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Labelling Metalwork
I am building a tube based mic pre into a 19inch rack case which is
painted black. I want to label the inputs, outputs and controls. What options are open to a hobbyist? Cheers Ian |
Labelling Metalwork
"Ian Thompson-Bell" wrote in message ... I am building a tube based mic pre into a 19inch rack case which is painted black. I want to label the inputs, outputs and controls. What options are open to a hobbyist? Cheers Ian There are a number of options open to you: 1) The old way. Letraset (or similar) dry transfer letters. These require some skill and patience to apply, and if you do decide to go this route, make certain that the stock that you buy is fresh. If the transfers have been sitting around for five years, it's a crap shoot whether they'll transfer nicely to your panel or not. You'll also need to clear coat your panel after applying the letters so that they don't get rubbed off with use. 2) P-Touch label maker (made by Brother) or similar. These print self adhesive plastic labels, and the deluxe versions handle multiple fonts and character sizes. If you use the laminated tapes that are available, you can print black or white characters on a clear tape background, or, for your application, white characters on a black background would probably be satisfactory as well. See: http://www.brother-usa.com/ptouch/ 3) If you like playing computer a lot you can print a transfer on clear self adhesive stock to cover your entire front panel, using a laser printer. This can look great if everything is scaled correctly and you get the transfer applied straight. Personally, (2) is the method that I prefer and use regularly. Best regards : Doug Bannard |
Labelling Metalwork
On Sun, 23 Dec 2007 13:28:34 +0000, Ian Thompson-Bell
wrote: I am building a tube based mic pre into a 19inch rack case which is painted black. I want to label the inputs, outputs and controls. What options are open to a hobbyist? Is this utility, or are you making up something to sell? If the former, one of those label printers - the modern version of Dymo - will do the job. If you're going for an expensive/retro look you could stamp lettering onto copper plate and rivet it on, have it engraved... Ask your local metalworker shop for ideas. |
Labelling Metalwork
Ian Thompson-Bell wrote:
I am building a tube based mic pre into a 19inch rack case which is painted black. I want to label the inputs, outputs and controls. What options are open to a hobbyist? Cheers Ian Ian, I've done this with silk screen. It's a little fussy for a one-off job but it looks very nice when it's finished. Take a look at http://www.timebanditaudio.com/47%20amp/carmen47.html. Probably not close to what you're doing, but you'll get the idea. I prepared the artwork with a vector drafting program using scans of the layout paper to locate the controls. I printed the artwork on clear film on a plotter that I have access to. I used that film to expose the silk screen. It took a few tries to get the screen right, but after that it's easy to do. I sprayed a coat of lacquer over the lettering to protect it. Best regards and Happy Holidays, Raymond |
Labelling Metalwork
Raymond Koonce wrote:
I've done this with silk screen. It's a little fussy for a one-off job but it looks very nice when it's finished. Take a look at http://www.timebanditaudio.com/47%20amp/carmen47.html. What's with the blue glow? Isn't that usually a bad thing (tm) ? Chris |
Labelling Metalwork
On Sun, 23 Dec 2007 13:28:34 +0000, Ian Thompson-Bell wrote:
I am building a tube based mic pre into a 19inch rack case which is painted black. I want to label the inputs, outputs and controls. What options are open to a hobbyist? I've had Letraset Safmat recommended to me, I've not tried it yet though. It is supposed to be almost invisible once burnished, but is only A4 size. I've no idea what it would be like in use. Ordinary rub-down lettering certainly requires some skill if you are to get it to look good. -- Mick (Working in a M$-free zone!) Web: http://www.nascom.info http://mixpix.batcave.net |
Labelling Metalwork
In article ,
Raymond Koonce wrote: I've done this with silk screen. It's a little fussy for a one-off job but it looks very nice when it's finished. Take a look at http://www.timebanditaudio.com/47%20amp/carmen47.html. Raymond, how did you pick the 47 for this amplifier? Your line of thought must have been rather interesting. Regards, John Byrns -- Surf my web pages at, http://fmamradios.com/ |
Labelling Metalwork
Ian Thompson-Bell wrote:
