I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for proto
circuits, so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is 1/2 oz copper,
which dremels nicely.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wgzr56dx43z14rp/Gold_FR4_3x.jpg?raw=1

Min order was 3 square feet, which is maybe a 10 year supply.

--

If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts,
but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.
Francis Bacon

John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> Wrote in message:r
> I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for protocircuits, so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is 1/2 oz copper,which dremels nicely.https://www.dropbox.com/s/wgzr56dx43z14rp/Gold_FR4_3x.jpg?raw=1Min order was 3 square feet, which is maybe a 10 year supply.-- If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.Francis Bacon

Certainly better than tin plate. Has anyone tried to etch gold
plated boards with ferric chloride?

Cheers
--

----Android NewsGroup Reader----
https://piaohong.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/usenet/index.html

On Thu, 5 May 2022 12:15:09 -0400 (EDT), Martin Rid
<martin_riddle@verison.net> wrote:

>John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> Wrote in message:r
>> I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for protocircuits, so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is 1/2 oz copper,which dremels nicely.https://www.dropbox.com/s/wgzr56dx43z14rp/Gold_FR4_3x.jpg?raw=1Min order was 3 square feet, which is maybe a 10 year supply.-- If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.Francis Bacon
>
>Certainly better than tin plate. Has anyone tried to etch gold
> plated boards with ferric chloride?
>
>Cheers

Not much dissolves gold.

It solders beautifully and stays shiny forever.

--

Anybody can count to one.

- Robert Widlar

On Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 12:44:04 PM UTC-4, jla...@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote:
> On Thu, 5 May 2022 12:15:09 -0400 (EDT), Martin Rid
> <martin...@verison.net> wrote:
>
> >John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> Wrote in message:r
> >> I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for protocircuits, so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is 1/2 oz copper,which dremels nicely.https://www.dropbox.com/s/wgzr56dx43z14rp/Gold_FR4_3x.jpg?raw=1Min order was 3 square feet, which is maybe a 10 year supply.-- If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.Francis Bacon
> >
> >Certainly better than tin plate. Has anyone tried to etch gold
> > plated boards with ferric chloride?
> >
> >Cheers
> Not much dissolves gold.
>
> It solders beautifully and stays shiny forever.

Hmmm, I thought it dissolves very readily in solder.

--

Rick C.

- Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
- Tesla referral code - https://ts.la/richard11209

On 05/05/2022 10:15 AM, Martin Rid wrote:
> John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> Wrote in message:r
>> I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for protocircuits, so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is 1/2 oz copper,which dremels nicely.https://www.dropbox.com/s/wgzr56dx43z14rp/Gold_FR4_3x.jpg?raw=1Min order was 3 square feet, which is maybe a 10 year supply.-- If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.Francis Bacon
>
> Certainly better than tin plate. Has anyone tried to etch gold
> plated boards with ferric chloride?
>
> Cheers
>

Probably need aqua regia. Ferric chloride is miserable to work with but
it makes aqua regia look like soda pop.

On 2022-05-05, Martin Rid <martin_riddle@verison.net> wrote:
> John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> Wrote in message:r
>> I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for protocircuits, so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is 1/2 oz copper,which dremels nicely.https://www.dropbox.com/s/wgzr56dx43z14rp/Gold_FR4_3x.jpg?raw=1Min order was 3 square feet, which is maybe a 10 year supply.-- If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.Francis Bacon
>
> Certainly better than tin plate. Has anyone tried to etch gold
> plated boards with ferric chloride?

Gold is fairly inert, but Mercury will dissolve it. the nickel
can probably then be plated off leaving the copper which can
them be etched chemically.

Seems kind of messy.

--
Jasen.

On Fri, 6 May 2022 12:01:38 -0000 (UTC), Jasen Betts
<usenet@revmaps.no-ip.org> wrote:

>On 2022-05-05, Martin Rid <martin_riddle@verison.net> wrote:
>> John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> Wrote in message:r
>>> I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for protocircuits, so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is 1/2 oz copper,which dremels nicely.https://www.dropbox.com/s/wgzr56dx43z14rp/Gold_FR4_3x.jpg?raw=1Min order was 3 square feet, which is maybe a 10 year supply.-- If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.Francis Bacon
>>
>> Certainly better than tin plate. Has anyone tried to etch gold
>> plated boards with ferric chloride?
>
>
>Gold is fairly inert, but Mercury will dissolve it. the nickel
>can probably then be plated off leaving the copper which can
>them be etched chemically.
>
>Seems kind of messy.

Why dissolve it? The gold plating cost $150 a square foot.

If I want an ENIG etched PCB, I can just buy one, with vias and solder
mask and all that. The big slabs of gold plated FR4 are for quick
dermeled prototypes.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/yd19osiwz1z74s4/HV_Proto_2.JPG?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/pa9mu4ehtrjei8m/Z384_1.JPG?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zaftysxtgclxj82/Z412_Proto.JPG?raw=1

--

Anybody can count to one.

