Etching vs Decals

[Kearns892]

I've done my homework on both of these, but what I am interested in is a side by side comparison of the pros and cons of each. I know everyone probably has their opinion on which looks better, but what I'm looking for is more straightforward. Which is more cost effective, which is easier, which is more timely.

[jefe]

Just my .02 - I haven't tried etching yet, because it looks like a big pain in the butt. I checked out a tutorial, and there were like 15 or 20 steps involved. Decal = print, cut, stick it on the box. Done. Clearcoat optional.

YMMV of course, but I'm finding that that more time I spend decorating the box and making it look pretty, the less time I have to actually tweak them, make them sound good, and play them. After all, these are sound effects, right? They're meant to be listened to, not looked at.

*runs off to look at all the cool looking pedals in the pictures thread* 

[Kearns892]

That's the feeling I get, but I hear a lot of people say it is quicker than putting on a nice paint job though. I know I've thrown myself into a battlefield of debate, I'm just really interested to hear both sides and techniques people use to get their results.

[jefe]

I don't know if there's really anything to debate on the subject... lol.. decorations are completely subjective.

But yea, I don't even bother with paint, so I forgot to consider that aspect.

[kristoffereide]

Pain is not that complicated. What I do is sand the enclosure, bondo it+sand, primer + sand, spray paint+ 1coat of clear, waterslide decal+ more clear coats, wet sand and finished! Actually, that were more steps than I thought...... But it looks good!!!

[MohiZ]

I can't really manage to get a smooth paint job without dust etc. so for me the end result is better when etching. It's actually relatively easy, just paint/print a silhouette of what you want to etch on the box, and soak it in the etchant (I use muriatic acid 'n peroxide) for some time. The only problems I've run into are the troubles of getting the printout ironed on the box properly, but then again I don't use PnP, just ordinary glossy photo paper. Anyways you can touch it up with paint.

[Kearns892]

What sort of stuff exactly can you use instead of PnP Blue to Etch? I'm kind of confused on how the design works with the etchant.

[solderman]

Etching

Pros=sturdy and will stand a hard night on the town. can be a really good looker with a cool layout and a good workmanship.
Cons=only monochrome. The PnP prosess sucks. Boring in the long run, put 50 different etched boxes shoulder to shoulder.
conclusion=Faster overall time and cheaper but more artistically limiting 


Paint
Pros=All colors you want at the same time and the motives of your choice or what the Internet brings. Easy to have a nice art work with wather decals that is easy to aplie to the box.  
Cons=Many expensive spray cans, expenceive water slide decals. pesty and poisines odour from spraying. long time to dry between coats. more sensetive.
conclusion=Slow process if made perfect and costly but with a no limit art work option.

Both= for a good result you need a printe,r a feel for garfical design, and patience.

//Solderman   

[jefe]

My preference: go "naked" aluminum, or if I must have a color, I'll buy my box pre-painted.

Make decals from inkjet sticker paper. Don't clearcoat it. If the decal gets scratched, replace it - or live with the scratches. Place your pedal on the floor and stand in front of it. If you look down and can't see the scratches... they don't exist! 

[cloudscapes]

Cons=Many expensive spray cans, expenceive water slide decals. pesty and poisines odour from spraying. long time to dry between coats. more sensetive.

unless you use acrylics, which I do 

but yeah, spot on with everything

[alparent]

Making effects is like making wine. Some do it as a hobby and want a nice looking final product (labels and all). Others just want to have wine for cheap. It's true the wine inside is the same.

So effects are a bit like that. If all you want is an effect......you wont care about the finish. But if you are building them as a hobby and you like good looking things......finishing will also be part of your hobby.   (And wen you are married....a good sounding effect will not impress your wife and is not a good justification of the time you are taking to build them.....but a good looking one is!)

As the debate between decals and etching. If you use rico electrical boxes like I do (aluminum boxes in Canada are like 10$ to 15$) a rico box is like 3$, I solder in the knock outs, a little bundo, primer, paint, decal, clear, done. (I like finishing my effect as much as I like building them.....that's me!) Etching is not really an option. (So I guess I'm not really answering your question?)

