My 2024 enclosure batch.

[Erik S]

Starting a thread instead of continuing to spam the workbench thread with my thrilling updates about drilling holes…

Same as last year, I’m trying to get a big batch of enclosures done before it gets to cold outside for clear coating.

All the drilling is done and I got all the little nameplate tags on. Goal for today is to get set up and see how many I can get lettered.

Looks like three good painting days in the forecast next week. Lettering usually goes pretty slow. I’m gonna need to ramp up to have a shot at getting these all done.

 

[Erik S]

Knob tryouts.

I’ve usually set the spacing on the lettering based on the exact knobs I was going to use, but I’m going to take some measurements and see if I can standardize on maybe a small, medium, large system.

 

[Erik S]

Standard procedure when I have a lot to get done and I’m up against a time crunch is to get distracted and start another project. That’s how I ended up not lettering any pedals so far today, and instead making a set of knob gauges!

The hope is that these will help me line up the lettering position accurately without any measuring or mounting a pot and knob to get the spacing right.

I ended up with 4 sizes that should cover most of my favorite knobs.

Will I ever letter a pedal? TBD.

 

[Erik S]

I got half the enclosures lettered today, which is not bad considering how late I got started. The knob gauges worked out great. Definitely faster than what I was doing before.

I’ll get at least some of these clearcoated after work tomorrow. I’ll be trying out some new paint - Spraymax 2 part epoxy in a rattle can. I’ve used their paint on my truck, but never the clear coat. I also went with a matte clear instead of a gloss, hopefully it looks okay.

 

[Erik S]

Took a half day today. Finished the last of the lettering, and half of the clear coating. The matte clear coat is a pretty drastic change from the gloss stuff I’ve usually used, but I’m running with it.

First half staged for paint:


Finishing the last one in the lettering jig:


Outside on the lazy Susan turntable:


After paint. Hard to get a shot that shows how dead flat the finish is:

 

[Harry Klippton]

Good day for spray cans today

 

[Locrian99]

man nice job. I cant spray here past mid october myself. I used to have this set up where id paint in the garage and then carefully transport it to the bathroom just inside to cure with thr exhaust on. Now i buy powder coats. Though im seriously considering starting to do powder coats at home, havent figured out how yet im going to convince the wife theres a reason for the oven in thr garage.

 

[Erik S]

man nice job. I cant spray here past mid october myself. I used to have this set up where id paint in the garage and then carefully transport it to the bathroom just inside to cure with thr exhaust on. Now i buy powder coats. Though im seriously considering starting to do powder coats at home, havent figured out how yet im going to convince the wife theres a reason for the oven in thr garage.

Yup, I thought I waited too long and I wasn’t gonna have anything to build this winter, but I got lucky with this weird warm streak, so I’m sending it. My weather app says the high was 77 today which is pretty wild for late Oct in NH.

 

[Erik S]

Okay - enclosure marathon, final update.

All 27 drilled, lettered and clear coated. Ready to be put away until the dead of winter when I’m ready to warm my fingers by the soldering iron.

I’m really happy with how the spraymax 2k epoxy clear went on. If you’re not familiar, it’s a 2 part epoxy paint in a rattle can. You press in a plunger that pierces an internal bladder, then the two parts mix and you have 48 hours to use it up. It’s also expensive. Around 25 a can and they’re small.

The main benefit for me is that it seemed to set up and harden really fast. With the other stuff I’ve used it seemed to take a week or two to pass the pokey fingernail test, and they’d stink up my workshop/ office the whole time they were drying. The epoxy seems to be hard after a couple hours, and no smell once I brought them in the house.

I decided I like the matte finish too. Particularly on enclosures that were gloss to begin with.

 

[Harry Klippton]

You building anything good in this batch?

 

[Erik S]

You building anything good in this batch?

Lots of stuff I’m excited about. Watched the Fairfield demo video for the shallow water again last night, and I’m looking forward to playing with that one if I can get it to work. Also a few forum member projects that I’m excited for: AD-9, and DM-3 delays, DS-2 and dizzy elk are all in there.

Last year I burned through all the dirt boxes and left all the hard stuff for the end. Maybe I’ll try and tackle some of the heavy stuff early this year.

 

[Harry Klippton]

In a different life, I'd be interested in building a low tide. I'm sure you'll get it together

 

[Erik S]

In a different life, I'd be interested in building a low tide. I'm sure you'll get it together

I hope so. My two friends who are my primary customers both said they wanted one, so I’m tryna build three. At least there are plenty of troubleshooting threads to read through if I get stuck…

 

[Mentaltossflycoon]

I hope so. My two friends who are my primary customers both said they wanted one, so I’m tryna build three. At least there are plenty of troubleshooting threads to read through if I get stuck…

Go ahead and skip mine. You won't bork what I borked.

 

[Feral Feline]

What a great place to hang out; I'd be happy to shoot the breeze while watching you work up something on the lathe, lettering an enclosure, or whatever...

 

[Erik S]

What a great place to hang out; I'd be happy to shoot the breeze while watching you work up something on the lathe, lettering an enclosure, or whatever...

Come by any time!

 

[jjjimi84]

Okay - enclosure marathon, final update.

All 27 drilled, lettered and clear coated. Ready to be put away until the dead of winter when I’m ready to warm my fingers by the soldering iron.

I’m really happy with how the spraymax 2k epoxy clear went on. If you’re not familiar, it’s a 2 part epoxy paint in a rattle can. You press in a plunger that pierces an internal bladder, then the two parts mix and you have 48 hours to use it up. It’s also expensive. Around 25 a can and they’re small.

Our build styles are very similar! Stock enclosures during the summer and have something to do all winter.

I picked up a can of that 2k and am glad to hear positive results! 2025 is the year of the clear coat.

 

[Erik S]

Our build styles are very similar! Stock enclosures during the summer and have something to do all winter.

I picked up a can of that 2k and am glad to hear positive results! 2025 is the year of the clear coat.

Definitely a strong recommend on the quality. Price would be real rough if you weren't doing a batch though with that 48 hour pot life once you mix it.

2 cans, 27 enclosures, worked out about 2 bucks in paint per enclosure. 2 quick passes over each surface, then 2 more after 10 or 15 minutes. The first can started blowing some air around enclosure 16 so I moved to the second one even though there was some paint left in the first one.

I didn't paint the bottom plates. I tried that on some of my early pedals, but it ended up scratching too easy, so now I just do the top and sides. The bottom plates are on, so the edges get hit. It's a little funny to have pedals with gloss bottoms and matte tops, but you don't notice unless you flip em. I wonder if the epoxy would hold up better on the bottoms, but I don't think it's worth the trouble.

 

[jjjimi84]

I am saving it for the next batch, currently wiring up a batch right now for the shelf.

I stopped doing sides and bottoms and just focus on the top. Unless the art work carries over or there is some weird power or switch thing to be noted. I am assuming the person using one of my pedals understands where the ins/outs/power jacks are and how they work.