- Robert Widlar

On a sunny day (Fri, 06 May 2022 07:04:26 -0700) it happened
jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote in
<g8aa7httutkr62pphmi2k0376kvovt2fcj@4ax.com>:

>On Fri, 6 May 2022 12:01:38 -0000 (UTC), Jasen Betts
><usenet@revmaps.no-ip.org> wrote:
>
>>On 2022-05-05, Martin Rid <martin_riddle@verison.net> wrote:
>>> John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> Wrote in message:r
>>>> I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for protocircuits, so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is
>>>> 1/2 oz copper,which dremels nicely.https://www.dropbox.com/s/wgzr56dx43z14rp/Gold_FR4_3x.jpg?raw=1Min order was 3 square feet,
>>>> which is maybe a 10 year supply.-- If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, but if he will be content to
>>>> begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.Francis Bacon
>>>
>>> Certainly better than tin plate. Has anyone tried to etch gold
>>> plated boards with ferric chloride?
>>
>>
>>Gold is fairly inert, but Mercury will dissolve it. the nickel
>>can probably then be plated off leaving the copper which can
>>them be etched chemically.
>>
>>Seems kind of messy.
>
>Why dissolve it? The gold plating cost $150 a square foot.
>
>If I want an ENIG etched PCB, I can just buy one, with vias and solder
>mask and all that. The big slabs of gold plated FR4 are for quick
>dermeled prototypes.
>
>https://www.dropbox.com/s/yd19osiwz1z74s4/HV_Proto_2.JPG?raw=1
>
>https://www.dropbox.com/s/pa9mu4ehtrjei8m/Z384_1.JPG?raw=1
>
>https://www.dropbox.com/s/zaftysxtgclxj82/Z412_Proto.JPG?raw=1

The big question is:
What difference does it make for those small proto boards if it is gold plated?
else it is just show.

On Fri, 06 May 2022 14:23:14 GMT, Jan Panteltje
<pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> wrote:

>On a sunny day (Fri, 06 May 2022 07:04:26 -0700) it happened
>jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote in
><g8aa7httutkr62pphmi2k0376kvovt2fcj@4ax.com>:
>
>>On Fri, 6 May 2022 12:01:38 -0000 (UTC), Jasen Betts
>><usenet@revmaps.no-ip.org> wrote:
>>
>>>On 2022-05-05, Martin Rid <martin_riddle@verison.net> wrote:
>>>> John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> Wrote in message:r
>>>>> I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for protocircuits, so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is
>>>>> 1/2 oz copper,which dremels nicely.https://www.dropbox.com/s/wgzr56dx43z14rp/Gold_FR4_3x.jpg?raw=1Min order was 3 square feet,
>>>>> which is maybe a 10 year supply.-- If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, but if he will be content to
>>>>> begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.Francis Bacon
>>>>
>>>> Certainly better than tin plate. Has anyone tried to etch gold
>>>> plated boards with ferric chloride?
>>>
>>>
>>>Gold is fairly inert, but Mercury will dissolve it. the nickel
>>>can probably then be plated off leaving the copper which can
>>>them be etched chemically.
>>>
>>>Seems kind of messy.
>>
>>Why dissolve it? The gold plating cost $150 a square foot.
>>
>>If I want an ENIG etched PCB, I can just buy one, with vias and solder
>>mask and all that. The big slabs of gold plated FR4 are for quick
>>dermeled prototypes.
>>
>>https://www.dropbox.com/s/yd19osiwz1z74s4/HV_Proto_2.JPG?raw=1
>>
>>https://www.dropbox.com/s/pa9mu4ehtrjei8m/Z384_1.JPG?raw=1
>>
>>https://www.dropbox.com/s/zaftysxtgclxj82/Z412_Proto.JPG?raw=1
>
>The big question is:
> What difference does it make for those small proto boards if it is gold plated?
>else it is just show.

It solders beautifully and doesn't tarnish. Plain copper will show
etched fingerprints and grunge in a couple of weeks.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ejbuveodplo5m61/BreadBoards.jpg?raw=1

Beautiful things work better.

--

Anybody can count to one.

- Robert Widlar

On 2022-05-06 16:30, jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote:
> On Fri, 06 May 2022 14:23:14 GMT, Jan Panteltje
> <pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> On a sunny day (Fri, 06 May 2022 07:04:26 -0700) it happened
>> jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote in
>> <g8aa7httutkr62pphmi2k0376kvovt2fcj@4ax.com>:
>>
>>> On Fri, 6 May 2022 12:01:38 -0000 (UTC), Jasen Betts
>>> <usenet@revmaps.no-ip.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 2022-05-05, Martin Rid <martin_riddle@verison.net> wrote:
>>>>> John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> Wrote in message:r
>>>>>> I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for protocircuits, so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is
>>>>>> 1/2 oz copper,which dremels nicely.https://www.dropbox.com/s/wgzr56dx43z14rp/Gold_FR4_3x.jpg?raw=1Min order was 3 square feet,
>>>>>> which is maybe a 10 year supply.-- If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, but if he will be content to
>>>>>> begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.Francis Bacon
>>>>>
>>>>> Certainly better than tin plate. Has anyone tried to etch gold
>>>>> plated boards with ferric chloride?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Gold is fairly inert, but Mercury will dissolve it. the nickel
>>>> can probably then be plated off leaving the copper which can
>>>> them be etched chemically.
>>>>
>>>> Seems kind of messy.
>>>
>>> Why dissolve it? The gold plating cost $150 a square foot.
>>>
>>> If I want an ENIG etched PCB, I can just buy one, with vias and solder
>>> mask and all that. The big slabs of gold plated FR4 are for quick
>>> dermeled prototypes.
>>>
>>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/yd19osiwz1z74s4/HV_Proto_2.JPG?raw=1
>>>
>>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/pa9mu4ehtrjei8m/Z384_1.JPG?raw=1
>>>
>>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/zaftysxtgclxj82/Z412_Proto.JPG?raw=1
>>
>> The big question is:
>> What difference does it make for those small proto boards if it is gold plated?
>> else it is just show.
>
> It solders beautifully and doesn't tarnish. Plain copper will show
> etched fingerprints and grunge in a couple of weeks.
>
> https://www.dropbox.com/s/ejbuveodplo5m61/BreadBoards.jpg?raw=1
>
> Beautiful things work better.

I lightly sand a piece of copper clad and then paint it with
a very thin layer of rosin. That works too, though not as well
as ENIG.