I am building a tube based mic pre into a 19inch rack case which is painted black. I want to label the inputs, outputs and controls. What options are open to a hobbyist? Cheers Ian Undoubtedly the most professional way to do it is to design the art in a page layout or other vector art programme on your computer and have it professionally silkscreened onto the metal. Probably expensive for a one-off, as there are several distinct labour-intensive processes involved. Raymond Koonce published on RAT not too long ago a description of how he did it himself in his shed. Next, possibly easier for you to do yourself if you are dexterous and patient, and certainly cheaper, is rub-down letter called Letraset which you buy at any graphic art supply house. Also buy art tape, because the trick is not to work directly on your black case but on another special sheet (which you must also buy, it is called frisket) with a pencil line or lines on it for alignment; when you have your words in a straight line and correctly spaced, you lift them off the frisket with the art tape and rub them through the art tape onto the metalwork. Protect by varnishing. Amateurs with a lot of patience and a good eye are supposed to be able to make a decent job at modest cost. Next, easiest of all to do, is to design whatever you want for the front panel in full colour in a vector art programme on your computer (anything that can handle postscript type is a vector programme -- even the better word processors will work). Reverse the entire thing in the computer, make a PDF of the result, save the PDF in each of the saving modes, copy to CD, then take to anyone who offers laser photocopying and printing from your own disk. Ask them to print it on a transparency as used in overhead projectors. You might have to bring your own transparency film as the smaller instant print shops may not carry stock. At the same place you buy the transparency film you can buy colorless spray glue. Spray on printed side of transparency (after guillotining to size -- if you print trim marks to the PDF, you can cut it very precisely to size; this is the purpose of printing to several versions of PDF, that there are different shrink-rates) and glue onto the metal. If you want white text, you run into the difficulty that you cannot print white. Simply make your design in black on white, then invert so the film is printed black except where you want letters. Then overspray the film white, or spray the casefront white, and voila, white letters. I haven't done any of this for years, though I have all the skills and all the necessary connections, and don't get charged for little jobs for my hobby. It's just too messy and tiresome. What I do instead is somewhere in between: Small printers, the kind of people who print business cards and calenders for local businesses, also do plexiglass signs. They can silkscreen on these, and that is usually much cheaper than silkscreening on your case because they are set up to handle flatwork. That can be very nice, especially if you reverse the design and get it screened not on the front but on the back of the lexan, which gives some depth to the assembly. But they can also machine-engrave designs into the lexan. Get this done in reverse from the back, spray with some colour (gold or silver is good), wipe off excess so that everywhere not engraved is clean, spray with another colour (my house colour is maroon, take it or leave it) or leave clear, and voila, you have three dimensional script appearing to stand proud of the facia, as if you had lettering handcut and chromed -- all for the price of a sign for an office door. That last idea is also the process required to remake a Quad II nameplate if one of yours is cracked. (I assume everyone intelligent in tube audio has a pair of Quad II salted away for reconditioning or already perfect and saved for his old age. Don't disillusion me.) If your amp is destined for studio use, I highly recommend the last method. I put a reverse-engraved panel on a banksaKT88 amp I built for a rocker down the road to use in his home recording studio, and years later it still looks good because the entire facia wipes clean and the lettering can't wear off. HTH. If you're interested in reprographics, some of my graphic design books are he http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/T...%20GDitCA.html and some more here, about halfway down the page below the novels: http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/T...re%20Jute.html Andre Jute |
Labelling Metalwork
On Sun, 23 Dec 2007 16:30:09 GMT, mick
