Paint your project in a day or less...

[11 Gauge]

This guy really has little patience for painting boxes, so his technique is actually pretty good for anyone just getting into building their own stomps.

Not the be-all-end-all method, but great if you have little experience, and less patience -

Paint it in a day.

[bowlfreshener]

This guys method is similar to mine, but I just use MS-Paint, Dark Transfer T Shirt Paper, and a lot of Duplicolor Truck/SUV Clearcoat...And instead of an oven, I bake mine in a TV box with a 60 watt lightbulb and the lid closed. Slow baking...
I do the graphics on MS paint, then print it onto the TShirt transfer paper, follow the directions on the T-shirt paper, but apply it to the enclosure. Then several light coats, then 2-3 "so heavy it looks like there is water on the enclosure" coats. I paint them inside the TV box actually, then put a small lamp in there, closed the lid and leave it alone for 4-6 hours.
The results are pretty nice though...

[Yoni]

My wife paints my boxes and she's got three to do...she's pissing me off right now since she's had them a while now.

[dean]

Here's one I've been working on for awhile - it's a BYOC Compressor, but it's taken a back seat to some other projects. Basically, sprayed yellow with a web decal applied - overcoated with clear lacquer. I'll finish it someday!



Dean

[wnorcott]

I use transparent- or single color translucent polycarbonate cases. Problem solved.

Bill

[HoodieMcFoodie]

Originally Posted by wnorcott

I use transparent- or single color translucent polycarbonate cases. Problem solved.

Bill

Are they stompworthy? No problems with cracking

[11 Gauge]

I actually went whole hog and got an Eastwood Hot Coat gun, but I have an airbrush compressor, all of the couplings/hoses/dessicant device/etc.

The good news is that you can get all of your air tools at places like Harbor Freight for peanuts. I think I got everything (minus the compressor) for around 20 bucks.

You don't need a full tilt compressor, since the powder guns only require about 8 psi.

With the gun, the finish is done in a half an hour. No top coat (unless it's metallic or similar). Nothing else. A 20 dollar toaster oven from Wal Mart works fine.

Not plugging the Eastwood unit, but it seems to be a better device than the Craftsman unit. Actually, REALLY not plugging Eastwood, since their powders are pretty expensive - at least 9 bucks for 8 ounces. I've had better luck finding other places that will gladly sell you 2 lbs. of powder for 10 bucks or less.

[wnorcott]

Originally Posted by HoodieMcFoodie

Are they stompworthy? No problems with cracking

Polycarbonate is not going to crack. That is what bulletproof glass and the cockpit of fighter planes, and shatterproof industrial safety glasses are made of. I can stand on top of one with my full weight on it.

Nothing you are going to do with a toe tap while wearing a sneaker is going to harm a polycarbonate project case.

[laundromatt]

i don't mean to resurrect a dead thread, but i'm still curious as to how others are finishing off their builds. what's your painting procedure? what paint/lacquer do you use? and what kind of finish do you get?

i'd like to get a finish that looks like the finish on my OCD. is this something i can do myself, or should i just get the prepainted enclosures on pedalpartsplus? i have a "raw" enclosure right now, but if it costs more than 5-10 bucks to paint/finish, then i may just buy a prepainted enclosure.

thanks~

[HoodieMcFoodie]

On my last build - an Orange Squeezer clone from Tonepad - I just did a brushed aluminium finish. I marked and drilled the holes, then over the next 2 nights I wet sanded the box with a range of papers from about 360 to 800 grit from memory.

To hold the sandpaper I had a jarrah door wedge which I taped the paper to with blue painters tape. $2 vs $15 the hardware store wanted for a "proper" sanding block.

Towards the end I was also using toothpaste to help with a nice smooth finish. It also made the box minty fresh.

[11 Gauge]

The easiest way IMO is with the hammertone paint. You only need a coat or two, no primer, no clearcoat (well, it's optional). The only problem with hammertone is that there's only a few colors to choose from. And they're all metallics.

I also bake mine. You can do this with an old toaster oven. Just don't use it to prepare food with ever again.

If you want colors other than hammertone, I recommend automotive paint with a self etching primer first. The auto paint goes on better (smoother) and is more durable when baked. There's also lots of cool colors to choose from. The etching primer is key since painting aluminum usually results in lots of chipping. The auto paints usually don't require a clear coat.

I also oftentimes prefer flat finishes. I do this by buffing the finished box with super fine 0000 steel wool.

For the ultimate in super tough clearcoat finishes, get a can of polyurethane for wood. Brush it on and bake it. Repeat this procedure 2 or 3 times, sanding in between coats.

An OCD finish is easy. Do mean a white box? Lots of good white paint out there. Rustoleum makes tall "industrial" cans that are superior to regular aerosols (including their own), IMO. But it also comes in other colors.

Primer, paint, sandpaper, and clearcoat will probably exceed $10, especially for the premium paints. But it also will paint over 40 boxes in most cases.

The prefinished boxes are very convenient. And since they are powdercoated, the finish is more durable.

Originally Posted by laundromatt

i don't mean to resurrect a dead thread, but i'm still curious as to how others are finishing off their builds. what's your painting procedure? what paint/lacquer do you use? and what kind of finish do you get?

i'd like to get a finish that looks like the finish on my OCD. is this something i can do myself, or should i just get the prepainted enclosures on pedalpartsplus? i have a "raw" enclosure right now, but if it costs more than 5-10 bucks to paint/finish, then i may just buy a prepainted enclosure.

thanks~

[koen]

Originally Posted by 11 Gauge

Primer, paint, sandpaper, and clearcoat will probably exceed $10, especially for the premium paints. But it also will paint over 40 boxes in most cases.

I don't need that much of paint, I don't think I will ever do more than a handful of boxes. But all I could find at my local hardware store were large containers. What about the paint that's used for model airplanes, can I use that, that comes in small containers.

[11 Gauge]

Originally Posted by koen

I don't need that much of paint, I don't think I will ever do more than a handful of boxes. But all I could find at my local hardware store were large containers. What about the paint that's used for model airplanes, can I use that, that comes in small containers.

Are you talking about aerosol or liquid (bottles)? Any of it will work (including nail polish), but brushed on stuff won't be smooth in most instances. If you're going for something "artsy" looking, it could be just the thing.

If you think that all you'll do is a few pedals, just pick a color that you can use for other stuff around the home that will require periodic painting, like exterior metal, your mailbox, etc. - stuff like that. Krylon and Rustoleum make aerosols in a zillion different colors.

And you can actually get the auto paint in a smaller touch up size aerosol can.

If spraying isn't an option, get the prepainted box.

[Joe-Bob]

Use Krylon Engine Color. Dries completely in an hour or so and is super tough.

[ibodog]

I painted my first 2 boxes this past weekend. I didn't get quite the results I'd hoped for. First off I painted in my garage with the door open and the wind blew in some dust on my primer. :( I forged ahead and after baking the primer I put on too much paint - over the dust specks, too. So a couple of coats helped, but I ended up with some crackling. Next time I'll stay out of the wind and go really easy on that first coat after the primer.

[millhouse]

In my experience, I highly recommend Pedal Parts Plus for painting boxes. They will drill your box with any dimensions that you want, and then powdercoat if for you in just about any color you can imagine. For the hobbyist, it will cost you about $10 per enclosure at most for both services. I have found that there is no way you can do your own, with quality, for less money, on a small scale. Highly recommended. You will end up spending more per enclosure, as a hobbyist, if you do it on your own. Plus, it saves you time, letting you work on more circuits, or play. As far as day or less, plan ahead and you spend no days!

Jason