Jeroen Belleman

Jeroen Belleman

On Fri, 06 May 2022 17:32:23 +0200, Jeroen Belleman
<jeroen@nospam.please> wrote:

>On 2022-05-06 16:30, jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote:
>> On Fri, 06 May 2022 14:23:14 GMT, Jan Panteltje
>> <pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>> On a sunny day (Fri, 06 May 2022 07:04:26 -0700) it happened
>>> jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote in
>>> <g8aa7httutkr62pphmi2k0376kvovt2fcj@4ax.com>:
>>>
>>>> On Fri, 6 May 2022 12:01:38 -0000 (UTC), Jasen Betts
>>>> <usenet@revmaps.no-ip.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On 2022-05-05, Martin Rid <martin_riddle@verison.net> wrote:
>>>>>> John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> Wrote in message:r
>>>>>>> I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for protocircuits, so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is
>>>>>>> 1/2 oz copper,which dremels nicely.https://www.dropbox.com/s/wgzr56dx43z14rp/Gold_FR4_3x.jpg?raw=1Min order was 3 square feet,
>>>>>>> which is maybe a 10 year supply.-- If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, but if he will be content to
>>>>>>> begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.Francis Bacon
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Certainly better than tin plate. Has anyone tried to etch gold
>>>>>> plated boards with ferric chloride?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Gold is fairly inert, but Mercury will dissolve it. the nickel
>>>>> can probably then be plated off leaving the copper which can
>>>>> them be etched chemically.
>>>>>
>>>>> Seems kind of messy.
>>>>
>>>> Why dissolve it? The gold plating cost $150 a square foot.
>>>>
>>>> If I want an ENIG etched PCB, I can just buy one, with vias and solder
>>>> mask and all that. The big slabs of gold plated FR4 are for quick
>>>> dermeled prototypes.
>>>>
>>>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/yd19osiwz1z74s4/HV_Proto_2.JPG?raw=1
>>>>
>>>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/pa9mu4ehtrjei8m/Z384_1.JPG?raw=1
>>>>
>>>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/zaftysxtgclxj82/Z412_Proto.JPG?raw=1
>>>
>>> The big question is:
>>> What difference does it make for those small proto boards if it is gold plated?
>>> else it is just show.
>>
>> It solders beautifully and doesn't tarnish. Plain copper will show
>> etched fingerprints and grunge in a couple of weeks.
>>
>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/ejbuveodplo5m61/BreadBoards.jpg?raw=1
>>
>> Beautiful things work better.
>
>I lightly sand a piece of copper clad and then paint it with
>a very thin layer of rosin. That works too, though not as well
>as ENIG.
>
>Jeroen Belleman
>
>Jeroen Belleman

SoftScrub is great for shining up copperclad or ENIG copperclad. It's
almost optical-grade polish.

--

Anybody can count to one.

- Robert Widlar

On a sunny day (Fri, 06 May 2022 07:30:56 -0700) it happened
jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote in
<22ca7hh5pnch8m0a3mk8q7jqvnu9setseb@4ax.com>:

>On Fri, 06 May 2022 14:23:14 GMT, Jan Panteltje
><pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>>On a sunny day (Fri, 06 May 2022 07:04:26 -0700) it happened
>>jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote in
>><g8aa7httutkr62pphmi2k0376kvovt2fcj@4ax.com>:
>>
>>>On Fri, 6 May 2022 12:01:38 -0000 (UTC), Jasen Betts
>>><usenet@revmaps.no-ip.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>>On 2022-05-05, Martin Rid <martin_riddle@verison.net> wrote:
>>>>> John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> Wrote in message:r
>>>>>> I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for protocircuits, so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is
>>>>>> 1/2 oz copper,which dremels nicely.https://www.dropbox.com/s/wgzr56dx43z14rp/Gold_FR4_3x.jpg?raw=1Min order was 3 square
>>>>>> feet,
>>>>>> which is maybe a 10 year supply.-- If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, but if he will be
>>>>>> content to
>>>>>> begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.Francis Bacon
>>>>>
>>>>> Certainly better than tin plate. Has anyone tried to etch gold
>>>>> plated boards with ferric chloride?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Gold is fairly inert, but Mercury will dissolve it. the nickel
>>>>can probably then be plated off leaving the copper which can
>>>>them be etched chemically.
>>>>
>>>>Seems kind of messy.
>>>
>>>Why dissolve it? The gold plating cost $150 a square foot.
>>>
>>>If I want an ENIG etched PCB, I can just buy one, with vias and solder
>>>mask and all that. The big slabs of gold plated FR4 are for quick
>>>dermeled prototypes.
>>>
>>>https://www.dropbox.com/s/yd19osiwz1z74s4/HV_Proto_2.JPG?raw=1
>>>
>>>https://www.dropbox.com/s/pa9mu4ehtrjei8m/Z384_1.JPG?raw=1
>>>
>>>https://www.dropbox.com/s/zaftysxtgclxj82/Z412_Proto.JPG?raw=1
>>
>>The big question is:
>> What difference does it make for those small proto boards if it is gold plated?
>>else it is just show.
>
>It solders beautifully and doesn't tarnish. Plain copper will show
>etched fingerprints and grunge in a couple of weeks.
>
>https://www.dropbox.com/s/ejbuveodplo5m61/BreadBoards.jpg?raw=1
>
>Beautiful things work better.

