Prepping Metal Control Panel for vinyl adhesive overlay.

[Well Fed Games]

OK, a couple of questions- I have my old pac man control panel, stripped down to the metal (and wood).

1. Should it be painted, primed, or anything else before putting the adhesive on?

2. The two middle carriage bolt holes (larger than 1/8th of an inch square, less than 1/4th) are now redundant with additional controls I am putting in, and fall right in the middle of the characters on my artwork. Rather not put the bolts in, buy my fear is that I will feel the holes under the vinyl, or worst case scenario, the vinyl sags into the hole. Any thoughts on how to fill in the hole on a thin metal CP?

[mgb]

I would definately prime and paint before putting on the overlay. I know alot of factory made metal panels aren't painted before being overlayed but I feel its the best way.

As far as the unused holes, why not bondo them before finishing.

[Well Fed Games]

Hmmm. Guess I should have primed it when I did the cab! 

So it would be as simple as say, putting some tape on the backside of the CP and then bondo-ing in the holes? wasn't sure about adhesion.

[Bender]

I'd glue something to the back of the panel, like a scrap peice of metal or little block of wood, that way there is some rigid support behind the bondo

[mgb]

rigid support is best, but I would bet either tape or even nothing behind it ould work. those holes aren't that big

[Well Fed Games]

Great, thanks for the advice. Not sure why I didn't think about the holes until so late in the project!