Maplin PCB - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Oldcodger · 16th Dec 2016, 3:57 pm

For anyone who uses 100mm X 75mm or 160mm X 10mm PCB, (Pre sensitised, but at the price it's worth getting it to remove the spray) try Maplin codes JP56L and JP55K, now at 22p in the few stores that still have stock.

MrBungle · 16th Dec 2016, 4:21 pm

That's a pretty good find. Thanks for the heads up. I'm in Staines at the moment and they have one in stock. Not for long!

David G4EBT · 17th Dec 2016, 12:14 am

Careful what you wish for - it's not FR4 glass fibre board - it's cheapo SRBP laminate (synthetic resin bonded paper).

Fine for simple projects and often found in cheapskate domestic electronics, but personally, I only ever use FR4 woven fibreglass resin board. ('FR' stands for Fire Retardant). The only place I used SRBP is for front panels for projects and at the price, it's well worth it for that. (There are those who seek out SRBP, as they do mustard caps, to make 'authentic' replicas of guitar modules such as 'fuzz boxes', but let's not go there).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FR-4

FR4 isn't expensive to buy and neither is negative UV photo-resist dry film to use with it.

Oldcodger · 17th Dec 2016, 12:59 am

BUT- at 22P - it's cheap, and for some folk might be just what they want. I remember in the old days of GEC where they threw out large sheets of Fibre PCB, because it hadn't taken the photo, and we got it for nowt.

MrBungle · 17th Dec 2016, 8:50 am

SRBP is fine for most amateur projects. FR4 is a pain to cut, eats drill bits and the dust off it is hazardous as well.

Oldcodger · 18th Dec 2016, 10:48 pm

It also sorts out the pro with a soldering iron from the amateur that's a bit heavy handed. Fibre takes heat a lot better than SRBP, so tracks don't lift easily( possibly why firms like it).

16th Dec 2016, 3:57 pm	#1
Oldcodger Nonode Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: West Midlands, UK. Posts: 2,181	Maplin PCB For anyone who uses 100mm X 75mm or 160mm X 10mm PCB, (Pre sensitised, but at the price it's worth getting it to remove the spray) try Maplin codes JP56L and JP55K, now at 22p in the few stores that still have stock.

16th Dec 2016, 4:21 pm	#2
MrBungle Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: London, UK. Posts: 3,687	Re: Maplin PCB That's a pretty good find. Thanks for the heads up. I'm in Staines at the moment and they have one in stock. Not for long!

17th Dec 2016, 12:14 am	#3
David G4EBT Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 5,763	Re: Maplin PCB Careful what you wish for - it's not FR4 glass fibre board - it's cheapo SRBP laminate (synthetic resin bonded paper). Fine for simple projects and often found in cheapskate domestic electronics, but personally, I only ever use FR4 woven fibreglass resin board. ('FR' stands for Fire Retardant). The only place I used SRBP is for front panels for projects and at the price, it's well worth it for that. (There are those who seek out SRBP, as they do mustard caps, to make 'authentic' replicas of guitar modules such as 'fuzz boxes', but let's not go there). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FR-4 FR4 isn't expensive to buy and neither is negative UV photo-resist dry film to use with it. __________________ David. BVWS Member. G-QRP Club member 1339.

17th Dec 2016, 12:59 am	#4
Oldcodger Nonode Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: West Midlands, UK. Posts: 2,181	Re: Maplin PCB BUT- at 22P - it's cheap, and for some folk might be just what they want. I remember in the old days of GEC where they threw out large sheets of Fibre PCB, because it hadn't taken the photo, and we got it for nowt.

17th Dec 2016, 8:50 am	#5
MrBungle Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: London, UK. Posts: 3,687	Re: Maplin PCB SRBP is fine for most amateur projects. FR4 is a pain to cut, eats drill bits and the dust off it is hazardous as well.

18th Dec 2016, 10:48 pm	#6
Oldcodger Nonode Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: West Midlands, UK. Posts: 2,181	Re: Maplin PCB It also sorts out the pro with a soldering iron from the amateur that's a bit heavy handed. Fibre takes heat a lot better than SRBP, so tracks don't lift easily( possibly why firms like it).