I just thought of something. Would anyone be interested in having their docking stations professionally painted with a high gloss "piano" type nitrocellulose lacquer finish? We have a spray gun here as well as plenty of lacquer. The standard color is black, but we could offer custom colors too as it basically involves tinting clear lacquer with various pigments. I would need a little while to gear up the process for repeatability, but once done the results should be excellent.

Anyone interested?

Stu

i'd wanna see an example and a cost estimate... but i'm interested...

pictures are fun

In reply to:

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i'd wanna see an example and a cost estimate... but i'm interested...

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ditto

Depends on price also. It would be good to have this service going before Mark starts shipping them out so they could go to you first.

Yes on that one!!! Very interested!

I'm intersted as well. Pictures would be great.

In reply to:

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I'd wanna see an example and a cost estimate... but i'm interested...

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I'll get pictures when there is something to take pictures of. Cost won't be determined until I do a test run, but it won't be cheap. This is a very time consuming finish to do right. It will take around 7-8 coats to build up sufficient thickness in the finish since lacquers generally have a low solids to solvent ratio. Before it can be rubbed out, it has to harden for at least a week. I don't have a docking station to "practice" on, but have plenty of scrap MDF like what the station is made of.

I will give it a try in black this weekend and see how the initial spraying goes.

Stu

I'd also like to see the finish and get estimates...thanks for your efforts.

I would like to see the painted version as well, now I'll have to get on Mark's waiting list and hope he continues to build the docking stations.

I did not get a chance to get to painting this weekend. I really want to do this and barring some unforeseen event, I will get it (the painting) done this week. The main obstacle was finding a suitable piece of MDF to work with. I need to get out to the shop to cut and route a piece like the top of the docking stations.

After the 7 coats go down, I need to wait at least a week and probably 2 before rubbing out. Many finishers wait up to a month before rubbing out the finish, but I don't know how many of you would be willling to wait that long.

Stu

Greetings!

I certainly would, especially if the results justify it. I am very interested!!!

I to am interested. If the extra time yields better results then I can wait.

I'd definately be interested and willing to wait a week! I'd probably just have my dock shipped directly to you end up doing this!

Pictures would be great!

I love how all the empeg "cottage industries" are turning into little daisy chains:

- Button backlight kits, sold by Brian, installed by others.
- Tuner kits, sold by PCA, assembled by others.
- Docking sleds, sold by Mlord, painted by others...

New facias lead to new lenses.

I have 5 coats laid down now. It going to need another 5 or so. Probably will need to use some high build primer as an undercoat, as the MDF has lots of minute imperfections. It will make things easier. The raw lacquer is fairly shiney right now, probably like a lowend Maaco finish. After another 5 coats and lots of rubbing it should be a different story. I will post a picture of the piece the way it is now if anyone wants ot see it.

Stu

Post that baby!

Nothing real exciting just yet, but here it is with 5 coats.

Stu

Any thoughts on how much this would cost?

for some reason i dont think that picture dose it juctice.

Agreed.

Mmm... I cannot see this turning out to be inexpensive enough for many. Perhaps another approach would be to use a black acrylic undercoat, with spray polyurethane on top, rubbed smooth after 2 coats. It will build faster, and give a nice glossy finish with less fuss -- even available in spray cans for "DO try this at home, folks"..

But for the 1-5 purists.. piano black laquer will be the ultimate.

Cheers

You may be right there. I can't afford to pay as much as I did for the docking station to have it painted or anything. It does look like it will be beautiful when finished though so I hope it won't cost too too much.

Just wondering how this is going? Any new piccies? and any idea on what its likely to cost?

Everything is smoother now with 7 coats applied, but I'm not sure you could tell the difference in a photo, so no I don't have any additional photos. There are some mysterious lines that have begun showing up in the finish that almost look like wrinkles from underneath. I need to find a way to get rid of them. Then I can let the finish cure for about a month.

I am using rattle can lacquer right now, just to develop my technique. It remains surprisingly soft for long periods of time. The Empeg in the photo above damaged the lacquer from the pressure it excerted on the still curing (apparently) lacquer, even after 2 days.

Although I didn't do it on the test piece, I am thinking of using Bondo auto body filler to get all voids filled in prior to finishing, but I am a bit concerned that it might not hold up to MDF expansion and contraction. Anyone know how much of a problem this is with MDF?

Price is tough to say. It's probably going to be too high for anyone to be interested in. I was thinking $100 each for black, but that might be a bit optimistic. We will see.

Stu

MDF expansion and contraction. Anyone know how much of a problem this is with MDF?

When I used to work at a cabinet shop we used to use bondo on MDF with no cracking or ill effects. To finish the finishers used a clear sander sealer then bondo then the final coats of lacquer etc. The black lacquer look used to be done with a few coats done within a few hours. The finish guys also used to do a faux wood grain using paints and lacquers. After the "fauxing" up of the MDF it was finished up with a clear coat lacquer.

To finish my Mlord docking station i plan on using a clear sanding sealer then some bondo. After that I plan on sanding all smooth to 320 grit then reseal using the sanding sealer. Let dry overnight and if needed buff lightly with 320 grit sandpaper. Then, using a spray can of black lacquer, place three or so colour coats over the sanding sealer. After this dries I will overcoat with one coat of compatable clear lacquer (the same brand name usually).

Right ... I received my dock and it looks great !!

Now I need a simple (inexpensive) way of getting it black. Not being a DIY'er, i'm a bit clueless, although a have realized that a brush and gloss paint may look a bit crappy.

What a about car spray ? Do I need to undercoat ?

What is everyone else doing ?

All comments appreciated.

Although not necessarily in context, but whenever we have to prepare shitty composite mouldings for spraying we use the following sequence of operations..... (legal note - Mark, I am in no way implying the docks have a shitty finish so don't send the boys round).........

- Wipe on a "rag filler" - a creamy filler which is literally wiped on, allowed to dry and then sanded off (to address the surface porisity)
- Apply body filler to any blemishes & sand flat
- Spray with a filler/primer & sand flat
- Paint finish of your choice

As with all things of this ilk, you reap what you sow. NO EFFORT = SH*T JOB

Cheers, Sim

There are 10 coats on the sample, which were heavily sanded in between to fill in imperfections. Mission accomplished! The lacquer is curing now. 1/30 days to go before I can buff it out.

Stu