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Portable with changeable control panels - Complete (More or less)
TheGameFan:
I will be following this topic closely, as I am working on a similar project but in a full-sized cab.
(It's a Z-Back with a pull-out tray where i am mounting my PC and interchangeable CPs.)
As was said previously, great work on the wiring! I'm really curious to see how it all fits together.
Hawkweber:
Started painting with the brown paint this weekend. Apparently the foam roller doesn't make a smooth finish with regular paint either - got that orange peel finish (bumpy). Wouldn't be too bad under normal circumstances - it almost looks like a nice grain leather - but I wanted smooth. Would hold up better for the control panel tops and also allow the vinyl joystick arrows to stick much better. So, read about using Floetrol with latex paint to let it stay wet longer and allow it to level better. Sanded down the current underside of the panels so they were smoother and then rolled floetrol-laced paint onto it. Slightly better, but still has the bumpy finish. Gotta figure out how to get it to roll on smooth...
Was thinking of maybe using a clear acrylic spray (Krylon) on the top of the control panels to help seal it up once finished painting. However I just read that it can take about 30 days for latex paint to fully cure! Dang - I was hoping to be able to get things all finished up prior to that. Won't be able to seal it for a month, which means that I won't be able to wire up the panels until then. And that's once I finish up with the several coats of paint, which will take another few days at least.
rablack97:
Take a look at gamester's post, http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=94891.0, he has a good writeup on how he used spray cans and got a mirror finish.
Javery's "Bella's Arcade" http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=59828.0 has a good write up on using foam rollers and sanding the hell out of each layer to get it smooth.
Here's a link i found you might find useful as well http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/construction-tips/83141-how-high-gloss-finishing.html
Lots of reading but good stuff, and no 30 day wait......good luck
Hawkweber:
rablack97 - thanks for the links, but I already checked those out. Essentially, they either use spray enamel or alkyd enamel (oil) for the cabs (and in the case of Bella's Arcade - a crazy amount of layers and sandings and buffings, etc.). I'm stuck with latex paint as oil is not available in my area and the spray cans (Rustoleum) are already colored (and not in the color I want). So, it was either use a foam roller (which everyone swears gives an ultra smooth finish, hah!) or buy a sprayer which I will probably never use after this project and would be really hard to justify the purchase to my wife. I think I'm just going to have to try to sand it as best as I can between coats and try the krylon clear coat spray after it cures. Either that or maybe some polycrilic brush on if that might help with smoothing and leveling it.
rablack97:
Yeah ultra smooth meaning no brush streaks. Well don't fret or put too much thought and effort into it. I attempted gamesters finish, its hard to get right, and gets expensive on the redos. End result, all the effort was for nothing really, I gashed the thing up against my table saw on the move upstairs. So now theres 2 huges streaks in my $200.00 paint job.....
Plus keep in mind you've started painting with more building and wiring to do...What I found out is you end up chipping, rubbing, over screwing screws etc. and that perfect finish aint so perfect any more.......
I'll be keeping up with your progress.....to see how it comes out....