Maybe for wimin
I do it this way (boards that is):
http://panteltje.com/pub/test_board_wiring_side_IMG_3921.GIF
the long wires are the MHz part, the other stuff on the right is giggle Hertz

Still looks the same today.
I do use 60/40

Jan Panteltje wrote:
> On a sunny day (Fri, 06 May 2022 07:04:26 -0700) it happened
> jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote in
> <g8aa7httutkr62pphmi2k0376kvovt2fcj@4ax.com>:
>
>> On Fri, 6 May 2022 12:01:38 -0000 (UTC), Jasen Betts
>> <usenet@revmaps.no-ip.org> wrote:
>>
>>> On 2022-05-05, Martin Rid <martin_riddle@verison.net> wrote:
>>>> John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> Wrote in message:r
>>>>> I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for protocircuits, so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is
>>>>> 1/2 oz copper,which dremels nicely.https://www.dropbox.com/s/wgzr56dx43z14rp/Gold_FR4_3x.jpg?raw=1Min order was 3 square feet,
>>>>> which is maybe a 10 year supply.-- If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, but if he will be content to
>>>>> begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.Francis Bacon
>>>>
>>>> Certainly better than tin plate. Has anyone tried to etch gold
>>>> plated boards with ferric chloride?
>>>
>>>
>>> Gold is fairly inert, but Mercury will dissolve it. the nickel
>>> can probably then be plated off leaving the copper which can
>>> them be etched chemically.
>>>
>>> Seems kind of messy.
>>
>> Why dissolve it? The gold plating cost $150 a square foot.
>>
>> If I want an ENIG etched PCB, I can just buy one, with vias and solder
>> mask and all that. The big slabs of gold plated FR4 are for quick
>> dermeled prototypes.
>>
>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/yd19osiwz1z74s4/HV_Proto_2.JPG?raw=1
>>
>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/pa9mu4ehtrjei8m/Z384_1.JPG?raw=1
>>
>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/zaftysxtgclxj82/Z412_Proto.JPG?raw=1
>
> The big question is:
> What difference does it make for those small proto boards if it is gold plated?
> else it is just show.
>

Bling bling!

When I'm building stuff for customers (e.g. bits of a POC proto), I
sometimes spray some clear acrylic Krylon on the clean copper-clad
before gettting started. That keeps the board looking nice for a long
time as well, and you can solder right through it with no issues.

I'm not as posh as John, is all. ;)

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

--
Dr Philip C D Hobbs
Principal Consultant
ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / Hobbs ElectroOptics
Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics
Briarcliff Manor NY 10510

http://electrooptical.net
http://hobbs-eo.com

> >>>> John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> Wrote in message:r
> >>>>> I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for protocircuits
, so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is
> >>>>> 1/2 oz copper,which dremels nicely.https://www.dropbox.com/s/wgzr56dx
43z14rp/Gold_FR4_3x.jpg?raw=1Min order was 3 square feet,
> >>>>> which is maybe a 10 year supply.-- If a man will begin with certainties, he shall
end with doubts, but if he will be content to
> >>>>> begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.Francis Bacon
> >>>>
> >>>> Certainly better than tin plate. Has anyone tried to etch gold
> >>>> plated boards with ferric chloride?
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Gold is fairly inert, but Mercury will dissolve it. the nickel
> >>> can probably then be plated off leaving the copper which can
> >>> them be etched chemically.
> >>>
> >>> Seems kind of messy.
> >>
> >> Why dissolve it? The gold plating cost $150 a square foot.
> >>
> >> If I want an ENIG etched PCB, I can just buy one, with vias and solder
> >> mask and all that. The big slabs of gold plated FR4 are for quick
> >> dermeled prototypes.
> >>
> >> https://www.dropbox.com/s/yd19osiwz1z74s4/HV_Proto_2.JPG?raw=1
> >>
> >> https://www.dropbox.com/s/pa9mu4ehtrjei8m/Z384_1.JPG?raw=1
> >>
> >> https://www.dropbox.com/s/zaftysxtgclxj82/Z412_Proto.JPG?raw=1
> >
> > The big question is:
> > What difference does it make for those small proto boards if it is gold plated?
> > else it is just show.
> >
> Bling bling!
>
> When I'm building stuff for customers (e.g. bits of a POC proto), I
> sometimes spray some clear acrylic Krylon on the clean copper-clad
> before gettting started. That keeps the board looking nice for a long
> time as well, and you can solder right through it with no issues.
>
> I'm not as posh as John, is all. ;)
>
> Cheers
>
> Phil Hobbs
>

Different stroke for different folks
I was going to suggest same kind of thing, a cheap clear coat like clear
spray "paint". Good to know the idea has Phil's endorsement ;-)

I'm not in you guy's bizness but I remember long ago a former
co worker (who once ran elec assy lines at GE, Schenectady, NY)
mention something called "Stay Bright" -- when ordering bare
non-plated etched PCBs. Searching for that now turns up
other unrelated things. But I suppose PCB makers can
offer clean meltable coatings, yes?
= RS

