[sdiy] silkscreening and other finishings

[Toby Paddock]

These are a couple posts from June 98. I know since then
this trophy shop has gotten more into laser stuff. They burn
the paint off leaving silver letters on a colored background.
The metal panels I saw were too thin to use without some backing.

And I have a question... What would DIY'ers do for panels and
labels in the 50s and 60s? I'd like to make a panel
that kind of looks like a homemade project from back then.
(If I can resist using LEDs and mini toggle switches).

Thanks,
Toby Paddock

 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sorry if this has been covered before...

At work I saw some panels that were done by a trophy shop.
They're normally for plaques and awards, but this guy was
using them for test equipment panels.  Colored graphics on
very thin brushed aluminum.  He emails the graphics to the
shop and picks up the panels the next day.
>From what I understand, it's kind of like an industrial strength
t-shirt transfer process.
I think the price was about $25US for a 10 x 10 inch (ouch).

Hoping this finds you,
Toby Paddock
- -- -  - -- -  - -- -  - -- -  - -- -
http://www.seanet.com/~tpaddock
Pronteon Approved,
not a museum of radioactive ore samples


 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

More vague mumblings about front panels made by a trophy shop...

A guy at work is having test equipment panels made by a shop that has a 
process for doing award plaques and such.
He left a couple samples on my desk.  I measure them to be about .025 inch 
thick aluminum.  Would need to stick them on something heavier.  Almost 
thick enough maybe for a very small panel.  I think this is an 
industrial-strength heat transfer T-shirt type process.

Sample 1:   Black letters on brushed aluminum.  Fairly sharp detail on the 
letters.  Feels like a thin plastic coating.  Smooth, I can't feel the 
letters.  I can't seem to mark it at all with my fingernail.  I can scratch 
it using the other piece of aluminum, of course.  Once scratched, I can not 
get it to keep pealing with my fingernail.

Sample 2:   Multi-colored graphic.  Looks cool.  Brushed aluminum shows 
through the light colors (nice effect).  Looks kind of half-tone where the 
colors blend.  Like a inkjet printer, which I think it is.  No horizontal 
bars like an inkjet sometimes does.  Same coating.  Could make a very 
pretty panel.


They are also using a laser on a painted panel to burn off the paint where 
the letters are.  (Metal letters on a paint background.)  Or where the 
letters aren't... (Paint letters on metal background.)  I have not seen any 
of these.

When I get a chance, I will go to the shop and take a look.  I think they 
are just having too much fun with this.

Hoping this finds you,
Toby Paddock
- -- -  - -- -  - -- -  - -- -  - -- -
http://www.seanet.com/~tpaddock
Pronteon Approved,
Not a farm machinery demolition-derby newsletter

 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -