DIY Double Sided PCB/Circuit Board Etching

Step 4 Etching

Before you start to etch, double check all the traces and make sure everything worked. If it didn't you can always use a Sharpie marker pen to fill in what was missed. Also if you're doing double sided boards, get some brown box tape and cover the back in it (make sure you cover the alignment holes on the front as well). This will stop the ferric chloride getting anywhere near the bit you don't want to etch yet.

Now it's time to etch; Get you Ferric Chloride balls and mix with hot water in your etching tray/glass dish. Place your board face up in the solution and rock the tray back and forth, always keeping the liquid moving over the top. This could take a while depending on your mixture, but you'll be able to tell when the copper has been eroded fully and you can see the fiberglass below.

When it's done, take it out and wash under cold water. You can leave the solution for the other side later.