fredag den 6. maj 2022 kl. 19.35.45 UTC+2 skrev Phil Hobbs:
> Jan Panteltje wrote:
> > On a sunny day (Fri, 06 May 2022 07:04:26 -0700) it happened
> > jla...@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote in
> > <g8aa7httutkr62pph...@4ax.com>:
> >
> >> On Fri, 6 May 2022 12:01:38 -0000 (UTC), Jasen Betts
> >> <use...@revmaps.no-ip.org> wrote:
> >>
> >>> On 2022-05-05, Martin Rid <martin...@verison.net> wrote:
> >>>> John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> Wrote in message:r
> >>>>> I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for protocircuits, so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is
> >>>>> 1/2 oz copper,which dremels nicely.https://www.dropbox.com/s/wgzr56dx43z14rp/Gold_FR4_3x.jpg?raw=1Min order was 3 square feet,
> >>>>> which is maybe a 10 year supply.-- If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, but if he will be content to
> >>>>> begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.Francis Bacon
> >>>>
> >>>> Certainly better than tin plate. Has anyone tried to etch gold
> >>>> plated boards with ferric chloride?
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Gold is fairly inert, but Mercury will dissolve it. the nickel
> >>> can probably then be plated off leaving the copper which can
> >>> them be etched chemically.
> >>>
> >>> Seems kind of messy.
> >>
> >> Why dissolve it? The gold plating cost $150 a square foot.
> >>
> >> If I want an ENIG etched PCB, I can just buy one, with vias and solder
> >> mask and all that. The big slabs of gold plated FR4 are for quick
> >> dermeled prototypes.
> >>
> >> https://www.dropbox.com/s/yd19osiwz1z74s4/HV_Proto_2.JPG?raw=1
> >>
> >> https://www.dropbox.com/s/pa9mu4ehtrjei8m/Z384_1.JPG?raw=1
> >>
> >> https://www.dropbox.com/s/zaftysxtgclxj82/Z412_Proto.JPG?raw=1
> >
> > The big question is:
> > What difference does it make for those small proto boards if it is gold plated?
> > else it is just show.
> >
> Bling bling!
>
> When I'm building stuff for customers (e.g. bits of a POC proto), I
> sometimes spray some clear acrylic Krylon on the clean copper-clad
> before gettting started. That keeps the board looking nice for a long
> time as well, and you can solder right through it with no issues.
>

you can even get some some green paint to make it look like soldermask

http://www.fortex.co.uk/product/green-coat-solder-laquer/

or clear meant for soldering

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Contact-Chemie-Soldering-Paint-74513-AA/dp/B003A61VI6/

On Fri, 6 May 2022 10:56:19 -0700 (PDT), Rich S
<richsulinengineer@gmail.com> wrote:

>> >>>> John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> Wrote in message:r
>> >>>>> I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for protocircuits
>, so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is
>> >>>>> 1/2 oz copper,which dremels nicely.https://www.dropbox.com/s/wgzr56dx
>43z14rp/Gold_FR4_3x.jpg?raw=1Min order was 3 square feet,
>> >>>>> which is maybe a 10 year supply.-- If a man will begin with certainties, he shall
> end with doubts, but if he will be content to
>> >>>>> begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.Francis Bacon
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Certainly better than tin plate. Has anyone tried to etch gold
>> >>>> plated boards with ferric chloride?
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> Gold is fairly inert, but Mercury will dissolve it. the nickel
>> >>> can probably then be plated off leaving the copper which can
>> >>> them be etched chemically.
>> >>>
>> >>> Seems kind of messy.
>> >>
>> >> Why dissolve it? The gold plating cost $150 a square foot.
>> >>
>> >> If I want an ENIG etched PCB, I can just buy one, with vias and solder
>> >> mask and all that. The big slabs of gold plated FR4 are for quick
>> >> dermeled prototypes.
>> >>
>> >> https://www.dropbox.com/s/yd19osiwz1z74s4/HV_Proto_2.JPG?raw=1
>> >>
>> >> https://www.dropbox.com/s/pa9mu4ehtrjei8m/Z384_1.JPG?raw=1
>> >>
>> >> https://www.dropbox.com/s/zaftysxtgclxj82/Z412_Proto.JPG?raw=1
>> >
>> > The big question is:
>> > What difference does it make for those small proto boards if it is gold plated?
>> > else it is just show.
>> >
>> Bling bling!
>>
>> When I'm building stuff for customers (e.g. bits of a POC proto), I
>> sometimes spray some clear acrylic Krylon on the clean copper-clad
>> before gettting started. That keeps the board looking nice for a long
>> time as well, and you can solder right through it with no issues.
>>
>> I'm not as posh as John, is all. ;)
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Phil Hobbs
>>
>
>Different stroke for different folks
>I was going to suggest same kind of thing, a cheap clear coat like clear
>spray "paint". Good to know the idea has Phil's endorsement ;-)
>
>I'm not in you guy's bizness but I remember long ago a former
>co worker (who once ran elec assy lines at GE, Schenectady, NY)
>mention something called "Stay Bright" -- when ordering bare
>non-plated etched PCBs. Searching for that now turns up
>other unrelated things. But I suppose PCB makers can
>offer clean meltable coatings, yes?
> = RS

There is some liquid that you can dip copperclad into that plates it
with tin. It's not any better than bare copper.

--

If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts,
but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.
Francis Bacon

On Friday, 6 May 2022 at 13:30:59 UTC+1, Jasen Betts wrote:
> On 2022-05-05, Martin Rid <martin...@verison.net> wrote:
> > John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> Wrote in message:r
> >> I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for protocircuits, so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is 1/2 oz copper,which dremels nicely.https://www.dropbox.com/s/wgzr56dx43z14rp/Gold_FR4_3x.jpg?raw=1Min order was 3 square feet, which is maybe a 10 year supply.-- If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.Francis Bacon
> >
> > Certainly better than tin plate. Has anyone tried to etch gold
> > plated boards with ferric chloride?
> Gold is fairly inert, but Mercury will dissolve it. the nickel
> can probably then be plated off leaving the copper which can
> them be etched chemically.
>
> Seems kind of messy.

If you do need to dissolve a thin layer of gold without using really nasty reagents,
then an iodine solution is quite effective.

