Drilling and painting Enclosures.

[msurdin]

Hey guys

I am wondering about the best way to drill and paint my enclosures. For lables and everything I am going to use stickers like Cornish. So i was wondering about how to paint them. Pretty much solid colours are all I would be doing.

Thanks

Matt

[sshrugg]

Hi, Matt!

Do some searches.  There are a bunch of threads on this.  Unibits are the fastest and easiest way to drill.  You can get them at smallbear.

I use DuriColor paints.  You can find them at your local auto shop, probably.  You should also check out Dano's Box In A Day page!

Use the search!  There's TONs of ways to do this, and people have had awesome results trying all sorts of different methods.  Many posts on this forum have pictures and tutorials.  Experimenting with as many as possible is advised.

[msurdin]

Do you use the same painting method? light coats, 30 mins in a 150f oven?

[slacker]

If you really want the Pete Cornish look then use these http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=1751&doy=11m9
They're the "hammer tone" boxes he uses for some of his pedals like the NB-2 and LD-1. I think the rest of his pedals use the same manufacturers boxes but in plain colours, I haven't found anywhere that sells those except in bulk though.

[Fuzzy-Train]

There ya' go. Some food for thought.

http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=60652.0

http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=60685.0

Two great thread!

[sshrugg]

I don't use the beavis method.  I just spray it with Duricolor, and leave it in the sun.  Dano uses stickers, and I haven't (yet)

[msurdin]

So from what i understand now, a good paint (bondo or duricolor... any sites to get these you reccomend?) light coats and bake it in a toster oven...
Pretty much it?

Still do the sanding right?

[theundeadelvis]

Like said before there are numerous threads on this topic. If you are using aluminum enclosures I highly recommend self-etching primer. Paint and normal primer will not stick to aluminum for very long. Personally, I prefer to powdercoat my enclosures for durability. You can also buy them pre-powdercoated from Small Bear and Pedal Parts Plus.

[msurdin]

Yea i have bought from them, but with all the holes i have asked them to drill, only 1 out of a bunch came out right... so i thought i need to do it myself.

Now what self etching primer do you suggest?

So from more reading, i sand, prime, sand? Or just sand and then use the self etching... and i can then paint?
I couldnt find much on powdercoating....

Thanks

[sshrugg]

Duricolor also makes self-etching primer.  Check out your local auto shop, like I said.  I betcha they've got it.

[j_axeman]

Just to let everyone know,  Harbor Freight, a great place for inexpensive tools, has a set of three step bits (unibit style) on sale for $8.99.  You can order them from their website or purchase them at one of the stores.

John

[sshrugg]

Thanks, John!

[BubbaKahuna]

I glass bead blast all my aluminum enclosures and anything I've painted on them sticks like an ugly drunk girl to a Chippendale dancer.
When you blast aluminum like that with oxide or glass, there's no need for any kind of primer.
Just make sure you sand or file the box flat if you're doing transfer graphics or areas near the edges might not take transfers very well.
Cast aluminum enclosures (especially near the corners) really aren't flat if you look at them very closely.

Look in the phone book and see if there's a place near you where you can rent a blast cabinet by the minute.
I used to do it for a living so I'm pretty good at it, but I can blast about 20 enclosures in under 5 minutes.
At $1.40/minute, that's not very expensive. I probably spend more on gas driving there. 
Certainly a lot less $$ than self-etching primer & there's no drying or sanding time involved.
I just blast & paint. Done!
Baking for about 30 minutes in an old toaster oven at 150f just speeds the paint drying time and makes it harder.


Cheers,
- JJ