whats the best way to make PCB's (Printed Circuit Board) other than press n' peel techniques?

I hand wire prototypes for home projects, myself.

Several home PCB techniques are shown at http://www.instructables.com/

for you to select which you like best.

Search for: make PCB

Making pcb's is a messy business; it involves unpleasant chemicals which are corrosive.

There are several ways to produce a pcb such as using the transfers you have mentioned or drawing the track onto copper board with an etch resist pen.

There is the more professional but more expensive "photographic" method where you design your layout onto transparent film.

Using a UV exposure (light) box, the board has the backing film removed and image placed onto this where it is exposed for several minutes after which time it is removed and immersed into developer.

The developer removed the exposed photo-resist coating and you see the image of the track.

The board is then immersed in ferric chloride which is the acid used to remove the bare copper but leaving the track.

If you want a copy of the book on making pcb's I can send this to you, just give me your e-mail address.