Painting Stompboxes - When to Apply Clear Coat

[jdduffield]

Which order is best?:

Primer > Paint > Graphics (screen print) > Clear Coat > Drill

Or…

Primer > Paint > Graphics (screen print) > Drill > Clear Coat

 

[KR Sound]

I’d drill first.

 

[jdduffield]

Feels like a catch 22 in that if I drill first, I get metal scraps in the not-fully-cured paint job. If I drill last, it could crack the clear coat (if the layer is thick enough). I’ve not done this before so maybe I can drill first and can clean the scraps off successfully.

 

[jdduffield]

I’m not planning to do a super thick clear coat layer. Something like what JHS does. Shiny but not too thick.

 

[KR Sound]

I mean I’d drill very first thing before paint. Then the paint looks good and it helps line up your artwork.

 

[jdduffield]

The more I look at this JHS pedal, the more I start to think they clear coated it before screen printing the graphics on. I don’t know how they do it but I like the quality.

 

[jdduffield]

I mean I’d drill very first thing before paint. Then the paint looks good and it helps line up your artwork.

Makes sense.

 

[hamerfan]

I always do

Drill > Primer and sand (2 times) > Paint > Graphics (screen print) > Clear Coat

 

[swelchy]

The more I look at this JHS pedal, the more I start to think they clear coated it before screen printing the graphics on. I don’t know how they do it but I like the quality.

The enclosures are drilled, powder coated and the graphics are not screen printed..They are printed with a UV printer

 

[spi]

drill first