How to paint a homemade pedal? (BYOC)

[smogfalls]

Jus' wondering how you guys go about putting a nice finish or artwork onto your d.i.y pedals? I've just finished my second BYOC and need to spruce it up a little. Was thinking of going the swirly root as I read a guide on how to do that.
But I really don't know the first thing about any of the other popular techniques.
How do you print words or graphics onto it? I've seen some seriously impressive homemade pedals around here.
Thanks in advance,
Xan

[Polynitro]

Go to thier forum and check out the post, 'how to paint your enclosure' by Fuzzdawg....It's a great tutorial.

[smogfalls]

cheers for the advice but I can't track that post down. I've done several searches and found a few tips here and there but can't seem to find the tutorial. Do you have a direct link?

[Structo]

Well you can use waterslide decals that you make on your inkjet printer.
Just remember to spray some clear lacquer over the lettering before you cut them out and apply them.
Then to protect the decals you should spray the entire box with clear.

Or as I have done in the past, use a paint pen for the labeling.

Many boutique pedals have the pen lettering.

I have used the Hammerite paint with great success.
The best way to do this, is after painting bake it in a 150 degree oven for an hour.
It helps cure the paint and hardens it.

But the wife will get miffed if the oven smells like paint so a lot of guys buy a second hand toaster oven for this.

I have also used a high temperature engine paint on a screamer clone.
It was bright green like a tubescreamer.

Just google "painting stomp boxes" or similar a a lot of links should pop up.

[smogfalls]

excellent, thanks for the advice. I'll look into waterslide decals and probably also try the paint pen. Thats if I have the skills to use hand writing on my pedal!
Cheers!

[Polynitro]

Yeah it's gone for some reason...You could try pming Fuzzdawg and ask him to link his post. I have it printed out it was called 'how to paint your enclosure' posted under tech support and DIY discussion posted on Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:48pm.

[joepopp]

I buy the boxes finished from pedal parts plus. It's very cheap and they are powder coated which is very tough. For decal tips go here:

http://www.buildyourownclone.com/boa...php?f=9&t=8896

[Murfman]

There's a real cool two paint process you can buy at your local craft store. Washburn guitars had this scheme on their guitars back in the 80s for awhile. Its easy and kinda cool. Here's a picture of a DIY Tubescreamer and Ross compressor:



You have to buy a base coat and a top coat color. You could probably paint lots of pedals on two cans of paint.

-Murf

[reeced]

Another idea - I used a Dremel with engraver tool to carve out the lettering, fine grade emery to satin finish the aluminium, and finally a couple of coats of polyurethane.