wrote: On Sun, 23 Dec 2007 13:28:34 +0000, Ian Thompson-Bell wrote: I am building a tube based mic pre into a 19inch rack case which is painted black. I want to label the inputs, outputs and controls. What options are open to a hobbyist? I've had Letraset Safmat recommended to me, I've not tried it yet though. It is supposed to be almost invisible once burnished, but is only A4 size. I've no idea what it would be like in use. Ordinary rub-down lettering certainly requires some skill if you are to get it to look good. And I'm afraid the first thing you must do is ignore the autospacing marks. They put the letters much too far apart. d -- Pearce Consulting http://www.pearce.uk.com |
Labelling Metalwork
In article ,
Ian Thompson-Bell wrote: I am building a tube based mic pre into a 19inch rack case which is painted black. I want to label the inputs, outputs and controls. What options are open to a hobbyist? RS do a rather nice anodised aluminium printing system. You use the supplied thin aluminium sheet and etch the print on it - using a dye. Colours are red green blue yellow and black plus of course the 'bare' aluminium. You do the artwork on your computer and print out full size to a transparency. Then expose the coated aluminium via that to UV light. Then a series of chemical processes. It's quite pricey - over 100 quid for a starter kit that will do several panels, but then so is having engraving or proper printing done - and it's extremely robust unlike letraset, etc. You glue the result onto the existing panel using supplied double sided sheet. The results can be superb - the only limits being your design skills and the colours available. But making the panel anodised black with natural ally coloured print looks very smart indeed. You can download the instructions from http://rswww.com/cgi-bin/bv/rswww/searchBrowseAction.do?N=0&name=SiteStandard&forwar @@@ @&BV_EngineID=cccdaddmlgekdhgcefeceeldgondhgh.0&ca cheID=uknetscape&Nr=avl:uk If that's too involved ;-) use http://rswww.com and do a search for part number 568-073. -- *Verbs HAS to agree with their subjects * Dave Plowman London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. |
Labelling Metalwork
John Byrns wrote:
In article , Raymond Koonce wrote: I've done this with silk screen. It's a little fussy for a one-off job but it looks very nice when it's finished. Take a look at http://www.timebanditaudio.com/47%20amp/carmen47.html. Raymond, how did you pick the 47 for this amplifier? Your line of thought must have been rather interesting. Regards, John Byrns Hi John, Not entirely my idea. A friend built an amp using this tube and liked it. I had several pairs and some appropriate transformers, so I decided to build something with what I had. About the only thing I didn't have on hand was the copper chassis. All in all it's a nice amp, but I still have some issues with the 816s to resolve. I would like to have a small (2uF or so) cap on the input to the PS, but the 816s don't like it. Best regards, Raymond |
Labelling Metalwork
In article ,
Raymond Koonce wrote: Hi John, Not entirely my idea. A friend built an amp using this tube and liked it. I had several pairs and some appropriate transformers, so I decided to build something with what I had. About the only thing I didn't have on hand was the copper chassis. All in all it's a nice amp, but I still have some issues with the 816s to resolve. I would like to have a small (2uF or so) cap on the input to the PS, but the 816s don't like it. I don't follow you, why would you like a 2 uF capacitor on the input to the PS, is the B+ too low? Regards, John Byrns -- Surf my web pages at, http://fmamradios.com/ |
Labelling Metalwork
John Byrns wrote:
In article , Raymond Koonce wrote: Hi John, Not entirely my idea. A friend built an amp using this tube and liked it. I had several pairs and some appropriate transformers, so I decided to build something with what I had. About the only thing I didn't have on hand was the copper chassis. All in all it's a nice amp, but I still have some issues with the 816s to resolve. I would like to have a small (2uF or so) cap on the input to the PS, but the 816s don't like it. I don't follow you, why would you like a 2 uF capacitor on the input to the PS, is the B+ too low? Regards, John Byrns Yes, I'd like the B+ just a little higher and it's easy to do with a small cap if you're using a vacuum rectifier. The amp is pretty nice as is though. BR, Raymond |
Labelling Metalwork
Doug Bannard wrote:
