Build Your Own Clone Message Board

What do you guys use for painting your pedals? I'm planning to do.mine in black with a light brown/goldish color (like the text color on my blog). I've ordered some transparent laser printer decal sheets. I read up on the big decal thread and I guess I'll have to lighten up the color since the black will shine through a bit...

or, you can paint your enclosure, scan it into photoshop/illustrator or whatever you use.
get some white waterslide decal paper and then use your eyedropper tool to try and match the black on the enclosure as best you can. there's usually a slight bit of tonal difference, but its just that, slight.
pour on some 'tex and its good to go!

I like using my airbrush and spraying House of Kolor or AutoAir paints. They look better to me and hold up to abuse.

I have always had good results with Dupli-Color automotive paints.

HIJACK!! You like thrash aquaDave!? Finally

Thanks for mentioning the Dupli-Color auto touch-up paint.......been wracking my brain trying to remember the name of the lacquer in the small cans. THIS IS IT!!!!!!

Thanks,
Don

No prob!

@Kunfuz - Thrash is first style of music I ever really got into!

Awesome! Been playing thrash for 15+ years now, never grow tired of it

Sooooo, back on topic. Shiny or matt finish to make it look the best with a full face decal?

that's really a personal preference thing, but remember that the undercoat doesn't really matter - you'll end up with whatever kind of finish you use for the top (clear) coat. I like both matte and shiny, depends on what I'm going for. here's some of mine in ultra-gloss and a matte, both with decals under the clearcoat... I think both work for the various styles.

Those look awesome cpt !

CP, great artwork! Is there a clear coat that is durable for pedal use? Do you have to bake it at all, and can that even be done using decals?

Here are my two most recent builds; my take on the ESV and ESV 2 knob.
Because I use Lazertran waterslide injet material, which requires no overcoat, I am limited to an off-white to make the paper fully transparent. I also like working in color so this isn't much of a bother to me. I use a Rustoleum that I can bake at about 200f for 10 minutes or so, then apply the decals and a Rustoleum clear coat. The decals are ready for clear spray after about 12 hours. This I can't bake as the decals start to brown even that low, but a heat shrink gun helps treat the clear coat.

Because these are the fancy grade pedals I added a step; I used a pearl metallic Rustoleum to give it some sparkle, which is mostly clear, so it works well on this. This gets baked as well, and is under the decals but shows through nicely. I don't work for Rustoleum; its just what's readily available at the local Homey-D. I'm sure anything similar would work as well.

Another little heads-up is to wear a white shirt while painting these; a black one sheds like crazy and will get on the finish. White sheds as much, it just isn't so visible on these. And I've made adjustments on the Fuzz Face one to lower the knob labels and increase the fuzzy font size.

I did try automotive paints, but I couldn't get the Lazertran to adhere well to it; much more bubbling.

I've recently decided it's usually not worth my time to paint them myself. I just order them from Mammoth, and they look fantastic. Maybe between $10-15 apiece, drilled and everything? Seems steep until you consider how much you'd get paid to work for as long as you spend painting.

But when I do paint, I use all Rustoleum stuff from the Big Orange Store. Primer, paint, then lacquer after the decal goes on. Works well; it's just time-consuming.

I use this thing called a PreVal. It is essentially a spray can that you can put your own color paint in. I get Hot Hues or other good auto paint from an auto body place here in town. I just get little 4-8 oz cans. Its great because you can get really deep metallic and perloid paints and a zillion amazing colors.

Thanks for the preval plug. Hadn't heard of it before, but looks cool.

Anal preval probe anyone?