vinyl CP covering

[rampy]

I wanted to start a fresh thread to discuss using vinyl as a control panel covering... and here it is.

There's already an ongoing search/thread for lexan style self adhesive "mouse mat" style covering here

After a brief foray way off topic in the mounting happs super thread eightbit and I started discussing the vinyl covering he used (and how he applied it)

here's his cp

I had a few more questions so I started a new thread, because I felt guilty hijacking the other thread...(sorry man... I think you go with the r-nuts myself)

eightbit, can you provide more detail on the mounting process for the vinyl you used?  What did you use to cut it x-acto blade?  Did you glue piece larger than the cp and then trim it after it was glued (like laminate, sorta?)

how do you handle the "ends" do you just glue a little bit over the edge and then the t-molding covers it or do you wrap it all the way around the cp to the other side (like the contact paper people do)

any other tips?

Thanks

rampy

PS Also open to other ideas/suggestions about CP coverings in this thread besides the 1/4" or whatever lexan covering artwork (which looks nice btw...). ex. the mouse mat material, or links to other vendors n' stuff (happs has some generic textured self-applying overlay material, but buying from happs is expensive, and has a 25 bean minimum...etc..  plus sometimes its nice to visit a brick and mortar to get what you want need right away =P

[eightbit]

I used contact cement. First cover the top side of the control panel with the contact cement then place the vinyl on top working from one side to the other. Be carefull because its contact cement.  Smooth and stretch  the vinyl in place. Once your happy with the top flip it over and contact cement the sides and enough of the bottom to give the vinyl a nice grip around the edge.

For the front edge that has edge banding. I went up to the groove with vinyl and then pressed the edgebanding into place.

Because none of my corners were exposed it was easy to just cut the corners so the vinyl would lay flat arount the corners.

To cut it mostly I used plain scissors and a little bit of trimming with a razor blade. To cut the holes I just slit an X in the middle of the hole and slid the button in. I might have been able to do this since I used 1 1/4" holes. I'm working on another panel now and used 1 1/8" holes. I'll get back to you on how tight the buttons fit. I suspect I'll have to trim the vinyl to fit the hole.

I don't know how I'd handle it if the corners or edges were exposed.

A while back a guy was selling carbon fiber look alike adhesive backed sticker. That stuff was rated for outdoor use. I've thought about giving that or something similar a try.

[rampy]

8bit had a few more questions  if you'll entertain them...

how thick is the vinyl?... does it have a better name if I asked for it in the uh fabric store?

Does it feel like (when applied) like something quasi-arcade authentic  or does it feel like you just apolstered your control panel...

Sidenote: I think I'd kinda wanna go the laminate route but don't feel like getting a special bit just for that... what happens if you just use a regular router bit on laminate?

Blah...

rampy

[eightbit]

It comes in all thickness, textures, and colors. Some of its stretchy some of its stiff, some of it feels almost padded, others will feel solid on your control panel. If you get up the guts to go into a fabric store   and ask for the vinyl section  you should find a 100 choices and you can get whatever look or feel that your going for. You should try some neon pink duck cloth, thats the look/feel that I'd recomend for you.   Duck cloth is also in the vinyl section it makes great snowmobile seats if you ever need to recover one(it repels water like a duck).

Most Wal-mart stores sell fabric, usually its back in the corner of the store. Some of them sell vinyl but your choices will be limited versus going to a real fabric store. If someone catches you there you could always claim to be lost.  

Laminate router bits are only special because they have a bearing on them. They are also called flush trim bits. The bearing guides you along the edge. Of course there are a bunch of specialty laminate bits if you want to round or slant the laminate. A good carbide flush trim bit is only like $10 you can probably get a HSS (high speed steel, mucho cheaper than carbide) one for a lot less at your local big box. Then you just take a sandpaper block to the edge to break the sharpness. Or you can use a $20 bit to bevel the edge, but you can probably find HSS ones of those to.

You'd be surprised what other uses you'll find for a flush trim bit if you buy one. If you ever need to make a bunch of identical peices with holes or shapes in a board you just need a template for the flush trim bit to follow and you can really crank them out and they will all be identical since your following a template. If you make a cut just slightly oversized and didn't realize it till after you put it together you can clamp a straightedge to where you want the cut to be and the flush trim bit can trim it. This is especially usefull on doors that rub along the top you can do a perfect cut without taking the door down and it will be far smoother than any tool with a toothed blade could do.

