Let’s take 10% off there swirly dan

[DeadAirMD]

@jjjimi84 thanks for sharing your idea with us, I'm absolutely loving finishing my enclosure with this. Took quite a few attempts to figure out how to do this right, definitely not as easy as putting paint in water and dipping. Still fighting with the air bubbles. But in the end, these are only for me and are on the floor, so I never see the bubbles once the pedal is plugged in.

I used to hand paint my enclosures with paint pens and while the results and pride were great, it took forever. I can literally spray prime these and while not ideal, dip 2hrs after priming with these amazing results. I get so stoked once the enclosure is drilled because this step is next. Here's what mine used to look like....

 

[jjjimi84]

These all look amazing! TBH I liked the hand painted ones quite a bit.

In filming the videos for this and trying a variety of methods, I found using warmer water (around 90 degrees f) reduced the amount of air bubbles. I also prime and wait a day then dip and wait a day then clear coat. I will take some pictures of batch number two that is getting a coat of clear today.

That is right folks, it is 28 degrees outside and I am spraying clear coat in my basement thanks to my DIY fume extractor!!!! This will be its trial run with clear coats but it performed perfectly with spray paint.

 

[jjjimi84]

 

[DeadAirMD]

@jjjimi84 thanks for tips! I usually wait 24+ hrs after priming, but experimented to see if there would be any difference not waiting. Pretty much getting the same results.

Any reason you don't paint the sides? In my experience, the sides usually have some of the coolest effects on the whole piece.

Painting some more after work tonight and it's all I'm thinking about today. Man it's seriously a ton of fun doing this. That brand has a ton of other options for paints, neon, metallic, pastel, etc.

 

[jjjimi84]

I never paint the sides because I like the cleaner look and when I clear coat it is another opportunity for me to fuck up the art work

 

[steviejr92]

Dan, Im just in awe man....those enclosures are absolutely beautiful!!!

 

[Locrian99]

I probably end up with 1 of 4 clear coats turning out good. I’ve kind of resigned myself to powder coats and just angrily glare at the 30 cans of spray paint on my shelf. If you figure out a secret please let us know

 

[jjjimi84]

Dan, Im just in awe man....those enclosures are absolutely beautiful!!!

Thank you! Once the clear coat dries I will show off the finished product.

I probably end up with 1 of 4 clear coats turning out good. I’ve kind of resigned myself to powder coats and just angrily glare at the 30 cans of spray paint on my shelf. If you figure out a secret please let us know

This is my 2024, figure out a good way to clear coat. Rustoleum Acyrlic lacquer is really kicking ass, I just need to get a better technique with it.

 

[Mentaltossflycoon]

Thank you! Once the clear coat dries I will show off the finished product.

This is my 2024, figure out a good way to clear coat. Rustoleum Acyrlic lacquer is really kicking ass, I just need to get a better technique with it.

I used to use this and it was easy to get a good result for me but I let a buddy borrow a pedal coated in it and it reacted with the finish on one of his amps that he set it on. Left a weird rectangle after a couple weeks. I stopped sprayng lids with it at that point. Just the top of the box until I bought something else (krylon, meh)

 

[jjjimi84]

I used to use this and it was easy to get a good result for me but I let a buddy borrow a pedal coated in it and it reacted with the finish on one of his amps that he set it on. Left a weird rectangle after a couple weeks. I stopped sprayng lids with it at that point. Just the top of the box until I bought something else (krylon, meh)

Funny you say that.

I have been working on a pedal finish for almost eight months for the lovingly patient @Pauleo1214

After soaking the pedal a few times in acetone the inside looked gross, I wanted to black it out. The top was cured (i thought) and I taped a piece of foam to it to keep it safe. I did the inside of the enclosure and unwrapped it today to find micro indents in the finish.

Couple more coats of clear and we are back in business.

My goal is to finish this before it hits the year mark….

 

[Mentaltossflycoon]

I wish you the best of luck. Finishing is an exercise in radical acceptance for me.

 

[jjjimi84]

Fresh from a little acetone side bath, this is the best clear coat I have managed to get.

 

[jjjimi84]

Here is another round for a bunch of @cooder BigNoise builds. My son dipped the top left one and it turned out beautiful, i am going to clear coat a few more coats and call it.

 

[GizzWizzKing]

Those four on the right make my heart beat faster. Well done.

 

[cooder]

Noice! @jjjimi84

 

[mkstewartesq]

View attachment 69241
Here is another round for a bunch of @cooder BigNoise builds. My son dipped the top left one and it turned out beautiful, i am going to clear coat a few more coats and call it.

I could do a lot with that one on the top row, second from the left. Perfect graphic placement with empty space left for control labels. This is beautiful stuff.

 

[jjjimi84]

I could do a lot with that one on the top row, second from the left. Perfect graphic placement with empty space left for control labels. This is beautiful stuff.

That one is actually for me! Once the clear coat dries, I will slap the knobs on there to show it off a bit, that one has been in the works for a long time.

 

[mkstewartesq]

That one is actually for me! Once the clear coat dries, I will slap the knobs on there to show it off a bit, that one has been in the works for a long time.

Really looking forward to seeing it!

 

[cliffs_trip]

Thank you! Once the clear coat dries I will show off the finished product.

This is my 2024, figure out a good way to clear coat. Rustoleum Acyrlic lacquer is really kicking ass, I just need to get a better technique with it.

Have you tried the Rustoleum Automotive clear coat? It worked best on all my projects involving paint or wood. Used krylon once and it wrinkled the paint. Plus, you can get spray cans or buckets for the Rustoleum clear, so if you have a spray gun, you can use that too. It dries quick and you can sand it in a couple of hours and reapply. Get that mirror finish!
Testor paints and water have been what I have used most. I tried Humbrol, but didn't use it as much as the enamels from Testors. I don't use Borax either, just water and paint and a newspaper to clear the water before pullout.

 

[jjjimi84]

This is my jam!