Home brew stencils and electrolyte solution.... what's your preference?

Drew Riley

Drew Riley

Joined
Oct 17, 2007
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I've had a pretty good number of stencils made from a coupe of fairly well known and respected suppliers, and been reasonably pleased for the most part, but with wanting to try different kinds of steels, and occasionally needing some different sizes and what not, it seems like maybe the most economical option may be to just make my own as I need them.

The process seems pretty easy and straight forward, but my question is regarding supplies...

I'm looking for the best bang for the buck as far as the stencil sheets. I don't necessary need to get 10,000 etches per stencil, but I want something crisp and clean. Any recommended suppliers?

Secondly, does anybody know what's in the commercial electrolytes? I use salt water with pretty good results, but if there's a better homebrew option, I'd like to hear it.

Also open to any input on homemade stencils in general.... As I understand it, I just need a UV light and some transparency film with my logo/mark on it. Anything else I should know?


Thanks in advance.
 
I've used table Salt water with a little Vinegar for my home brew Worked fine and taste great!

I've bought the roll of stencil from Marking methods and Typed out names & dates that worked fine.
That's typed on a Real mechanical Type writer.

That's about all I can share with you on this subject, Good Luck.
 
Give these folks a call and ask for Patricia. http://www.img-electromark.com/ As Patricia for advice on what you need to make your own stencils, and what supplies you need. She has been VERY helpful to a number of folks, and me also. Don't need UV light, but a yellow safe light is good to use, and just a white light to expose the stencil material.

Once you get the material and try a couple, any other questions, be sure to email or PM me. I've made a few stencils that do nicely.

Ken H>
 
Most etching electrolytes are a salt and/or an acid. I looked up the MSDS of two formulations.

Formulation 1: Nitric Acid @ <5%, Ammonium chloride @ <2%
Formulation 2: Citric Acid @ 10-15%

However the MSDS won't list low-hazard ingredients.
 
Does anybody know: Are electo-etching stencil sheets the same as the dry film resist used for PCB etching? I know the dry film is usually laminated on to the circuit board with heat, but the exposure process and everything is about the same.
 
electo-etching stencil sheets are sorta on the special side. They have the plastic type photo emulsion on one side of a type of fabric. Once the emulsion is developed, it removed the emulsion from the portion that makes the design leaving the fibers in the space for design. This allows the etch solution to soak thru only on design allowing the electrical current/voltage to etch the metal below.

The type used for PCB is different in it is developed and stays on the copper that is not to be removed, while the area of copper to be removed has the stencil material completely removed.

Ken H>
 
I use salt and vinegar, I use my local sign shop he cuts stencils from paint mask its cheap works well for me.
 
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