My Etching Journey
 
Another Try At Ironing Out This Problem
Saturday, March 14, 2009

Maybe I can iron out this problem!
 
Well, it was too overcast to expose Puretch plates today so I made another try at using PnP Blue.
 
I had very good success with todays efforts using every trick and tip that has been passed on to me:
  1.  I filed plate edges to remove die cut burrs.
  2.  I rubbed plate on 320 grit sandpaper to level the surface.
  3.  I polished the plate with 0000 steel wool and Purple Power.
  4.  I cleaned plate with alcohol.
  5.  I ran some temperature tests on  a Bienfang Sealing Iron to determine the correct temperature setting. I had searched for some temperature sensing “dots” then it dawned on me that the laser toner itself would “tell me” what the correct iron temperature was.  I melted the PnP Blue samples onto paper at different settings and found the ideal temperature to ensure melting without smearing.
  6.  I used an anti-stat brush that I found at a photo store to remove pesky dust on the PnP film and plate.
  7.  I found that I had to really be sure to get the edges of the copper plate up to temperature.  I had to linger on the edge of the plate with the iron to ensure enough heat in that critical area.
  8.  The smaller area of the iron vs. a laundry iron seems to ensure even heat distribution as their is minimal warping of the heating surface.
  9.  I let the plates air cool on a larger copper “heat sink” plate.
 
The PnP Blue peeled away nicely and I had zero defects in the transfer.
 
I ran a quick electro etch cycle at an aggressive settings to check out the erosion problem and to also check for lifting:
  1.  1 amp at 2 volts
  2.  2 inch plate distance.
  3.  4 square inch plate.
  4.  20 minutes
 
The etching process went very well.  There was no lifting of the resist.
 
So, I will now use this technique for the edition of plates using the inverse twiggy tree design to see if I can gain some confidence.