This is comprehensive step by step guide to tin your PCB at Home which saves your diy PCB from oxidation.
You've just finished etching the PCB board for your project, and it looks fantastic! But over time, you know the copper will gradually darken and develop a greenish tint. In this post, we’ll show you a simple method to tin the copper on your board, and the best part is that you likely already have everything you need!
If you have solder, flux, solder wick, and flux remover, you're all set to go! If you're missing any of these items, don’t worry—I'll include a list of parts at the end of the post to help you get started.
The first step is to generously apply solder flux to the bare copper board. Be sure to coat the surface well, as this will ensure a smoother and more consistent tinned finish. Next, take a piece of desoldering braid and apply some solder to it. It's important to use a generous amount of solder in the braid, just like in the picture below. This will help transfer the solder evenly onto the board.
Next, place the
desoldering braid onto the
circuit board and apply heat with your
soldering iron. Gently move the braid along the traces, ensuring the solder melts into it. Continue this process across all the traces. If you notice small spots of exposed copper while dragging the braid, don't worry—these will be addressed in a later step when we clean up the board.
Once you're finished, the board will look something like this. As you can see, there's a bit of leftover flux on the surface, and a few areas may have been missed with the desoldering braid. Now, it's time to clean things up. Start by applying a generous layer of flux over the entire board once again.
Trim the end of the
desoldering braid to reveal a clean, fresh piece for better results. Place the braid onto the circuit trace and apply heat with your
soldering iron. As the solder begins to melt, gently start "dragging" the braid across the traces. This will help remove any excess solder and fill in any missed spots. The goal is to leave a very thin, even layer of solder on the traces. Continue this process across the entire board, reapplying flux if needed.
Then it is time to clean up the board using
flux cleaner and a small piece of cloth. Dampen the cloth with the flux cleaner as shown below. Using the cloth, apply pressure and clean the board in a circular motion, pressing firmly to remove any remaining flux and residues from the surface.
Then use a clean dry cloth to clean the PCB board. You may have to apply some pressure on
the cloth while doing this as this will add a nice luster to the solder
coating.
Once the board is fully cleaned and tinned, it should look like this. The thin layer of solder will prevent the copper traces from tarnishing or turning green over time. Additionally, soldering will be much easier since the copper is now pre-tinned and ready for components.
