Zed said:
I gotta agree with you there. It is time consuming and a bit messy but I have enjoyed doing it on the few occasions I've had the time to bother.
Well, actually I don't have too much time now, because we've just got a second kid born a month ago, but I still really enjoy making PCBs. At our university, we've got a milling machine, which is fun, of cause, BUT! When I do it (PCB) at home it looks slightly uglier, but still! The thing that it is made without using the expensive technology and the fact that traces are smaller makes me feel really optimistic about this method.
(I've just created a PCB having 3 traces between the pads of 74LS08, which was usual plastic dip-14 package)
Zed said:
BTW as far as getting rid of used ferric chloride is concerened I once poured mine in a circle on the grass behind the place I worked and the grass in that circle died and stayed dead for ages so it could be a great weed killer for use between paving slabs I was thinking.
Well, I kinda agree that note on the package saying smth like "never flush it into the toilet" (flexible translation) is for larger quantities. But, you know, being a father of 2 small kids, who will live in this world, I'm doing my bests to keep it as clean as possible. Especially taking into account the fact that there are a couple of companies arround, which are taking those liquids for free in such a quantities.
Just imagine, if one hobbyist like me will pour his used chemicals somewhere ... well it won't be that dangerous. But what if all of us will start to forget about the fact that those liquids are dangerous ... Just imagine that there are chemistry hobbyists arround as well... what could they pour ...