Faceplate Materials

General discussion area for tube amps.

Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal

Thegrateoz
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Nov 21, 2023 8:28 pm

Faceplate Materials

Post by Thegrateoz »

Hello,

What the best source for the gold plexi used for faceplates? How about the brushed metal on the JCMs?

I have a CNC and a laser. My intent is to use of them with the materials.

I've tried to search for this information in the threads. So I apologize if I have missed it.

Thank you
Stevem
Posts: 4599
Joined: Fri Jan 24, 2014 3:01 pm
Location: 1/3rd the way out one of the arms of the Milkyway.

Re: Faceplate Materials

Post by Stevem »

What country are you in?
When I die, I want to go like my Grandfather did, peacefully in his sleep.
Not screaming like the passengers in his car!😊

Cutting out a man's tongue does not mean he’s a liar, but it does show that you fear the truth he might speak about you!
Thegrateoz
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Nov 21, 2023 8:28 pm

Re: Faceplate Materials

Post by Thegrateoz »

I'm in the US
Thegrateoz
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Nov 21, 2023 8:28 pm

Re: Faceplate Materials

Post by Thegrateoz »

Stevem wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2024 11:20 am What country are you in?
I'm in the US
yeahyeah
Posts: 83
Joined: Sun Aug 27, 2006 7:40 pm
Location: NC

Re: Faceplate Materials

Post by yeahyeah »

I'd like to know what fender uses, the black printed on aluminum faceplates. Never been a fan of plastic or stickers. The thin metal faceplates would be nice for a number of projects.
User avatar
Raja_Kentut
Posts: 65
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2023 9:57 am
Location: Veitsbronn, Germany

Re: Faceplate Materials

Post by Raja_Kentut »

@yeahyeah

I don‘t know where you live and if you have access to a lasercutter (Fablab, School, Makerspace, …)
At the moment I‘m working on faceplates and use the following method:
Take an aluminum piece of needed size
Spray it with normal matt black acrylic paint, two layers
Let the laser go over it 2 times. I use 100mm/s at 25W
Spray the piece with gloss varnish Acrylic paint.
The needed software to make the laserfiles comes with the laser you are using…
The picture shows a test run without gloss varnish.
I use the crosshairs to mark the drill holes.
Off course you can make a negative to have black letters on aluminum.
image.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Nothing is better than an unexpected discovery that brings you happiness!
User avatar
Guy77
Posts: 919
Joined: Sat May 31, 2014 2:46 am
Location: Toronto, Canada

Re: Faceplate Materials

Post by Guy77 »

Raja_Kentut wrote: Sat Jan 13, 2024 2:08 pm @yeahyeah

I don‘t know where you live and if you have access to a lasercutter (Fablab, School, Makerspace, …)
At the moment I‘m working on faceplates and use the following method:
Take an aluminum piece of needed size
Spray it with normal matt black acrylic paint, two layers
Let the laser go over it 2 times. I use 100mm/s at 25W
Spray the piece with gloss varnish Acrylic paint.
The needed software to make the laserfiles comes with the laser you are using…
The picture shows a test run without gloss varnish.
I use the crosshairs to mark the drill holes.
Off course you can make a negative to have black letters on aluminum.

image.jpg
That looks great. What model Laser do you use? I wonder how this will look on powder coated metals/aluminum.
I am wondering if the edges of the letters would have more contrast.

Thanks
G
User avatar
Raja_Kentut
Posts: 65
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2023 9:57 am
Location: Veitsbronn, Germany

Re: Faceplate Materials

Post by Raja_Kentut »

I‘m using a Thunder Laser Nova 35 at the local FabLab.
https://www.fablab-fuerth.org/ausstattu ... dcf9d48500
Nothing is better than an unexpected discovery that brings you happiness!
User avatar
dorrisant
Posts: 2632
Joined: Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:27 pm
Location: Somewhere between a river and a cornfield
Contact:

Re: Faceplate Materials

Post by dorrisant »

"Education is what you're left with after you have forgotten what you have learned" - Enzo
Stevem
Posts: 4599
Joined: Fri Jan 24, 2014 3:01 pm
Location: 1/3rd the way out one of the arms of the Milkyway.

Re: Faceplate Materials

Post by Stevem »

If there is a sign making shop in your area they always have loads of good size scrap sections of plexi they would love to sell
instead of toss out.
When I die, I want to go like my Grandfather did, peacefully in his sleep.
Not screaming like the passengers in his car!😊

Cutting out a man's tongue does not mean he’s a liar, but it does show that you fear the truth he might speak about you!
cavevalleyamps
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2009 9:17 am

Re: Faceplate Materials

Post by cavevalleyamps »

I get my two layer plastic sheets from Johnson Plastics.
User avatar
Raja_Kentut
Posts: 65
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2023 9:57 am
Location: Veitsbronn, Germany

Re: Faceplate Materials

Post by Raja_Kentut »

it look like this when you use brass sheet. After lasering, I galvanically deepened the letters. This is quite easy to do in a small cup with copper sulphate solution, then positive pole to the front plate and negative pole to the liquid.
IMG_1026.jpeg
At the end the black varnish is removed and the brass is covered with Zapon varnish.
The letters can then be seen as an indentation. If you like, you can fill the indentations with color, but I leave it like this. I think it looks great and unusual.
You have to be careful not to scratch the brass surface. Once the varnish is on, you can relax :)
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Nothing is better than an unexpected discovery that brings you happiness!
User avatar
dorrisant
Posts: 2632
Joined: Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:27 pm
Location: Somewhere between a river and a cornfield
Contact:

Re: Faceplate Materials

Post by dorrisant »

"Education is what you're left with after you have forgotten what you have learned" - Enzo
User avatar
Raja_Kentut
Posts: 65
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2023 9:57 am
Location: Veitsbronn, Germany

Re: Faceplate Materials

Post by Raja_Kentut »

this is the end result :
image.jpg
image.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Nothing is better than an unexpected discovery that brings you happiness!
User avatar
bepone
Posts: 1602
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2009 4:22 pm
Location: Croatia
Contact:

Re: Faceplate Materials

Post by bepone »

very nice!
Post Reply