painting an amp

[jzgtrguy]

So if your head and cabinet are covered in toilex/vinyl and you wanted someone artsy to paint them what would you paint it with so the paint would last?

 

[nmiller]

I've seen a few tweed amps painted black, probably to "update" them for the '60s. The results were always hideous. If you're going to do it, remove the tolex and seal the wood first.

 

[RJLII]

Tolex and similar coverings are really flexible vinyl that contain plasticizers that will prevent paint from adhering well. You'd need to prime it first. That said, it would still not represent a good substrate for paint. If you have your heart set on it, strip the tolex and sand/seal/prime the wood.

 

['59_Standard]

Eastwood

 

[jzgtrguy]

Thanks guys. I'll look at that Eastwood sight. I'm not going to strip, sand and seal the cabinet. Too much work. I love the cabinet too it's a Port City 212 standard cab

 

[jzgtrguy]

I was thinking of doing something like this.

 

[Silent Sound]

Thanks guys. I'll look at that Eastwood sight. I'm not going to strip, sand and seal the cabinet. Too much work. I love the cabinet too it's a Port City 212 standard cab

If you're going to paint it and want it to last, you'll need to do your prep work first. If you're not willing to put actual time and effort into it, then don't expect whatever you paint on there not to chip, fade, and peel off. You'll only get out of this what you put into it, and if you're not looking to put forth actual effort into this, than I'd skip it. You don't have to sand and strip it down, but I would at least remove the tolex and cover the amp in a material that worked better with paint. Canvas would probably work well, since it's often used as a painting surface, and it's flexible and glues well.

Tolex is made of vinyl and vinyl doesn't bond with most paints very well. There are, however, special paints (usually spray paints) that are made to adhere to vinyl. You'll find them at home improvement stores, as they're usually made to paint the vinyl siding on houses. You could try to coat the tolex in vinyl paint and then paint over it with some other type of paint, and that may work. I've painted vinyl with plastic before using this type of paint, but I've never painted on top of that with a different kind of paint, so I can't tell you for certain how it will end up. But even if it all goes well, you've still got a really rough surface that will be hard to work on.

As someone who's got TONS of experience painting on all kinds of surfaces with all kinds of mediums, you don't want to skimp on materials or prep work. It really sucks to put hours and hours of work into something and be really proud of it, only to watch it deteriorate a few months later.

 

[scmavl]

I think I'd just do the front pieces. Easy to replace if you ever sell and no need to de-tolex your amp.

 

[Baxtercat]

So if your head and cabinet are covered in toilex/vinyl...

The toilex typo always makes me think of the Mother of Toilet seat covering.

 

[Kelly]

Mohawk makes vinyl paint and markers, used in furniture repair...

http://www.mohawk-finishing.com/