Painting enclosures to prevent chips

[mathias]

What do you guys do? I was going to try using the Rustoleum metal primer first, then a color coat, and a couple passes of gloss clear coat (but I'm not sure which kind of gloss to use over the Rustoleum paint, since I didn't see a rustoleum gloss clear coat, and not sure that clear poly would work well. Lacquer?) Looking to avoid chipping and make the most durable coat I can without having to enamel bake or send it for powdercoating.

[The4455]

Once you have painted your enclosure spray it with poly acrylic spray. But make sure you buy the right kind there are two oen for paint adn for other things.

[Jero]

Prime, paint, clear. Make sure you use plenty of coats, while allowing adequate dry time. Probably going to take more than a day this way however. I had been using that rusto clear but it doesn't mix well now for some reason so it sprays out horrifically uneven. Spray shellac too works well but its thin so you might need to use lots (multiple coats). Another warning about shellac, it will jack some things up...ink stamps, sharpie, etc are a no go. I have actually drawn on enclosures with sharpie, sanded them clean, then sprayed shellac on them...the picture comes right back.

[mathias]

Prime, paint, clear. Make sure you use plenty of coats, while allowing adequate dry time. Probably going to take more than a day this way however. I had been using that rusto clear but it doesn't mix well now for some reason so it sprays out horrifically uneven. Spray shellac too works well but its thin so you might need to use lots (multiple coats). Another warning about shellac, it will jack some things up...ink stamps, sharpie, etc are a no go. I have actually drawn on enclosures with sharpie, sanded them clean, then sprayed shellac on them...the picture comes right back.

Shellac is really a solvent with clear coat ingredients suspended in it, is my understanding. At least when I used to watch woodworking/furniture shows on PBS (New Yankee Workshop, anyone?) the shellac was applied in multiple rubbed coats and sort of mixed with the varnish/stain you had already put on. They also had tinted shellac. That's how they get such deep, rich color in the finish of expensive furniture, I think.

[fishballs]

I tried a lot of methods... At the end of the day powdercoating is simply the most rugged and cheapest way of going about it. Sharlet even paints onto the powdercoat for a solid substrate for her art.

[mathias]

I have acquired a toaster oven at our makerspace, and I'll be baking the enamel finish on to try and make it more durable. Going to take some trial and error, I think, so I made some "blanks" from aluminum plate that we have to get the timing and temperature right.

I tried a lot of methods... At the end of the day powdercoating is simply the most rugged and cheapest way of going about it. Sharlet even paints onto the powdercoat for a solid substrate for her art.

That's awesome! I love it! Trying to work on a process that produces good-looking art on pedals.. and I'm not an artist.

[Jero]

I tried a lot of methods... At the end of the day powdercoating is simply the most rugged and cheapest way of going about it. Sharlet even paints onto the powdercoat for a solid substrate for her art.

Damn, that's a great finish. Owls are cool.

[culturejam]

I get the best results if I rough-sand the enclosure to even things out and open up the metal a bit. Then I spray a thin coat of primer and do a little bit of fine sanding, and then another light coat of primer. Then I do two or three color coats, depending on what kind of finish I'm doing (I do a lot of color mixing with multiple spray coats). Then I do anywhere from three to five coats of clear.

The primer really sticks to the metal, and then the color coats really stick to the primer. I've done lots of finishes with no primer, and they all chip more easily than if I used primer. It's the only major difference, so I assume the primer must be the deciding factor. I might be wrong, though.

[culturejam]

I tried a lot of methods... At the end of the day powdercoating is simply the most rugged and cheapest way of going about it. Sharlet even paints onto the powdercoat for a solid substrate for her art.

Do you guys have a powdercoating setup, or do you have the done out of house?

[Jero]

Yea?^, I was looking into that, just can afford it right now. I too am curious.

[fishballs]

I tried a lot of methods... At the end of the day powdercoating is simply the most rugged and cheapest way of going about it. Sharlet even paints onto the powdercoat for a solid substrate for her art.

Do you guys have a powdercoating setup, or do you have the done out of house?

Pedal Parts Plus does short order powdering one at a time. We don't have nor want the facilities to powder coat. So much work! We found a great shop in town who does volume for a fair price, with a quick turn around. I dunno if most folks know it, but you can drill through powder coating without worry... Saves shipping costs! For finding a local powder coater I suggest looking for folks who do bicycle frames... For a couple reasons, #1 they have the cool colors #2 they REALLY live by the rule 'no job too big, no job too small'! Otherwise pedalpartsplus.com is a good way to go.

[univalve]

perseus ftw
great looking finish!

[culturejam]

Pedal Parts Plus does short order powdering one at a time.

Where's the DIY fun in that?