Quote Originally Posted by Woltz View Post
How are you guys doing graphics and designs on enclosures that are powdercoated. I've got a black enclosure for the Gale and Red for the Aurora coming from Tayda.

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I mostly buy bare metal enclosures (although everyone seems sold out right now), so I have been painting with etch primer then acrylic lacquers (duplicolor from the Repco clearance bins, or SCA paint). I leave that to dry for 6 hours then put home-printed waterslide decals on, leave that to dry overnight and then on with 2 clear coats.

I have found that if I spray colour in the morning I can put decals on in the evening and clear the next day. The paint needs to be dry enough for decal application but I still get a good bond with the clear.

The one powdercoated enclosure I have took the decals well but the acrylic lacquer clear totally refused to bond. It dried and then peeled off in large chunks. I don't yet know if sanding the powdercoat would help bonding, or if I need a different type of paint.

I got the decal paper from Dr Decal and Mr Hyde. I only have a mono laser printer, so am stuck with black decals. If you have colour then you have more options (just be sure to get the right paper type). I get most of my fonts from 1001 Fonts.

So that's how I have been doing my enclosures, but I realise I haven't answered your question at all. All I can offer is what didn't work with powdercoating