A feminist hackerspace in Vienna has published a tutorial on making printed circuit boards from wild clay, challenging conventional electronics manufacturing. Mz* Baltazar's Lab, an artist-run independent space, developed this technique to explore ethical hardware alternatives to PCBs containing conflict minerals like tungsten, tin, and gold.

The team wanted to reuse ATmega328P chips from malfunctioning Arduino boards accumulated over 12 years. They initially chose porcelain for its insulating properties but found the required 1000-1200°C kiln firing incompatible with their low-energy standards. A pottery crafter in Donnerskirchen, Burgenland taught them prehistoric open wood fire techniques that eliminate the need for electric kilns.

The process involves collecting clay in autumn, cleaning it through a kitchen colander, and mixing approximately 100ml of water per kilogram of dried powder. After kneading for 10 minutes to remove air bubbles, the material is rolled to 1cm thickness and cut into 10x10cm hexagonal shapes using a tile cutter. The circuit is imprinted directly into the clay, which dries naturally for 24 hours or indoors for one to two weeks.

This project demonstrates that ethical, locally-sourced hardware production is achievable through traditional craftsmanship and sustainable materials, offering a concrete alternative to industrial electronics manufacturing.