John

Am 06.05.22 um 19:56 schrieb Rich S:
>>>>>> John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> Wrote in message:r
>>>>>>> I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for protocircuits
> , so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is

>> When I'm building stuff for customers (e.g. bits of a POC proto), I
>> sometimes spray some clear acrylic Krylon on the clean copper-clad
>> before gettting started. That keeps the board looking nice for a long
>> time as well, and you can solder right through it with no issues.
>>
>> I'm not as posh as John, is all. ;)
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Phil Hobbs
>>
>
> Different stroke for different folks
> I was going to suggest same kind of thing, a cheap clear coat like clear
> spray "paint". Good to know the idea has Phil's endorsement ;-)
>
> I'm not in you guy's bizness but I remember long ago a former
> co worker (who once ran elec assy lines at GE, Schenectady, NY)
> mention something called "Stay Bright" -- when ordering bare
> non-plated etched PCBs. Searching for that now turns up
> other unrelated things. But I suppose PCB makers can
> offer clean meltable coatings, yes?

I use solder laquer SK10 by Kontakt Chemie. It is an excellent
flux and protects the copper but is not very hard against
mechanical abuse.

When I want to test my circuit today, I use these Bungard
presensitized boards:

<
https://www.bungard.de/en/consumables/consumables/presensitized-boards: >

4 mil / 4 mil is no problem when the mask is good.
I my case, 1 signal layer and 1 unetched ground layer.
The layout can be recycled easily for dual sided
multilayers for the final product.
1.5 h from computer to solder.

For microwave filters, where it counts, the print
shop in the next village makes me an offset film
from my PDF with true 2400 dpi.

For the flight hardware of space projects we had
to remove the gold from the transistor legs etc.
Looks good, but the Au makes the solder joints brittle.
Non-compliance ==> junk pile.
There was a tin bath just for this purpose.

A friend told me his grief when he tried to repair
a YIG oscillator. Tried to solder a golden bond wire
under the microscope. The gold wire disappeared as
fast in the tin as he moved the tin blob. Shocking.
It went simply into solution.

Cheers, Gerhard

Gerhard Hoffmann wrote:
> Am 06.05.22 um 19:56 schrieb Rich S:
>>>>>>> John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> Wrote in
>>>>>>> message:r
>>>>>>>> I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for
>>>>>>>> protocircuits
>> , so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is
>
>>> When I'm building stuff for customers (e.g. bits of a POC proto), I
>>> sometimes spray some clear acrylic Krylon on the clean copper-clad
>>> before gettting started. That keeps the board looking nice for a long
>>> time as well, and you can solder right through it with no issues.
>>>
>>> I'm not as posh as John, is all. ;)
>>>
>>> Cheers
>>>
>>> Phil Hobbs
>>>
>>
>> Different stroke for different folks
>> I was going to suggest same kind of thing, a cheap clear coat like clear
>> spray "paint". Good to know the idea has Phil's endorsement ;-)
>>
>> I'm not in you guy's bizness but I remember long ago a former
>> co worker (who once ran elec assy lines at GE, Schenectady, NY)
>> mention something called "Stay Bright" -- when ordering bare
>> non-plated etched PCBs.  Searching for that now turns up
>> other unrelated things. But I suppose PCB makers can
>> offer clean meltable coatings, yes?
>
>
> I use solder laquer SK10 by Kontakt Chemie. It is an excellent
> flux and protects the copper but is not very hard against
> mechanical abuse.
>
> When I want to test my circuit today, I use these Bungard
> presensitized boards:
>
> <
> https://www.bungard.de/en/consumables/consumables/presensitized-boards:
> >
>
> 4 mil / 4 mil is no problem when the mask is good.
> I my case, 1 signal layer and 1 unetched  ground layer.
> The layout can be recycled easily for dual sided
> multilayers for the final product.
> 1.5 h from computer to solder.
>
> For microwave filters, where it counts, the print
> shop in the next village makes me an offset film
> from my PDF with true 2400 dpi.
>
> For the flight hardware of space projects we had
> to remove the gold from the transistor legs etc.
> Looks good, but the Au makes the solder joints brittle.
> Non-compliance ==> junk pile.
> There was a tin bath just for this purpose.
>
> A friend told me his grief when he tried to repair
> a YIG oscillator. Tried to solder a golden bond wire
> under the microscope. The gold wire disappeared as
> fast in the tin as he moved the tin blob. Shocking.
> It went simply into solution.

Yup, been there. 2% silver solder is a big help in preserving the gold.
Indium-tin eutectic also works well, but it's so low-melting that flux
doesn't work well.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

--
Dr Philip C D Hobbs
Principal Consultant
ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / Hobbs ElectroOptics
Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics
Briarcliff Manor NY 10510

http://electrooptical.net
http://hobbs-eo.com

On Fri, 6 May 2022 21:36:53 -0400, Phil Hobbs
<pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> wrote:

