enclosure finishing and etching

[mordechai]

Does anybody:

A) know where I can find some 1590BB enclosures with a non-painted but "brushed" finish?  Similar to the "brushed" finish on the YY enclosures at pedalenclosures.com?

2) know of someone who can do graphics etching on the enclosure? 

Thanks!

[deadastronaut]

brushed finish!...use 180 grade wet and dry paper...sand in one direction...wet with washing up liquid..


enclosure etching service?....hmmm.....which country are you in?

[mordechai]

I'm in the US...got an idea for an etching service?

[EATyourGuitar]

I would go a little higher on the sand paper. 320 or 400 even. sometimes I shoot krylon clear and sometimes I dont. you might want to brush just the sides of the bottom plate to match. and clear coat the bottom plate to match if you clear the top. he is right about going in one direction. if you do it sloppy, that one sideways scratch really stands out and makes the whole thing look like fail. clear makes the sideways scratches stand out even more so dont clear it if its not %100 lookin good.

[deadastronaut]

yep!...i use 180 at first to cut through the engineering grease, and casting marks....that gives a good 'key' for a transfer to stick to too...
after the etch i use 400....comes up nice!...i clear coat after too....

[~arph]

Has anyone tried etching enclosures using regular caustic soda?  it reacts heavily with aluminium, but since it can be used as a paint stripper too does it eat through toner as well? How about vinyl masking?

[deadastronaut]

nope, never tried it....but it would be a nice 'cheap' way of doing it.....would have to test on a base plate first i guess...