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#1
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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. |
#3
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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 |
#4
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![]() "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 |
#5
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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 |
#6
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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 |
#7
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![]() "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 |
#8
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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 |
#9
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#10
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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 |
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