Conductive Ink Pen - how to apply without bridging when there are multiple traces?

[Almighty1]

I was wondering if anyone here has any experience using conductive ink pens as it seems the motherboard I am recapping has some broken traces, these are fine hair thin traces as there as 11 traces within 5mm and 2-3 are broken. The problem is the traces are next to each other and I am trying to avoid bridging the traces together but what's the best method to do it as I've tried:

1) using 3M Scotch Magic tape outlining the trace but the ink still seems to bleed to the other trace.

2) just apply to the entire area and let it dry but after it dries, using the tip of a paring knife to draw the lines between the trace, it will basically take all the conductive ink off.

Is there another way to apply it so it will just be a hairline instead of spreading and creating a short?

[Agent24]

Re: Conductive Ink Pen - how to apply without bridging when there are multiple traces

I don't think ink will work in that situation.

Post a photo of the area so we can advise, but in general, you would usually use some very fine wire, a fine iron tip and a steady hand. If you've never done it before, practice on something else first.

[Almighty1]

Re: Conductive Ink Pen - how to apply without bridging when there are multiple traces

Kind of hard to post the photo of the area because I can't tell if they are broken or not because there is one trace near the edge of the board that sees to have a spot where it goes deeper. Then the other areas, basically it seems like there is a scratch on the trace, I don't know if it actually scratched just the protective layer or did it actually cut the trace. Then there is the two edges where the alligator clips left a mark on the trace lines, not sure if it cut the trace or not. I do know that on the back side where I recapped one of the capacitors, two traces going into the ram did get cut as I remember seeing two small bits of copper on the two traces but now the two traces are not connected. The lines are small that it's hard to even get a clear shot of the area in detail. I just thought since these are the hair thin traces and the voltage is 2.5v, the ink would work as it's easier for ink to flow into the the broken portion of the traces for conductivity if it was indeed broken where if one used strands of wire, I would have to basically break each trace even if it wasn't really broken and could actually end up breaking more than I started with.

[TechGeek]

Re: Conductive Ink Pen - how to apply without bridging when there are multiple traces

I'd solder some wire to bridge the broken traces and complete the circuit