Finishing the Enclosure
Friday, September 28th, 2012 at
4:36 pm
In previous posts, we modeled the enclosure in Sketchup, drilled it, and now we’re ready for paint and artwork. In this video, I talk about options for finishing the enclosure, and choices for art and labels. Then I demonstrate surface prep, priming and painting, in preparation for the waterslide decals.
Some of the resources shown in this video:
- P-touch labeler from Brother
- Adhesive backed window inkjet decal from Papilio, etc
- Bel inkjet waterslide decal paper. Also available from Papilio, etc
- Moollon etched pedals
- Z-VEX handpainted pedals
- Powder coated enclosures available from Pedal Parts Plus, Mammoth Electronics, etc
- Norton 150-grit multipurpose sandpaper
- Norton synthetic steel wool pads
- Mineral spirits or naptha. Please observe all safety measures- eye protection, gloves, ventilation, etc.
- Painter’s pyramids
- Krylon indoor/outdoor primer white
- Krylon indoor/outdoor paint ivory satin
- 125b, 1590a, 1590b, 1590bb diecast aluminum enclosures available from Pedal Parts Plus, Mammoth Electronics, etc
Tagged with: Enclosure • Pedal • Video
Filed under: Guitar
I’ve been stalking this channel for some time now and just wanted to say I love the videos. Lots of interesting projects with clear, concise commentary and good editing.
If I didn’t know better I would guess you were either a scientist or an engineer, John?
Thanks! Yes, you guessed it – I’m a software engineer by day- I do this guitar-related stuff for fun in my free time. More info on the projects, etc, at my blog at planetz. com
that’s nice but you ought to look into powder coating, It’s lots more durable and small things like that can be one at home. ( with a dedicated oven of course)
Yes, powder-coating is great, as I mentioned at 3:02, but my goal here was to present an easy method for great results, without a dedicated oven, spray equipment, etc.
John, I love all of your work shown on this channel.
It would be a lot of work, but i think swirling would look awesome!
youtube.com/watch?v=g3GxEaj7CCE&feature=related
That swirling technique is amazing!
You are my hero man, do you take orders for custom pedals?
I’m not currently selling pedals, but contact me via my blog at planetz. com and let me know what you’re thinking of.
Nice work,..
montana gold spray paint will give you a better uality finish. its ten dollars a can but lost alot longer and they come in various pressures. the color choices are also alot more pleasing to the artistic palette
Thanks for the suggestion- I haven’t tried montana sprays. In general, since we’re going to cover up the base color coat with artwork and follow it with a heavy clear coat, I’m not sure it’s worth a big investment in the color coat. But I’d certainly be curious to try it.
the only reason it is worth it to me is because i use spray paint from beginning to end of my finishing process, next time i make a pedal i will send you a few pictures of my finishes if you like so you can see what i mean.
Sounds good. I’ll look forward to seeing it.
do you have tips for making footswitch?
You mean a simple on/off switch? Or an ABY? These are some of the simplest pedals to make, as there’s nearly no components. Just wires and switches. And it’s only slightly more complicated to add LED’s. Let me know if you have specific questions. I’ll be building an ABY for myself very soon.
yes, just for channeling between the ‘hard’ and ‘clean’ channel on my amp
It depends what the amp is expecting. Some use a momentary switch, but most use a toggle. A toggle footswitch is very simple. Get a DPDT footswitch (around $3 at pedalpartsplus, etc), and a 1/4″ mono jack (around $2). Put those in an enclosure, and wire it up. If you want an on/off LED, you’d need to add a LED bevel and DC power jack (or a battery).
awesome after exams first thing i do
Thanks for this video!
I’m looking to spray one of my Effects pedals that has already got work done on it
it’s the Digitech Death metal pedal and looking to spray it white and blood splat it how would i go about doing that?
Here’s what I’d try. Remove the knobs and electronics. Use painters tape to cover the rubber footstep. Lightly scuff the painted surfaces with sandpaper (like 150 grit). Spray with a white primer. Spray several coats of white gloss. Slit wrists and splash blood on it – or get some red paint of your choice on a paintbrush and flick it across the surface
Reinstall electronics. Rock on.
jOhn,
Just as a thought. Years ago, I used to sell industrial products and paints were considered part of our line. I notice that in the video, you shake your can, end to end. As a salesman, we were taught that this would damage the spraying apparatus and that we should hold the top of the can and swing the bottom side to side. Supposedly, depending on how fast you swing the can, back and forth, you would get enough agitation and not damage the sprayer.
Anyway, just a thought; and, who knows, you might get more paint per can. Great work, as usual. Jim
Hi Jim,
Wow- I’ve never seen anyone shake a can of paint that way! Guess I’ve been doing it wrong all these years
-John
Great Video!! very thorough and helpful.
When you print your artwork how do you create neat holes where pots will go. (Pre drilled before artwork)
I model the enclosure in sketchup to figure out where the holes go, then print a drilling template and drill. I demonstrated these techniques in my videos “Beginner’s Course in Sketchup, Modeling a 125B Guitar Pedal” and “Drilling a 125B Guitar Effects Pedal Enclosure”. See my youtube channel playlists or blog for the links to the other videos.