Since the likely "classic" design he's implementing is pretty simple, I'd suggest he wire-wrap one first rather than wasting all the time and money to build a PCB. I doubt he'll save much money, but he'll have his board in a three or four hours and, in the rather likely event he has to change something in his design, it will be very easy to do. Naturally, there's a learning curve. Wire-wrap materials are not ubiquitous as they once were. That may add a day or two of delay. It's not as cheap and convenient for multiple boards as PCB is, but I doubt Mike's at that stage yet at which he'd want to repeat his errors.

I built a full implementation of the DS89C4x0 supporting all 3 of its address multiplexing modes on an un-groundplaned perfboard with plated-through holes in about 2.5 hours last week, and it took most of that time simply to place the bypass members (.001u, 0805's) and connectors. Now, I'm pretty experienced and well-equipped at wiring, so I can place 3-4 wires per minute, on a good day. I don't see as well as I once did, so I have to change glasses a lot when working very close, as I do when soldering bypass cap's. This slows me down considerably.

I'd guess an inexperienced fellow with normal vision would be able to work twice as fast as I, since placing bypass would go very much faster for him. I spent a lot of time looking for the cap or resistor I'd just dropped, after changing glasses, and increasing the lighting.

For someone who wants to try something out, it's much easier than a PCB, involves drilling no holes, and mixing no chemicals. For a simple circuit such as mine, a hand-tool would be adequate for the wiring task. If it were larger, say, >100 IC's, I'd say a motorized tool, just to ensure uniformity of wraps, would be advisable. If one works neatly, all materials are reuseable if the board is scrapped, including the board and the SMT bypass members.

Wire-wrapped boards are durable, functional, and relatively convenient. Components on circuits no longer to be used are completely salvagable if one works neatly and carefully, being careful not to overheat the soldered parts.

RE