Painting and finishing pedal

Started by currang, August 22, 2015, 08:49:44 AM

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currang

So I've managed to build a germanium fuzz face and it's sounding great! At the moment the enclosure it is in is looking rather boring and I'd quite like to paint it and maybe put a design on it. First of all, I realise that I'll have to take the components out of the pedal and this should not be a problem at all. I found a site http://www.kitrae.net/music/Custom_Pedal_Graphics.html and would quite like to model my pedal enclosure like the black one on his site. I
So I'm wanting the pedal to be black and probably add some design on over the top, I don't really have experience spray painting anything so was wondering if I would need to get a certain type of black paint or could I just find any can that is fairly cheap and use that? Since the enclosure will be black am I right in saying that water decal paper wouldn't work well over the top since it tends to blend with the colour of the box. I've been thinking about using tshirt transfer paper, has anyone had any experience using this and if so could you give me some advice please?

GibsonGM

Hi - automotive spray paint works GREAT for me, I feel it's a better-quality paint than your cheap hardware store variety...followed by a few clear coats to make things tougher.  Plus, you can get it with metallic flake which looks cool!

There are many, many threads on here about how to paint.  Some use an old toaster oven to harden their paint!  Try searching, you'll find many paint tips and tricks :)   Whatever you do, if you haven't sprayed before, I'd practice a bit on something you don't care about just to get the hang, to see what will cause it to run.   Use ventilation and a good painter's mask...     

I'll let others talk about how to lay text/graphics on black paint - I don't do that, too labor-intensive, ha ha, but extremely artistic!  For black stuff on a lighter color such as white, yellow etc, I use water slide decal paper and an inkjet printer.   Not fancy, but functional.
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currang

Thanks for the reply, I'm a little worried when painting my pedal that I may do something wrong and get a horrible looking finish so I'll do as you say and look around. Do you think this paint would be suitable for use with an aluminium enclosure http://www.halfords.com/motoring-travel/cleaning-body-repair/car-spray-paints/halfords-gloss-black-spray-paint-500ml as it i an automotive paint like you recommended. Also I don't know much about clear coating but found this which will hopefully work well http://www.halfords.com/motoring-travel/cleaning-body-repair/car-spray-paints/halfords-clear-lacquer-spray-300ml. Fair enough, I just got photoshop so am going to try to learn how to use that so that I can make a design (I'm not terribly artistic), unfortunately I haven't found an awful lot of advice for dealing with dark t shirt transfer paper so I'll have a look around

Gus

Did you search "Painting and finishing pedal" at this forum or the web?

currang

Just on the web, tried a few youtube searches since I prefer actually seeing how it is done

Kevin Mitchell

The youtube videos out there -I've seen a few- are good.

Remember to have the enclosure as clean as it can be before you prime and paint. Sand and clean. Use some acetone or mineral spirits to wash off the dust. Self Etching primer is nice and dries within the day but not always desired or necessary. Apply a couple thin layers at a time try to be weary of overdoing it. Wait a day or two before applying decal and/or a gloss coat. I've been using KRYLON Acrylic Crystal Clear with thick coats. Allow it to dry for a few days before handling.

Don't be afraid to make a mistake your fist time doing anything.
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LightSoundGeometry

I  use the auto spray like above, its a rustoleum product but made for engine blocks, brake discs etc. you can add stickers and stuff then gloss it . I am unable to get waterslides to stick ..they come out good but wont stick on !

all my pedals look like hand plain, hand painted arse  but all the goodies are under the hood

bifbangpow

#7
There are lots of ways to paint pedals. It just depends on what kind of look you want.  If you want it to look deep and glossy, then your best options are poweder coating (all though that's not very feesable for at home) or using automotive paint.

Or you can do what i do... spray paint as a base, then Posca paint pens for design work, then automotive clear coat gloss (or if I'm feeling lazy, a thick double coat of triple high gloss spray clear paint finish) (surprisingly effective).

Tips:
-Always use a fine sandpaper to lightly sand your pedal before painting.
-Always clean the pedal with soapy water (some people use acitone, but i don't think it's necessary)
-always paint the pedal enclosure with all the parts removed. But if you have too, tape off difficult to remove elements.
- Don't paint the internal side
- Let paint dry between coats, and change the position of the enclosure slightly before applying a second coat (so that paint doesn't build up at the edges of the pedal.
- If using spray paint, make sure you shake it up really really well (2 minutes +) or you will get crinkly paint.
- paint and dry during day time. If you need to dry during night time make sure it stays indoors.  Moisture in the air can kill your paint job.
- Always tape up the holes from the interior side so paint doesn't get in.

Here's a vid of how I do it sometimes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ17w34RNF0

But looking at the photo you've provided I would suggest following the directions on the page you linked us too originally.

Keep on keepn on.

bifbangpow

#8
Quote from: currang on August 22, 2015, 10:04:12 AM
... unfortunately I haven't found an awful lot of advice for dealing with dark t shirt transfer paper so I'll have a look around

When it comes to transfer paper, I use it often to get a design onto a pedal for tracing and I highly recommend you take a paper towel and lightly wipe the transfer paper first, removing a thin layer of the transfer.  Otherwise, you will likely get smudges of the transfer product in places you don't want; it can be rather difficult to remove.  You're also going to want to place a piece of normal paper between the transfer paper and the pedal in the spot where your fingers lay on it. This will help keep the paper from transfering your fingerprints onto the pedal.

You can forgo transfering all together, if you just print out your label on adhesive paper. Just get yourself some clear photo sticker paper.  Using photo shop for the label design is good. (if you need help with that, let me know. I can help or do it for you.) Then just print it out on the sticky paper and stick that onto the pedal.  then use a razor to cut out the holes. Then spray your clear coat over it.

Remember to create a border on your label.  Having a border makes placing the label onto the pedal much much easier but more importantly, if you don't have a border, then the edge of the label will still be visible, but it won't look very deliberate... so it will look more amateurish. 

Keep on keepn on.

bluebunny

First of all, do what ^^^ these guys say.

I've been using the same Halfords spray paint for all my pedals. Just take care to make your coats thin, allow 20 minutes between coats (two or three is plenty), then leave to dry thoroughly for a couple of days before applying artwork and clearcoating (and apply the same regime as for the paint).

Works for me. YMMV, of course.
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