[rampy]

It comes in all thickness, textures, and colors. Some of its stretchy some of its stiff, some of it feels almost padded, others will feel solid on your control panel. If you get up the guts to go into a fabric store   and ask for the vinyl section  you should find a 100 choices and you can get whatever look or feel that your going for. You should try some neon pink duck cloth, thats the look/feel that I'd recomend for you.   Duck cloth is also in the vinyl section it makes great snowmobile seats if you ever need to recover one(it repels water like a duck).

Most Wal-mart stores sell fabric, usually its back in the corner of the store. Some of them sell vinyl but your choices will be limited versus going to a real fabric store. If someone catches you there you could always claim to be lost.  

Laminate router bits are only special because they have a bearing on them. They are also called flush trim bits. The bearing guides you along the edge. Of course there are a bunch of specialty laminate bits if you want to round or slant the laminate. A good carbide flush trim bit is only like $10 you can probably get a HSS (high speed steel, mucho cheaper than carbide) one for a lot less at your local big box. Then you just take a sandpaper block to the edge to break the sharpness. Or you can use a $20 bit to bevel the edge, but you can probably find HSS ones of those to.

You'd be surprised what other uses you'll find for a flush trim bit if you buy one. If you ever need to make a bunch of identical peices with holes or shapes in a board you just need a template for the flush trim bit to follow and you can really crank them out and they will all be identical since your following a template. If you make a cut just slightly oversized and didn't realize it till after you put it together you can clamp a straightedge to where you want the cut to be and the flush trim bit can trim it. This is especially usefull on doors that rub along the top you can do a perfect cut without taking the door down and it will be far smoother than any tool with a toothed blade could do.

thanks 8b,

I'm only borrowing a router so... and I think it has a bit with bearing already on it... I'd feel silly buying too many bits for it (I'm gonna buy the slot cutting bit for the t-molding...

Thanks for the advice on the vinyl... my wife sometimes checks out the craft section of walmart so maybe if i'm brave I'll tag along there, and work my way up to fabric store visit (baby steps - like in what about bob?)

thanks again,

rampy

[eightbit]

my wife sometimes checks out the craft section of walmart so maybe if i'm brave I'll tag along there, and work my way up to fabric store visit (baby steps - like in what about bob?)

"You can do it!" (quote from Waterboy)

[TazMan]

"You can do it...all...night...long"  yet anoth Water Boy quote

[Howard_Casto]

"Cover winkler in Bees... You can do it!"

A 23 year old male going into a fabric store with long black hair and a metallica t-shirt is definately an "interesting" experience.  All the creepy stay at home mothers and church groups stopped and stared at me for a good 5 minutes.  I think they thought I was going to hold up the place.  

[eightbit]

A 23 year old male going into a fabric store with long black hair and a metallica t-shirt is definately an "interesting" experience.  All the creepy stay at home mothers and church groups stopped and stared at me for a good 5 minutes.  I think they thought I was going to hold up the place.  

What church  groups hang out in fabric stores?

[Howard_Casto]

That was my pitiful attempt at being p.r.  What I mean is those wacky religious types with their long, long dresses and no makeup that make the amish look radical.  You can spot em a mile away.    

[rampy]

That was my pitiful attempt at being p.r.  What I mean is those wacky religious types with their long, long dresses and no makeup that make the amish look radical.  You can spot em a mile away.    

The real question here is which metallica t-shirt?

A ride the lightening one or kill em all or a more recent one...

rampy

[Gopherboy]

BYOAC - Brining you the issues that matter.    

(Of course - best results are always attained with the firm favourite - "Metal up your.." <cough>.)

[rampy]

BYOAC - Brining you the issues that matter.    

(Of course - best results are always attained with the firm favourite - "Metal up your.." <cough>.)

that's the one I was thinking of  =P well hc?

rampy

[Howard_Casto]

Actually it was my very subtle shirt from the load era.  You know rusted ninja star and the logo... that's it.  

Damn church bittys.  

"But what if hell is like a hottub?  It's really hot at first and then you get used to it." --Bart Simpson

[NIVO]

eightbit......the only church group i could think of that would hang out would "Our Lady Of The Cloth"   heheheheheheehhehehehe