I also feel as though I am getting double the pleasure from each project since I get to build it at least twice..........once in laying out the PC Board and then again, actually building the board when it arrives from the manufacturer.  I went through the process of making my own printed circuit boards but when all is said and done, considering the equipment one needs in order to make your own boards and the expense and mess with the chemicals, board material and photographic equipment,  I believe the difference in board quality is well worth having them professionally manufactured.

I use Express PCB software which is available at NO cost from www.expresspcb.com.  After you finish your board layout you simply upload the file to Express PCB and in a few days your finished boards will arrive via a courier service such as UPS or Federal Express.

So, as you view the various homebrew projects they will initially appear to be kits but in reality they are boards I have designed to fit into a particular enclosure.  You will notice that they do not have any part designations stenciled on the board since I always print a large view of the circuit board which I use as a parts layout locator during construction.

There is one other advantage, and that is if I ever wanted to mass produce any of these projects and offer them as kits, it would be a simple matter to order the PC Boards in large quantities.

Regardless of your personal construction preferences, I hope you find something here that inspires you get out the tools and heat up your soldering iron and build that 'homebrew' project that will provide that special feeling of satisfaction one can only get from knowing that you built it yourself.

Printed Circuit Board Layout files available in Express PCB format for projects listed here