I want to etch, but i'm too lazy to sand

[gjcamann]

Is there anyone who sells pre-sanded enclosures ready for etching? I see small bear sells "polished" enclosures but I've read polished enclosures are not good for etching.

[R.G.]

Sanding an enclosure takes maybe five minutes and has cardio-vascular training benefits. Well, OK, maybe not cardio.

Unless what you want is commercial quantities of pre-sanded enclosures for your pedal sales business. In that case, hire a minimum-wage helper.

[Arcane Analog]

If you are too lazy to sand then you are too lazy to etch. Sanding is not the most difficult, time consuming nor the most labour intensive part of etching a box.

[R.G.]

Back in KISA* days  they way they kept their armor shining was to put the armor into a barrel, pour in sand, and then roll the barrel until the armor was once again shining. Got rid of those unsightly underarm rust stains. 

Probably something like that could be done for a batch o' boxes, too. Less intensive than hand sanding, and probably more even.

YMMV.

(*Knights In Shining Armor)

[MrStab]

belt sander? i can't see that investment being justifiable unless you have a load of enclosures to do, though. at least RG's suggestion has the added benefit of being able to make a really big sand castle once you're done.

[Mustachio]

I think Mammoth electronics sells sanded boxes as one of the options in their menu's. Might want to email them and get details first.

Harbor freight sells cheap sanders. I usually use a cheap detail palm sander for about a minute. It scuffs it up and gets it level enough pretty fast. Heck Sanding is the fun part !

I've etched on a polished mirror like surface and it turned out great! I guess it depends on how you transfer your mask and deal with the areas that don't transfer correct.

I think I've seen the suggestion of getting sand paper that has a sticky back and stick it to a piece of glass and use that as your upside down sanding block with a little water on the surface to help keep the dust down and keep the paper from getting stuffed up. Nice level surface like that is good.

Sanding is probably ideal to get anything off the surface before etching but that doesn't mean you can't etch an unsanded box, I'd give it a try just to experiment.

[bluesdevil]

Get one of those palm sanders, like the Craftsman "Mouse". I use it for my boxes and makes sanding easy.

[haveyouseenhim]

Get one of those palm sanders, like the Craftsman "Mouse". I use it for my boxes and makes sanding easy.

+1   I have a mouse and it works great

[Arcane Analog]

Sanding is probably ideal to get anything off the surface before etching but that doesn't mean you can't etch an unsanded box, I'd give it a try just to experiment.

I wouldn't recommend that. Sanding is one of the important steps to getting a clean etch - doubly so if you are a beginer.

Belt sanders are overkill.

A big +1 for a palm sander - perfect for the job.

[davent]

Even if you're painting the enclosures, first step is sanding.

I'd recommend buying powder coated enclosures and a laser engraver, see the work of Darron and Pickdropper.

dave

[gjcamann]

Thanks for the advice on the mouse, i'll give one a try. I tried a palm sander and it was just trying to round off the corners without doing anything for the center. Maybe i'm too much of a perfectionist, but i've got 30 minutes into sanding one box (to get the pits out) and i've decided there must be a better way. Also, the sanding really aggravates the C.T. - I need to save these wrists for work, soldering, guitar playing and something kinky my wife really likes.

Is 5 minutes of sanding all it really needs? Is that good enough? What grit to you start/end with. I've been starting with 200 and plan to finish with 400.

[Arcane Analog]

I sand less than 2 minutes and I have all of the oxidation and pits removed. If you are only getting the corners you are doing it wrong.

[jimilee]

I have a table top belt sander from harbor freight that I like to use, works great.

[deadastronaut]

Sanding time also depends on which box it is...

eddystone: easy...

Hammond : bit harder

ntc: a right bugger to sand...only done 1, never again...

[Canucker]

belt sander? i can't see that investment being justifiable unless you have a load of enclosures to do, though. at least RG's suggestion has the added benefit of being able to make a really big sand castle once you're done.

I have two belt sanders....one cost me $2 and the other one I picked out of the trash!!!! Yard sales and trash picking are my two best friends!!!!!

[mremic01]

I don't need to sand at all with the 1590BB's I get from Tayda and BLMS. I usually scour them with some steel wool, wash them down in soap and water, then do a quick swipe with some acetone. After that, they're good and clean, and the toner stick right to them.

4site's enclosures have always had brushing that needed sanding to smooth it out. That, and the lower quality, are what made me move over to Tayda and BLMS.

[therealfindo]

Even if you're painting the enclosures, first step is sanding.

I'd recommend buying powder coated enclosures and a laser engraver, see the work of Darron and Pickdropper.

dave

Anyone know of cheap laser engravers?!

[gjcamann]

I have a table top belt sander from harbor freight that I like to use, works great.

I've seen this and have thought about it.
What grit do you use with that?
Do you hand sand to a finer grit?

[jimilee]

I have a table top belt sander from harbor freight that I like to use, works great.

I've seen this and have thought about it.
What grit do you use with that?
Do you hand sand to a finer grit?

It's about a 250 grit. I don't normally sand to a finer grit,this usually sands it smooth. I haven't ever polished it afterwards,I use water slides instead.