>Gerhard Hoffmann wrote:
>> Am 06.05.22 um 19:56 schrieb Rich S:
>>>>>>>> John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> Wrote in
>>>>>>>> message:r
>>>>>>>>> I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for
>>>>>>>>> protocircuits
>>> , so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is
>>
>>>> When I'm building stuff for customers (e.g. bits of a POC proto), I
>>>> sometimes spray some clear acrylic Krylon on the clean copper-clad
>>>> before gettting started. That keeps the board looking nice for a long
>>>> time as well, and you can solder right through it with no issues.
>>>>
>>>> I'm not as posh as John, is all. ;)
>>>>
>>>> Cheers
>>>>
>>>> Phil Hobbs
>>>>
>>>
>>> Different stroke for different folks
>>> I was going to suggest same kind of thing, a cheap clear coat like clear
>>> spray "paint". Good to know the idea has Phil's endorsement ;-)
>>>
>>> I'm not in you guy's bizness but I remember long ago a former
>>> co worker (who once ran elec assy lines at GE, Schenectady, NY)
>>> mention something called "Stay Bright" -- when ordering bare
>>> non-plated etched PCBs.  Searching for that now turns up
>>> other unrelated things. But I suppose PCB makers can
>>> offer clean meltable coatings, yes?
>>
>>
>> I use solder laquer SK10 by Kontakt Chemie. It is an excellent
>> flux and protects the copper but is not very hard against
>> mechanical abuse.
>>
>> When I want to test my circuit today, I use these Bungard
>> presensitized boards:
>>
>> <
>> https://www.bungard.de/en/consumables/consumables/presensitized-boards:
>> >
>>
>> 4 mil / 4 mil is no problem when the mask is good.
>> I my case, 1 signal layer and 1 unetched  ground layer.
>> The layout can be recycled easily for dual sided
>> multilayers for the final product.
>> 1.5 h from computer to solder.
>>
>> For microwave filters, where it counts, the print
>> shop in the next village makes me an offset film
>> from my PDF with true 2400 dpi.
>>
>> For the flight hardware of space projects we had
>> to remove the gold from the transistor legs etc.
>> Looks good, but the Au makes the solder joints brittle.
>> Non-compliance ==> junk pile.
>> There was a tin bath just for this purpose.
>>
>> A friend told me his grief when he tried to repair
>> a YIG oscillator. Tried to solder a golden bond wire
>> under the microscope. The gold wire disappeared as
>> fast in the tin as he moved the tin blob. Shocking.
>> It went simply into solution.
>
>Yup, been there. 2% silver solder is a big help in preserving the gold.
> Indium-tin eutectic also works well, but it's so low-melting that flux
>doesn't work well.
>
>Cheers
>
>Phil Hobbs

The gold on my boards is microinches thick. I'm sure that it dissolves
in solder. But then the solder sticks to the nickel somehow.

The gold plated FR4 solders agressively. I have to be careful about
little solder splashes ruining the prettiness.

--

Anybody can count to one.

- Robert Widlar

Am 06.05.22 um 20:54 schrieb John Larkin:

> There is some liquid that you can dip copperclad into that plates it
> with tin. It's not any better than bare copper.

This one is good and much better than copper:

<
https://www.buerklin.com/de/Zinnpulver-f%C3%BCr-Glanzzinn-B%C3%A4der-Seno-3211/p/13L217
>

The Cu surface must be _absolutely_ clean. They have a special
eraser rubber for it, quite abrasive. "Poliblock"

For me. it works best to put the etched Bungard presensitized
board without photo mask under UV again and then use the NaOH
developper to remove the photo resist.

cheers, Gerhard

On Fri, 6 May 2022 12:06:22 -0700 (PDT), John Walliker
<jrwalliker@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Friday, 6 May 2022 at 13:30:59 UTC+1, Jasen Betts wrote:
>> On 2022-05-05, Martin Rid <martin...@verison.net> wrote:
>> > John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> Wrote in message:r
>> >> I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for protocircuits, so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is 1/2 oz copper,which dremels nicely.https://www.dropbox.com/s/wgzr56dx43z14rp/Gold_FR4_3x.jpg?raw=1Min order was 3 square feet, which is maybe a 10 year supply.-- If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.Francis Bacon
>> >
>> > Certainly better than tin plate. Has anyone tried to etch gold
>> > plated boards with ferric chloride?
>> Gold is fairly inert, but Mercury will dissolve it. the nickel
>> can probably then be plated off leaving the copper which can
>> them be etched chemically.
>>
>> Seems kind of messy.
>
>If you do need to dissolve a thin layer of gold without using really nasty reagents,
>then an iodine solution is quite effective.
>
>John

But I don't want to dissolve it.

One board house wanted $1200 a square foot. Cirexx did 3 sq feet for
$500.

--

Anybody can count to one.

- Robert Widlar

On 05/06/2022 08:30 AM, jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote:
> On Fri, 06 May 2022 14:23:14 GMT, Jan Panteltje
> <pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> On a sunny day (Fri, 06 May 2022 07:04:26 -0700) it happened
>> jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote in
>> <g8aa7httutkr62pphmi2k0376kvovt2fcj@4ax.com>:
>>
>>> On Fri, 6 May 2022 12:01:38 -0000 (UTC), Jasen Betts
>>> <usenet@revmaps.no-ip.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 2022-05-05, Martin Rid <martin_riddle@verison.net> wrote:
>>>>> John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> Wrote in message:r
>>>>>> I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for protocircuits, so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is
>>>>>> 1/2 oz copper,which dremels nicely.https://www.dropbox.com/s/wgzr56dx43z14rp/Gold_FR4_3x.jpg?raw=1Min order was 3 square feet,
>>>>>> which is maybe a 10 year supply.-- If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, but if he will be content to
>>>>>> begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.Francis Bacon
>>>>>
>>>>> Certainly better than tin plate. Has anyone tried to etch gold
>>>>> plated boards with ferric chloride?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Gold is fairly inert, but Mercury will dissolve it. the nickel
>>>> can probably then be plated off leaving the copper which can
>>>> them be etched chemically.
>>>>
>>>> Seems kind of messy.
>>>
>>> Why dissolve it? The gold plating cost $150 a square foot.
>>>
>>> If I want an ENIG etched PCB, I can just buy one, with vias and solder
>>> mask and all that. The big slabs of gold plated FR4 are for quick
>>> dermeled prototypes.
>>>
>>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/yd19osiwz1z74s4/HV_Proto_2.JPG?raw=1
>>>
>>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/pa9mu4ehtrjei8m/Z384_1.JPG?raw=1
>>>
>>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/zaftysxtgclxj82/Z412_Proto.JPG?raw=1
>>
>> The big question is:
>> What difference does it make for those small proto boards if it is gold plated?
>> else it is just show.
>
> It solders beautifully and doesn't tarnish. Plain copper will show
> etched fingerprints and grunge in a couple of weeks.
>
> https://www.dropbox.com/s/ejbuveodplo5m61/BreadBoards.jpg?raw=1
>
> Beautiful things work better.
>
>
>
>

