[sdiy] Of mistakes and powder coating

[Tom Arnold]

So, the case I've been working on nights for the last month is ruined.
Well, the metal still exists ( a few minor dents from where I heaved it
across the garage last night, but those are easily fixable ) and all the
holes still exist, but the paint and lettering is all ruined.

What I've learned.

1. Many thin coats are better then even that one last thick coat you think
will be a good idea.  It wont be.
2. The BelDecal water transfer decals can look *DAMN GOOD*.  Here's what I
found, prep your surface, apply decals.  clear coat 3 or 4 times.  Buff with
0000 steelwool.  Clear coat some more. Buff some more.  2 or 3 rounds later
the decals are invisible in the clearcoat, just the printing is visible.
3. See 1.
4. See 1.
5. Never ever think that a case with a complex curve is a good idea.  No
matter how enamored you are with that pretty case, the nice flat aluminum
panel you can get from Schaffer in 7 days will give you that much more time
to do something else that doesnt involve breathing spraypaint fumes.

So, this little rant leads to a question.
Has anyone dealt with Powder Coating?   Specifically doing a two-coat
process with clear over a colour. 

Monday I'm going to take my case to a powder coating place and have them
bead blast it shiney for me so I can start over.  My thought is to have them
powder coat it, then I'll apply the decals and have them clear coat it.  The
labels should have no trouble with the temperature although to test this I
plan to bake one later today at 400F for 20 minutes just to see.

Now to figure out why these VCO4d's I built a year ago dont work ( I dont
know why but after assembling them I never tested them ).

-- 
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 - Tom Arnold       -  Free Synth DIY webspace http://www.sdiy.org 
 - SynthGeek        -
 - BBD Fanatic      -  "...is it a virus, a drug, or a religion?" 
 - echo evho wjxo   -    Juanita Shrugs. "What's the difference?" 
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