paint with lead in it was a lot
worse.

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

Hello Watson,

Why is that? Lead? I thought that paint with lead in it was a lot
worse.

I believe yes, plus other additives.

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

See if there is a PCB manufacturer within resonable driving distance and
ask for scraps. That's how I got a huge stash decades ago. Single and
double sided, the good stuff (FR4). But it has to be picked up, in my case
they wouldn't have gone through the trouble of packaging and mailing it.
Basically it had to be no more effort on their part than a walk to the
dumpster would have been.

Mine weren't tinned though. Also, I am not sure if constantly touching a
pre-tinned board during experiments would be too healthy.
===============================
Printed circuit board scraps up to large pieces ,be it usually double sided
, are always available at ham radio flea markets in the various european
countries. I think I have stocked up for life ! From the larger bits you
can make neat enclosures.

Frank GM0CSZ / KN6WH

"Pipex News Server" ) writes:
See if there is a PCB manufacturer within resonable driving distance and
ask for scraps. That's how I got a huge stash decades ago. Single and
double sided, the good stuff (FR4). But it has to be picked up, in my case
they wouldn't have gone through the trouble of packaging and mailing it.
Basically it had to be no more effort on their part than a walk to the
dumpster would have been.

Mine weren't tinned though. Also, I am not sure if constantly touching a
pre-tinned board during experiments would be too healthy.
===============================
Printed circuit board scraps up to large pieces ,be it usually double sided
, are always available at ham radio flea markets in the various european
countries. I think I have stocked up for life ! From the larger bits you
can make neat enclosures.

Frank GM0CSZ / KN6WH


Yes, I've been able to get it at the local "surplus" outlet for
thirty years, though I suppose at this point many a location no
longer has such a store.

They often have board that has been drilled, or shaped in a certain
design, clearly overrun or projects that got scrapped. If you
aren't actually etching the board, or if you only need small pieces,
these work fine and cost even less.

Because it's cheap, I've done things like use it for panels on projects.
Circuit board is a easier to work with than metal, yet the copper
provides shielding.

I've even pulled the copper off boards when I need it gone, though
that tends to be tedious. If it's just a small piece, I grind it
off.

Michael VE2BVW

I work for a PCB manufacturer. All scrap has to be accounted for, and is
then sent for recycling (copper is costly). I've managed, over the last
couple of years, to get hold of some pieces of scrap, but these are few
and far between.

For cleaning boards, we use a sulfuric acid and pumice scrub. That last
part should be doable at home (I certainly won't be messing with reagent
grade sulfuric at home!). Maybe using previously mentioned lemon juice?

"Only two things are infinite, the Universe and human stupidity, and I'm
not sure about the former."
Albert Einstein

On Sat, 7 May 2005 13:03:33 -0400, (Padraigh
ProAmerica) wrote:

I work for a PCB manufacturer. All scrap has to be accounted for, and is
then sent for recycling (copper is costly). I've managed, over the last
couple of years, to get hold of some pieces of scrap, but these are few
and far between.

For cleaning boards, we use a sulfuric acid and pumice scrub. That last
part should be doable at home (I certainly won't be messing with reagent
grade sulfuric at home!). Maybe using previously mentioned lemon juice?

Basic white vinegar from the grocery store is a reasonably safe acid
to work with. Cheap to experiment with different concentrations, and
probably stronger than the lemon juice, certainly less expensive.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
--
At the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

Hello Tim,

Just one more thought: I use "living-bug" arrangements almost
exclusively. Every once in a while I cut up some strips so they fit the
most popular "underbellies" of chips. Then I glue the strips onto the
large panel and the chips on top of the strips in a rider's fashion.
Ground connection can be achieved by slightly bending down a pin, the
rest gets wired up Sauerkraut style like usual. When stray capacitance
is critical I take washed wood strips instead of copper clad. Makes for
a really nice excuse to eat another Haagen Dasz.

This avoids having to think in reverse pinout and it often looks nicer,
too. Plus you can still see the "CD4007" on the chip.

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com