Jero's First Etches

Do-it-yourself pedal building

Moderator: Ghost Hip

Forum rules
The DIY forum is for personal projects (things that are not for sale, not in production), info sharing, peer to peer assistance. No backdoor spamming (DIY posts that are actually advertisements for your business). No clones of in-production pedals. If you have concerns or questions, feel free to PM admin. Thanks so much!
Post Reply
User avatar
Jero
IAMILFFAMOUS
IAMILFFAMOUS
Posts: 11288
Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2010 1:12 am
Location: here

Jero's First Etches

Post by Jero »

Got some etching stuff the other day and made a couple pcbs. Tried to do one enclosure as well but that didn't turn out :no: . I don't have a printer at home so I ended up using my touch up marker for the entire thing. First board is an Electra based on an Andrew Carrel layout. The other old school ehx looking one is an LPB (ironic, eh?), again from AC. The last that looks like it should be on turret is effdubs electra layout...for turret.
Before the storm
Image
After
Image
and finished
Image

The crappy enclosure...
when I started drawing I accidentally depressed the tip and tons of ink oozed out. Below, is what that gave me :lol:
Image
Image

Some more to come, made the "right" way this time :p
I make noise toys under Stomping Stones
[url=http://www.stompingstones.com[/url]
oldangelmidnight wrote:This is the classic ILF I love. Emotional highs and lows. Scooped mids in my heart all day long.
User avatar
culturejam
Supporter
Supporter
Posts: 2381
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 5:25 pm
Location: Nueva Yersey

Re: Jero's First Etches

Post by culturejam »

I've done a few with a sharpie as well. It's pretty cool to have something really "hand" made. :)
Disclaimer #1: Co-Founder, Product Developer at Function f(x).
User avatar
Jero
IAMILFFAMOUS
IAMILFFAMOUS
Posts: 11288
Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2010 1:12 am
Location: here

Re: Jero's First Etches

Post by Jero »

I actually haven't tried straight sharpie yet. It was the "action marker" that came with the etch set. Seems like a fancy paint pen :idk: . It really is cool to have them hand done like that. I plan on doing a few every now and again with that method. Haha, I tried to draw up the buffered splitter you posted the same way, but gave up quickly. Must.try.again.
I make noise toys under Stomping Stones
[url=http://www.stompingstones.com[/url]
oldangelmidnight wrote:This is the classic ILF I love. Emotional highs and lows. Scooped mids in my heart all day long.
User avatar
nbabmf
experienced
experienced
Posts: 890
Joined: Mon Jan 04, 2010 3:43 am
Location: San Diego, CA

Re: Jero's First Etches

Post by nbabmf »

My first enclosure etch came out really shallow. The second one lost a lot of detail because the aggressive bubbling lifted the mask. I etch face up now.

It's a lot of work to get right, but they look awesome when you do.
Image

I love the smell of solder in the morning.

Successful dealings with: blooghost, starcastic, bronzetalon, theavondon, absent, jero, sevenSHARPnine, magiclawnchair, oldangelmidnight, and others that I can't remember lol
User avatar
Jero
IAMILFFAMOUS
IAMILFFAMOUS
Posts: 11288
Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2010 1:12 am
Location: here

Re: Jero's First Etches

Post by Jero »

nbabmf wrote:My first enclosure etch came out really shallow. The second one lost a lot of detail because the aggressive bubbling lifted the mask. I etch face up now.

That's exactly what happened to mine. I think I might have left it too long also. I'll try again when I can print it. Got a sheet of pnp waiting to be used.
I make noise toys under Stomping Stones
[url=http://www.stompingstones.com[/url]
oldangelmidnight wrote:This is the classic ILF I love. Emotional highs and lows. Scooped mids in my heart all day long.
User avatar
LaoWiz
Supporter
Supporter
Posts: 2035
Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2010 4:03 pm

Re: Jero's First Etches

Post by LaoWiz »

I etch face up now, as well. I pour etchant on the box and use a rubber sucker bulb and suck up he spill off and then reapply. I'll add some fresh juice here and there. I also have a water batch next to the etchant container that I dip the box into from time to time to check how deep it's getting and this also keeps the box from getting to hot. I've let it get too hot a few times and the acid ate up some of the toner. actually looked cool but it was a pedal iwas making for someone and used a new box.

I love the look of etched enclosures. even when it doesn't come out so clean. the sanding of the boxes makes it a real pain....
User avatar
Jero
IAMILFFAMOUS
IAMILFFAMOUS
Posts: 11288
Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2010 1:12 am
Location: here

Re: Jero's First Etches

Post by Jero »

I was actually going to ask what to do for face up etching, thanks for mentioning that guys. It certainly is a much diff reaction between etch/enclosure & etch/pcb.
I make noise toys under Stomping Stones
[url=http://www.stompingstones.com[/url]
oldangelmidnight wrote:This is the classic ILF I love. Emotional highs and lows. Scooped mids in my heart all day long.
User avatar
nbabmf
experienced
experienced
Posts: 890
Joined: Mon Jan 04, 2010 3:43 am
Location: San Diego, CA

Re: Jero's First Etches

Post by nbabmf »

I use a Q-tip for etching enclosure face up. I have better control over the amount and location of the acid that way.
Image

I love the smell of solder in the morning.

Successful dealings with: blooghost, starcastic, bronzetalon, theavondon, absent, jero, sevenSHARPnine, magiclawnchair, oldangelmidnight, and others that I can't remember lol
User avatar
tuffteef
IAMILFFAMOUS
IAMILFFAMOUS
Posts: 7890
Joined: Tue May 26, 2009 7:05 pm
Location: Downunderverse

Re: Jero's First Etches

Post by tuffteef »

must try this looks fun

hopefully i wont burn my face off
Post Reply