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Enclosure painting

Posted: 23 Feb 2014, 01:42
by zedsnotdead
Hello,

well i have built a few effects, i started about 1 year ago building them. And I feel I am getting better soldering skills, better offboard wiring arrangement, better "fit-in-enclosure" layout, better overall quality circuit I guess...

But there's something I couldn't never, EVER, do properly. Enclosure painting and finish (labels and all that). i mean, my enclosures just SUCK!!
My "modus operandi" regarding this comes to clear decal paper, but then again it just sucks! i can't paint a enclosure with a dark color and use the decal for labels (its transparent). I also tried white decals, but doesn't do the job properly - try it, you will see...
I want to get better, really. How can I paint and label a enclosure like this?

Image

or

Image

Need advice, ideas, anything, PLEASEEEE!!

Thank you!!!

Re: Enclosure painting

Posted: 25 Feb 2014, 10:26
by zedsnotdead
No one? :(

Re: Enclosure painting

Posted: 25 Feb 2014, 13:31
by bcalla44
The challenge posed by the pedals in your pictures is white on a colored enclosure, with the enclosure color showing through.

I have seen this solution posted elsewhere - I haven't tried it myself. There is a product called DecalPro - http://www.pulsarprofx.com/decalpro/Ver ... rview.html

It allows you to create transfers of any color. Requires an initial investment, but looks like it would work.

Re: Enclosure painting

Posted: 25 Feb 2014, 14:25
by zedsnotdead
bcalla44 wrote:The challenge posed by the pedals in your pictures is white on a colored enclosure, with the enclosure color showing through.

I have seen this solution posted elsewhere - I haven't tried it myself. There is a product called DecalPro - http://www.pulsarprofx.com/decalpro/Ver ... rview.html

It allows you to create transfers of any color. Requires an initial investment, but looks like it would work.
Thank you!!

Well, I am not in USA. I am from Portugal (EU), and it seems a little difficult to get all these, and also the costs are a bit high...
Is this the only way?

Also, any suggestion, different from the examples given, is kindly appreciated.

Re: Enclosure painting

Posted: 25 Feb 2014, 15:11
by Sadcadaver
Learn how to etch an enclosure... its easier than baking the painted enclosure and it looks better too (in my humble opinion!).

Re: Enclosure painting

Posted: 25 Feb 2014, 16:11
by bato001
If you don't mind color on just the top of the box check out this thread.

https://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic ... 47&t=17040

Re: Enclosure painting

Posted: 26 Feb 2014, 10:23
by zedsnotdead
Sadcadaver wrote:Learn how to etch an enclosure... its easier than baking the painted enclosure and it looks better too (in my humble opinion!).
i did... also came out messy. I use the toner transfer method on a previously well sanded enclosure, so that the iron is most paralell to the surface as possible and this way get the maximum heat transfer and uniformity.
When I put the enclosure on acid, it starts to get really hot because of the exothermic reaction, and starts to corrode too much because the toner-ink gets "weaker" and doesn't stick so well with the enclosure so hot. This way the acid gets beneath this protection and etch what it doesn't supposed to.
I think maybe I have to add more water so the lower the concentration of acid and get this more controlled.

bato001 wrote:If you don't mind color on just the top of the box check out this thread.

https://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic ... 47&t=17040
Man, I gotta try this!! Do you use color laser printer or inkjet printer?
Thank you very much!

PS: @all, sorry for my not so good english. It's not my native language. if anything I previously wrote is not so well "understandable" or confusing, please tell me and I will try to clarify. Tks!

Re: Enclosure painting

Posted: 26 Feb 2014, 11:18
by bato001
zedsnotdead wrote:
Sadcadaver wrote:Learn how to etch an enclosure... its easier than baking the painted enclosure and it looks better too (in my humble opinion!).
i did... also came out messy. I use the toner transfer method on a previously well sanded enclosure, so that the iron is most paralell to the surface as possible and this way get the maximum heat transfer and uniformity.
When I put the enclosure on acid, it starts to get really hot because of the exothermic reaction, and starts to corrode too much because the toner-ink gets "weaker" and doesn't stick so well with the enclosure so hot. This way the acid gets beneath this protection and etch what it doesn't supposed to.
I think maybe I have to add more water so the lower the concentration of acid and get this more controlled.

bato001 wrote:If you don't mind color on just the top of the box check out this thread.

https://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic ... 47&t=17040
Man, I gotta try this!! Do you use color laser printer or inkjet printer?
Thank you very much!

PS: @all, sorry for my not so good english. It's not my native language. if anything I previously wrote is not so well "understandable" or confusing, please tell me and I will try to clarify. Tks!
I used a cheap, plain old ink jet printer.

Re: Enclosure painting

Posted: 26 Feb 2014, 12:12
by zedsnotdead
And what type of varnish/laquer do you use?

Re: Enclosure painting

Posted: 27 Feb 2014, 03:13
by bato001
zedsnotdead wrote:And what type of varnish/laquer do you use?
Plain old spray on acrylic clear coat.