Etched enclosures

[therealfindo]

A powersander tool seems like overkill - it shouldn't need a great deal of elbow grease.. I usually give it a once over with 800 and then with 1200 or 2000(depends what I've got lying around..

[davent]

You might find it easier to attach a sheet of sandpaper to a perfectly flat, hard, fixed surface and then take the enclosure to the sandpaper rather then fixing the enclosure and taking the sandpaper to it.

For a belt sander clamp it in a vice and take the enclosure to it making sure you're sanding over the flat platten.

Before you start sanding scribble some marker over the enclosure face to be sanded so as you sand you can easily track your flattening progress.

[gjcamann]

Thanks for the replies.

I need to get all the pits out before I etch, right?

Also, because i'm lazy, do I need to goto 800 to get a good etch? Or will 400 be good enough?

[Hexjibber]

I need to get all the pits out before I etch, right?

Also, because i'm lazy, do I need to goto 800 to get a good etch? Or will 400 be good enough?

You definitely want to get all the pits out, try and get it as uniform as possible.

I only ever use 400 grit, used to go higher but on the Eddystone line of Hammond boxes I've found it's not necessary.

[amptramp]

if you want the brushed ally look, then sand with a block in one direction back n forth..

orbital sanders will go in circles giving an interesting, but not brushed look..

or try a belt sander..

You might want something like this:



I picked one up at a garage sale for $30 a few months ago.  You have your choice of straight lines or circular swirls.

[tubegeek]

You might find it easier to attach a sheet of sandpaper to a perfectly flat, hard, fixed surface and then take the enclosure to the sandpaper rather then fixing the enclosure and taking the sandpaper to it.

+1 on this, it's a much easier way to go and reduces the tendency to round over the corners quite a lot.

[garcho]

aluminum dust is somewhat toxic and can be explosive, just sayin'...

[electrosonic]

another reason to wet sand - it keeps the dust to a minimum,

Andrew.

[noobamp]

I have to be more patient with the ironing....there are a ton of avoidable imperfections here but i cant bring myself to trash it......I think that's the kind of knobs imma use for it...A buck goes to the first person who identifies the young lady there....

[therealfindo]

aluminum dust is somewhat toxic and can be explosive, just sayin'...

oh!   
well... I'm not dead yet... 

[garcho]

well... I'm not dead yet...

famous last words! right up there with, "watch me do this!"

[poppyman]

Hey,
I didn't post new stuff for a while maybe because the last dozen of pages are absolutely amazing! :O

here are my last etched builds:



s.h.o. on vero



Fuzz face + lpb1



Bazzfuss on vero



Madbean Tube sound fuzz



Madbean OCD

All sound really great.

[deadastronaut]

^ cool, love the style..

i'l ask, the bolt...drilled and plastic behind with led?..looks great.

love the robot too.

[poppyman]

Yep! After a really bad bad drilling mistake, I tried to "save the box" with this. It just a piece of plastic that I blurred and I put the LED inside. it works pretty well.

[deadastronaut]

cool save..

[davent]

Great collection Poppyman and the Bolt Volt looks like it turned out exactly as planned, perfect!

dave

[therealfindo]

awesome builds!

[moosapotamus]

Awesome stuff, poppyman!
The Bolt Fuzz is my fave.

~ Charlie

[Hexjibber]

Sweet builds Poppyman! I really like the Bolt Fuzz and OCD ones especially, they look great!

[Hexjibber]

Here's my latest one, reverse etched and buffed to a shine with a brillo pad! Done lots of intricate artsy fartsy stuff recently so for this I went simple and big! Can you tell what it is yet??