In ancient times (during the 1980s) I used EPROM memory chips like 2732s.
For these chips the sun had enough UV to erase them if you left them
outside for a few hours (and it was sunny).  Have not yet tried this with
PIC windowed EPROM parts, but it is worth a try, and VERY cheap.

Vance Gloster                Nothing that is worth knowing can be
vance@eni.net                                taught. -Oscar Wilde


-----Original Message-----
From: Clem Taylor <ctaylor@SRTC.COM>
To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU <PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
Date: Sunday, November 29, 1998 12:36 PM
Subject: [OT] ultra cheap uv EPROM eraser?


>I was about to order a $40 EPROM eraser for my PIC16C77/JW based project,
>but with the new PIC16F877 coming out early next year, I won't have much
>use for the eraser in the near future.  So, I was wondering if someone
>could recommend a cheap way to erase EPROMs, or a dirt cheap eraser?  I'm
>only going to be working with two chips, one in the eraser and one in
>program/debug.  The eraser I was looking at was the DATARASE IIAC, from
>Walling Co., sold by DigiKey for $39.95. I was hoping to spend <$20.
>Any ideas?
>
>              Many thanks,
>              Clem
>