"Ian Thompson-Bell" wrote in message ... I am building a tube based mic pre into a 19inch rack case which is painted black. I want to label the inputs, outputs and controls. What options are open to a hobbyist? Cheers Ian There are a number of options open to you: 1) The old way. Letraset (or similar) dry transfer letters. These require some skill and patience to apply, and if you do decide to go this route, make certain that the stock that you buy is fresh. If the transfers have been sitting around for five years, it's a crap shoot whether they'll transfer nicely to your panel or not. You'll also need to clear coat your panel after applying the letters so that they don't get rubbed off with use. I remember when I was at Neve, the designs for module front panels were done twice full size using Letraset then sent to the silk screeners.. 2) P-Touch label maker (made by Brother) or similar. These print self adhesive plastic labels, and the deluxe versions handle multiple fonts and character sizes. If you use the laminated tapes that are available, you can print black or white characters on a clear tape background, or, for your application, white characters on a black background would probably be satisfactory as well. That is probably my best/easiest bet. I have a Dymo electronic label printer and I think they do transparent stock. See: http://www.brother-usa.com/ptouch/ 3) If you like playing computer a lot you can print a transfer on clear self adhesive stock to cover your entire front panel, using a laser printer. This can look great if everything is scaled correctly and you get the transfer applied straight. That sounds interesting - only problem is how do you make hole for the post and switches? Thanks Doug |
Labelling Metalwork
Laurence Payne wrote:
On Sun, 23 Dec 2007 13:28:34 +0000, Ian Thompson-Bell wrote: I am building a tube based mic pre into a 19inch rack case which is painted black. I want to label the inputs, outputs and controls. What options are open to a hobbyist? Is this utility, or are you making up something to sell? It is for my own personal use. If the former, one of those label printers - the modern version of Dymo - will do the job. I worked with Dymo on their label printers many years ago - I even have one and I think they do transparent labels - looks like a good thing to try first. Cheers Ian |
Labelling Metalwork
Jon Yaeger wrote:
in article , Ian Thompson-Bell at wrote on 12/23/07 8:28 AM: I am building a tube based mic pre into a 19inch rack case which is painted black. I want to label the inputs, outputs and controls. What options are open to a hobbyist? Cheers Ian DATAK bran transfer letters are probably the most available and easy-to-use solution. Is this the same as Letraset or different in some fundamental way? Cheers Ian |
Labelling Metalwork
Raymond Koonce wrote:
Ian Thompson-Bell wrote: I am building a tube based mic pre into a 19inch rack case which is painted black. I want to label the inputs, outputs and controls. What options are open to a hobbyist? Cheers Ian Ian, I've done this with silk screen. It's a little fussy for a one-off job but it looks very nice when it's finished. Take a look at http://www.timebanditaudio.com/47%20amp/carmen47.html. Lovely piece of work Raymond. Cheers Ian |
Labelling Metalwork
Andre Jute wrote:
Ian Thompson-Bell wrote: I am building a tube based mic pre into a 19inch rack case which is painted black. I want to label the inputs, outputs and controls. What options are open to a hobbyist? Cheers Ian Undoubtedly the most professional way to do it is to design the art in a page layout or other vector art programme on your computer and have it professionally silkscreened onto the metal. major snippage Many Thanks Andre, some really good ideas there. I have saved your email for future reference. Cheers Ian |
Labelling Metalwork
Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article , Ian Thompson-Bell wrote: I am building a tube based mic pre into a 19inch rack case which is painted black. I want to label the inputs, outputs and controls. What options are open to a hobbyist? RS do a rather nice anodised aluminium printing system. Major snippgae. Thanks Dave. I am in the UK so RS is a good option for me. I'll look into it. Cheers Ian |
Labelling Metalwork
in article , Ian Thompson-Bell at
wrote on 12/23/07 4:12 PM: Jon Yaeger wrote: in article , Ian Thompson-Bell at wrote on 12/23/07 8:28 AM: I am building a tube based mic pre into a 19inch rack case which is painted black. I want to label the inputs, outputs and controls. What options are open to a hobbyist? Cheers Ian DATAK bran transfer letters are probably the most available and easy-to-use solution. Is this the same as Letraset or different in some fundamental way? Cheers Ian Ian, I dunno because I haven't seen or tried the Letraset . . . |
