After 37 years, we have closed down our 4 sites: DecalProFX, PCB Fab-In-A-Box, Color Foils & Etching Metals. For those looking for information on how to obtain resupply of materials for these kits and/or instructions, see below. If you have any questions, you can always call us at (850) 926-2009 (9am-5pm MST).

DecalProFX (and ColorFoils): (Download Instruction Manual)

Toner Transfer Paper: The paper used in our process is referred to as "uncoated" water-slide paper. If you Google "water-slide paper" it will show you COATED paper that you do NOT want. That paper is used to make conventional old-style decals that have a permanent lacquer coating you can't remove after transfer. The special paper in our process is used exclusively in the 'ceramics' industry, so for obtaining a small quantity you can contact any commercial ceramics manufacturing shop in your area to try to buy a small quantity from them. Most any "uncoated" papers will work fine. Specifically, the paper we have always used is referred to as "170gsm" (grams/square meter). The only other option is to go to the importer for the USA called "One-Step Papers", 12105 SW 130th Street, Suite 202-203, Miami, FL 33186. Phone (305) 238-2296, x210 and ask for Luisa. It's only sold in ream quantities (500 sheets) 12-1/2" x 18" made by Tullis-Russell in the U.K. One ream would cost you in the neighborhood of $200 plus shipping via UPS at 20 pounds. Discounts if you set up an account with them and purchase about 6 reams at  time.

Adhesive Spray: The cans we used to use were 3.4oz. They stopped making that size, and now offer this "KK-2000" in a larger 6.35oz can. Google "Sulky America KK-2000". Cost is under $20. Because it's a pressurized vessel, it must ship by Gound UPS. It's not allowed on any aircraft.

 TRF (Toner Reactive Foils): Don't confuse TRF with "Hot Stamping Foils". (Google the differences). Three sources: Arts and Crafts store (e.g. Michalels), Online (Google "toner reactive foils"), or by the manufacturer "Crown Roll Leaf" out of Chicago, IL. (Customer Service is in Patterson, NJ (800) 631-3831. Without an account, you may have to finagle a little bit. They have a $300 min. order. The metallics are of a type "MA-40" with a 3-digit 'shade' number. Pigment colors: White: GEA-22061, Gray: YEA-9000, Black: GEA-12041. Rolls are 24" wide by min. of 200 feet long.

Mylar Carrier: This Mylar used as the "carrier" can not be heavier than 1/2-mil (.0005" - no thicker or the image won't let go when you peel off this Carrier). Two sources... One is to cut a piece of any colorized foil and strip off the color to have one piece of TRF to do an image. The second source is a special order through Crown Roll Leaf. I'd search on Google too. You might get lucky with a foreign vendor. To make one piece: Using regular paper, print a solid page of all black toner. draw a box the size that you need and fill it with black. Print it, lay the color foil over the black and run it through the laminator. Peel off the film and throw the paper away. If it fully fused, the peel-off will be totally clear and ready to use as the Mylar Carrier film.

Low Tack Tape: This is a standard product at any Stationary store, made by 3M called "Cover It", #658, 1" wide.

 

PCB Fab-In-A-Box (and Etching Metal): (Download Instruction Manual)

Copper Clad Board: What makes our process enable super-fine traces is the weight of the copper on the blank copper-clad board. All of of the boards we had made for us for our kits were 1/2oz Copper... that's the trick for getting super-fine trace resolution. Also, to use Ferric Chloride at room temp to get a fast 1-minute etch. Remove the remaining toner with a VERY wet paper towel soaked with Acetone and wipe softly to dissolve the toner. You should wear gloves so your skin doesn't get too exposed to Acetone. (Remember, fingernail polish remover USED to be made of 100% full strength Acetone. There are some vendors (like DigiKey, Mouser, etc) that carry 1/2oz CU. Our board laminator supplier has very high minimums so that's not a practical way to get it. Their boards are make 36" x 48" and will give you at most ONE cut. They also make our Flex-PCB which is the only real way to get flex board (short of asking Rogers or other board laminators for a "sample". For about $70/sheet @ 6 sheet minimums, they'll make whatever you want. Contact

Greeen & White TRF: To cover your toner image transferred to copper on a blank copper laminate board (or to any bare metal for that matter) to prevent any "etch-through" use any type of toner-reactive foil. Some foils work better than others which is why we settled on a Pigment Green, but most all metallics work fine too.

 

GENERAL INFO:

Laminator: The ideal laminator to use is an off-brand named Tamarica (Model "SM-330"). They manufacture in the USA. The "T" stands for "TASHIN" (the one and only laminator that Tashin, a huge laminator company, makes for the USA wired for 110vac. Hunt for a good price. Search Google for the best price.

Your Laser Printer: All of the newer laser printer manufacturers (starting back around 2005 with Brother) have slowly all transitioned from conventional toner (55% pulverized styrene) to a form of Epoxy-based plastics that fuses at around 400º ~ 500ºF. This toner simply doesn't refuse from the transfer paper to copper-clad PC boards (or colorizing foils transferred to the toner via the DecalPro technique). Pouch laminators just don't get hot enough for this new type toner as the highest temperature laminators get to is only 300ºF. This one of the reasons for the demise of our products. Regarding HP printers, the last series of printers that worked well were the 4-digit model number units, but stay away from any 1000 series models. Best is to look for a refurbished HP-2300. Equally important is to use a NEW OEM toner cartridge. Don't use any after-market "compatibles" as they are all garbage when needing to make a dense, super-black graphic reproduction of your images. The TRF foils transfer at 280~300ºF but the TONER needs another 100º so that's the big problem.