solder plating

Nixie · 14th December 2006, 07:53 PM

Since both tin and lead dissolve in aqua regia, shouldn't I be able to dissolve regular rosin-less solder in aqua regia and then use the solution to plate PCBs (with appropriate additives), having pieces of solder as electrodes?

Nordic · 14th December 2006, 08:42 PM

Seems excesive, compare to how easy it is to smear flux and manualy tin a board or use liquid-tin

Nixie · 14th December 2006, 08:48 PM

I've tried the smearing, but can't get a smooth and even surface. I have no liquid tin, and tin without lead grows whiskers, making it a bad solution. Beyond the whiskers problem, tin makes the copper substrate more brittle.

Minion · 15th December 2006, 01:26 AM

I"ve just tried Tining a board with Silver solder paste and it worked really well and a very small amount goes a long way as the silver seems to go on much thinner than the Solder does....

The problem with the Silver paste is that it is a Bit pricey at about $5 for 1/4 ounce but I tinned a 6in x 6in board with a drop the size of a pea.....

Nixie · 15th December 2006, 01:30 AM

What a ripoff. Silver is $14 per ounce, and I'm betting that only a fraction of that paste is silver. Silver plating is very easy -- just use some dip the stuff in silver nitrate solution and use a piece of silver wire as the electrode.

EdT · 16th December 2006, 05:33 AM

You got the idea of tinning the pads, just wear safety glasses and use compress air to blow off the solder to make it flat. That is how tin plated pads are done in manufacturering PCBs except they use a more complex air knife.

Nixie · 16th December 2006, 06:04 AM

I don't understand. Compressed air will cool the solder into a solid before it can be blown off.

EdT · 16th December 2006, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nixie
I don't understand. Compressed air will cool the solder into a solid before it can be blown off.

Place you iron there while you blow it off, the solder doesn't instantly soildify or you can use wicking braids to soak up the solder, they are sold in most electronics stores.

AndrewT · 16th December 2006, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EdT
You got the idea of tinning the pads, just wear safety glasses and use compress air to blow off the solder to make it flat. That is how tin plated pads are done in manufacturering PCBs except they use a more complex air knife.

there's that confusion between tin plated (Sn) and tinned (Pb/Sn).
Both solder easily.

Does an electroplated version of tin plated as against hot dip tin plated produce a clean electrically bonded surface that solders well?

Similarly does a chemical deposition layer solder well or is it full of pock marks?

richie00boy · 16th December 2006, 01:02 PM

I've used tin plating powder without problems. You just mix it with water at 40 degrees C, let it cool then use. Plates in about 20 minutes.

Shelf life of mixed solution is supposed to only be about 6 weeks, but I've reheated some old stuff and reused it again fine.

14th December 2006, 07:53 PM	#1
Nixie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC	solder plating Since both tin and lead dissolve in aqua regia, shouldn't I be able to dissolve regular rosin-less solder in aqua regia and then use the solution to plate PCBs (with appropriate additives), having pieces of solder as electrodes?

16th December 2006, 01:02 PM	#10
richie00boy Did it Himself diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Gloucestershire, England, UK	I've used tin plating powder without problems. You just mix it with water at 40 degrees C, let it cool then use. Plates in about 20 minutes. Shelf life of mixed solution is supposed to only be about 6 weeks, but I've reheated some old stuff and reused it again fine. __________________ www.readresearch.co.uk my website for UK diy audio people - designs, PCBs, kits and more

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Stripping and plating an old chassis	Original Burnedfingers	Everything Else	1	20th November 2008 12:20 PM
Tin Plating PCB:s	Loial	Parts	2	29th August 2005 04:51 PM
DIY tin plating	AudioWizard	Everything Else	9	26th July 2005 08:28 AM
Golden plating	Tomek	Chip Amps	5	26th September 2003 01:49 AM
Tin Plating PCBs	Freddie	Parts	6	10th September 2001 08:18 AM

New To Site?	Need Help?
Register to Participate Search Privacy Statement Contact Us	Frequently Asked Questions Did you forget your password? Mark Forums Read


	Please consider donating to help us continue to serve you. Ads on/off / Custom Title / More PMs / More album space / Advanced printing & mass image saving

14th December 2006, 08:42 PM	#2
Nordic diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2005	Seems excesive, compare to how easy it is to smear flux and manualy tin a board or use liquid-tin

14th December 2006, 08:48 PM	#3
Nixie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC	I've tried the smearing, but can't get a smooth and even surface. I have no liquid tin, and tin without lead grows whiskers, making it a bad solution. Beyond the whiskers problem, tin makes the copper substrate more brittle.

15th December 2006, 01:26 AM	#4
Minion diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2006	I"ve just tried Tining a board with Silver solder paste and it worked really well and a very small amount goes a long way as the silver seems to go on much thinner than the Solder does.... The problem with the Silver paste is that it is a Bit pricey at about $5 for 1/4 ounce but I tinned a 6in x 6in board with a drop the size of a pea.....

15th December 2006, 01:30 AM	#5
Nixie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC	What a ripoff. Silver is $14 per ounce, and I'm betting that only a fraction of that paste is silver. Silver plating is very easy -- just use some dip the stuff in silver nitrate solution and use a piece of silver wire as the electrode.

16th December 2006, 05:33 AM	#6
EdT diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2006	You got the idea of tinning the pads, just wear safety glasses and use compress air to blow off the solder to make it flat. That is how tin plated pads are done in manufacturering PCBs except they use a more complex air knife.

16th December 2006, 06:04 AM	#7
Nixie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC	I don't understand. Compressed air will cool the solder into a solid before it can be blown off.