[sdiy] silkscreening and other finishings

[David Halliday]

There was a product called Scotchcal which is totally different from the
current Scotchcal marketed by 3M ( a semi-transparent window tinting film ).
It was a photosensitive material available on either film or anodized Al
sheet.  There was a colored pigment on top and when you exposed it to light,
the pigment would polymerize, when you developed it, the unpolymerized
material would be washed away leaving the base color.

Nice stuff to work with and the aluminum sheets were self-adhesive so you
could stick them to a rack panel.  Include a cross-hair for your centerpunch
and you could get the holes drilled with a good measure of accuracy.

Do not know why it was discontinued - this happened about fifteen years ago.




-> -----Original Message-----
-> From: owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
-> [mailto:owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl]On Behalf Of Toby Paddock
-> Sent: Monday, August 13, 2001 8:32 PM
-> To: Synth_diy
-> Subject: RE: [sdiy] silkscreening and other finishings
->
->
-> 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
->
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-> 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
->
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-> 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
->
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