Solder it and spray on the conformal coating of your choice.

rbowman wrote:
> On 05/06/2022 08:30 AM, jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote:
>> On Fri, 06 May 2022 14:23:14 GMT, Jan Panteltje
>> <pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>> On a sunny day (Fri, 06 May 2022 07:04:26 -0700) it happened
>>> jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote in
>>> <g8aa7httutkr62pphmi2k0376kvovt2fcj@4ax.com>:
>>>
>>>> On Fri, 6 May 2022 12:01:38 -0000 (UTC), Jasen Betts
>>>> <usenet@revmaps.no-ip.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On 2022-05-05, Martin Rid <martin_riddle@verison.net> wrote:
>>>>>> John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> Wrote in
>>>>>> message:r
>>>>>>> I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for
>>>>>>> protocircuits, so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is
>>>>>>> 1/2 oz copper,which dremels
>>>>>>> nicely.https://www.dropbox.com/s/wgzr56dx43z14rp/Gold_FR4_3x.jpg?raw=1Min
>>>>>>> order was 3 square feet,
>>>>>>> which is maybe a 10 year supply.-- If a man will begin with
>>>>>>> certainties, he shall end with doubts, but if he will be content to
>>>>>>> begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.Francis Bacon
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Certainly better than tin plate. Has anyone tried to etch gold
>>>>>>  plated boards with ferric chloride?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Gold is fairly inert, but Mercury will dissolve it. the nickel
>>>>> can probably then be plated off leaving the copper which can
>>>>> them be etched chemically.
>>>>>
>>>>> Seems kind of messy.
>>>>
>>>> Why dissolve it? The gold plating cost $150 a square foot.
>>>>
>>>> If I want an ENIG etched PCB, I can just buy one, with vias and solder
>>>> mask and all that. The big slabs of gold plated FR4 are for quick
>>>> dermeled prototypes.
>>>>
>>>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/yd19osiwz1z74s4/HV_Proto_2.JPG?raw=1
>>>>
>>>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/pa9mu4ehtrjei8m/Z384_1.JPG?raw=1
>>>>
>>>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/zaftysxtgclxj82/Z412_Proto.JPG?raw=1
>>>
>>> The big question is:
>>> What difference does it make for those small proto boards if it is
>>> gold plated?
>>> else it is just show.
>>
>> It solders beautifully and doesn't tarnish. Plain copper will show
>> etched fingerprints and grunge in a couple of weeks.
>>
>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/ejbuveodplo5m61/BreadBoards.jpg?raw=1
>>
>> Beautiful things work better.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> Solder it and spray on the conformal coating of your choice.

Doesn't work. You have to coat it first.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

--
Dr Philip C D Hobbs
Principal Consultant
ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / Hobbs ElectroOptics
Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics
Briarcliff Manor NY 10510

http://electrooptical.net
http://hobbs-eo.com

On Fri, 6 May 2022 20:10:23 -0600, rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote:

>On 05/06/2022 08:30 AM, jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote:
>> On Fri, 06 May 2022 14:23:14 GMT, Jan Panteltje
>> <pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>> On a sunny day (Fri, 06 May 2022 07:04:26 -0700) it happened
>>> jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote in
>>> <g8aa7httutkr62pphmi2k0376kvovt2fcj@4ax.com>:
>>>
>>>> On Fri, 6 May 2022 12:01:38 -0000 (UTC), Jasen Betts
>>>> <usenet@revmaps.no-ip.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On 2022-05-05, Martin Rid <martin_riddle@verison.net> wrote:
>>>>>> John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> Wrote in message:r
>>>>>>> I was almost out of the ENIG gold-plated FR4 that I dremel for protocircuits, so we had Cirexx make us some more. This is
>>>>>>> 1/2 oz copper,which dremels nicely.https://www.dropbox.com/s/wgzr56dx43z14rp/Gold_FR4_3x.jpg?raw=1Min order was 3 square feet,
>>>>>>> which is maybe a 10 year supply.-- If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end with doubts, but if he will be content to
>>>>>>> begin with doubts he shall end in certainties.Francis Bacon
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Certainly better than tin plate. Has anyone tried to etch gold
>>>>>> plated boards with ferric chloride?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Gold is fairly inert, but Mercury will dissolve it. the nickel
>>>>> can probably then be plated off leaving the copper which can
>>>>> them be etched chemically.
>>>>>
>>>>> Seems kind of messy.
>>>>
>>>> Why dissolve it? The gold plating cost $150 a square foot.
>>>>
>>>> If I want an ENIG etched PCB, I can just buy one, with vias and solder
>>>> mask and all that. The big slabs of gold plated FR4 are for quick
>>>> dermeled prototypes.
>>>>
>>>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/yd19osiwz1z74s4/HV_Proto_2.JPG?raw=1
>>>>
>>>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/pa9mu4ehtrjei8m/Z384_1.JPG?raw=1
>>>>
>>>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/zaftysxtgclxj82/Z412_Proto.JPG?raw=1
>>>
>>> The big question is:
>>> What difference does it make for those small proto boards if it is gold plated?
>>> else it is just show.
>>
>> It solders beautifully and doesn't tarnish. Plain copper will show
>> etched fingerprints and grunge in a couple of weeks.
>>
>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/ejbuveodplo5m61/BreadBoards.jpg?raw=1
>>
>> Beautiful things work better.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>Solder it and spray on the conformal coating of your choice.

No thanks. I like the gold.

--

Anybody can count to one.

- Robert Widlar