As for cost. Don't you need PnP do do etching? Isn't that stuff more expensive then slide off decal paper? (Got mine on eBay)
as for the cost of spray paint, get a big can of clear, but for the colors get the small "Just Enought" cans at Walmart (2$ or 3$). I can usually do 2 or 3 effects with one can. (So what if a couple of effects are the same color! Etched ones are ALL the same color.)

And since I'm not perfect.....yet! If I was to do etching and screwed it up.....what next? If I screw up my paint job are decals, I can always start over.

Don't know it this helps you, makes any sense or what ever?

[jefe]

Making effects is like making wine. Some do it as a hobby and want a nice looking final product (labels and all). Others just want to have wine for cheap. It's true the wine inside is the same.

Great analogy, and a good point... btw, apologies to everyone if it seemed like I was belittling those of you who put such great effort in to making nice looking pedals. I sometimes wish I had the time and patience to do etches OR paint & decals - hats off to you!

(And wen you are married....a good sounding effect will not impress your wife and is not a good justification of the time you are taking to build them.....but a good looking one is!)

[Fuzz Aldryn]

Cons=only monochrome. The PnP prosess sucks. Boring in the long run, put 50 different etched boxes shoulder to shoulder.

Hej Solderman,

that's not quite right. Have a look here:

and here:


Regards
Helge

[solderman]

Cons=only monochrome. The PnP prosess sucks. Boring in the long run, put 50 different etched boxes shoulder to shoulder.

Hej Solderman,

that's not quite right. Have a look here:

and here:


Regards
Helge

Nice, good work and two colors. Does that mean that they are in stereo 

[Andi]

Etching is not for me. I cannot be trusted with chemicals.

[Kearns892]

Those of you who etch do you use PnP Blue or cheaper alternatives? What success have you had with these, (I know its been asked, but much of what I seem looks like it's referring to making PCBs not etching boxes, not srue on how much of a difference there is)

[MikeH]

Make decals from inkjet sticker paper. Don't clearcoat it.

This works great until your playing a house party and some FREAKIN' IDIOT spills a drink on your pedals and the color runs all over the place.  But I suppose you'd just replace the label if that happened 

[ianmgull]

Cons=only monochrome. The PnP prosess sucks. Boring in the long run, put 50 different etched boxes shoulder to shoulder.

Hej Solderman,

that's not quite right. Have a look here:

and here:


Regards
Helge

Those look amazing! I have a question: Are you using PnP or photo paper? Also, are you etching with Ferric Chloride or something else? My problem (with using photo paper and FeCl) is that while I'm usually able to get the fine details with photo paper, the Ferric takes to long and eventually eats through the resist leaving blotchy results, never as clean as those...

[davent]

Making effects is like making wine. Some do it as a hobby and want a nice looking final product (labels and all). Others just want to have wine for cheap. It's true the wine inside is the same.

So effects are a bit like that. If all you want is an effect......you wont care about the finish. But if you are building them as a hobby and you like good looking things......finishing will also be part of your hobby.   (And wen you are married....a good sounding effect will not impress your wife and is not a good justification of the time you are taking to build them.....but a good looking one is!)

As the debate between decals and etching. If you use rico electrical boxes like I do (aluminum boxes in Canada are like 10$ to 15$) a rico box is like 3$, I solder in the knock outs, a little bundo, primer, paint, decal, clear, done. (I like finishing my effect as much as I like building them.....that's me!) Etching is not really an option. (So I guess I'm not really answering your question?)

...

I like your justification for making them look good,  so true, you can add daughters and girlfriends to that group needing to be impressed by how they look.

For the Hammonds try Tip Top Electronics in Winnipeg (you won't have to pay PST) and their shipping is fairly priced,at least last time i ordered. Will take a couple weeks to get to you but you'll want to stock up and have a bunch of boxes on hand anyways.

http://www.tiptopelectronics.com/home.asp?txtQuery=1590b
http://www.tiptopelectronics.com/home.asp?txtQuery=1590bb

If you're in a hurry  Digikey is your friend, overnight delivery to your door, flat rate shipping of $8cdn. (Hammonds cost more then at Tip Top but when you are ordering everything else from digikey you save by not have to pay for shipping from multiple places.)
http://dkc1.digikey.com/ca/digihome.html

dave

[railhead]

I'm all for etching now -- screw clear coat!!!11!