Labelling Metalwork
In article ,
Raymond Koonce wrote: John Byrns wrote: In article , Raymond Koonce wrote: Hi John, Not entirely my idea. A friend built an amp using this tube and liked it. I had several pairs and some appropriate transformers, so I decided to build something with what I had. About the only thing I didn't have on hand was the copper chassis. All in all it's a nice amp, but I still have some issues with the 816s to resolve. I would like to have a small (2uF or so) cap on the input to the PS, but the 816s don't like it. I don't follow you, why would you like a 2 uF capacitor on the input to the PS, is the B+ too low? Yes, I'd like the B+ just a little higher and it's easy to do with a small cap if you're using a vacuum rectifier. The amp is pretty nice as is though. What B+ do you have now and what do you want? Here is a crazy idea that might or might not work, it's tempting me to fire up my old computer that has Spice on it and see what happens with a simolation. Idea, add an input capacitor considerably larger than 2 uF and then add enough additional impedance between the rectifiers and the added capacitor to keep the repetitive peak current to 500 mA as per the 816 spec. The added impedance could be an input inductor of smaller than normal value, but large enough to control the repetitive peak currents, or there is a chance even a resistor might work as the added impedance, depending on the currents involved, although it would get fairy warm. Regards, John Byrns -- Surf my web pages at, http://fmamradios.com/ |
Labelling Metalwork
"Raymond Koonce" wrote in message
... John Byrns wrote: In article , Raymond Koonce wrote: Hi John, Not entirely my idea. A friend built an amp using this tube and liked it. I had several pairs and some appropriate transformers, so I decided to build something with what I had. About the only thing I didn't have on hand was the copper chassis. All in all it's a nice amp, but I still have some issues with the 816s to resolve. I would like to have a small (2uF or so) cap on the input to the PS, but the 816s don't like it. I don't follow you, why would you like a 2 uF capacitor on the input to the PS, is the B+ too low? Regards, John Byrns Yes, I'd like the B+ just a little higher and it's easy to do with a small cap if you're using a vacuum rectifier. The amp is pretty nice as is though. Why not use a different rectifier?. The current consumption of your amp will be quite modest so many of the ordinary vacuum rectifiers of the period should work just fine. David. |
Labelling Metalwork
John Byrns wrote:
In article , Raymond Koonce wrote: John Byrns wrote: In article , Raymond Koonce wrote: Hi John, Not entirely my idea. A friend built an amp using this tube and liked it. I had several pairs and some appropriate transformers, so I decided to build something with what I had. About the only thing I didn't have on hand was the copper chassis. All in all it's a nice amp, but I still have some issues with the 816s to resolve. I would like to have a small (2uF or so) cap on the input to the PS, but the 816s don't like it. I don't follow you, why would you like a 2 uF capacitor on the input to the PS, is the B+ too low? Yes, I'd like the B+ just a little higher and it's easy to do with a small cap if you're using a vacuum rectifier. The amp is pretty nice as is though. What B+ do you have now and what do you want? Here is a crazy idea that might or might not work, it's tempting me to fire up my old computer that has Spice on it and see what happens with a simolation. Idea, add an input capacitor considerably larger than 2 uF and then add enough additional impedance between the rectifiers and the added capacitor to keep the repetitive peak current to 500 mA as per the 816 spec. The added impedance could be an input inductor of smaller than normal value, but large enough to control the repetitive peak currents, or there is a chance even a resistor might work as the added impedance, depending on the currents involved, although it would get fairy warm. Regards, John Byrns My B+ is about 245, IIRC. (It's sort of hard to measure this amp because I can't run it upside down because of the MV tubes.) I'd like to get about 270 to 275. I'd appreciate some suggestions as to component values. I hadn't considered this approach. Also, I have some hash from the 816s, not much, but I'd like to get rid of it. Do you have any suggestions there? BR, Raymond |
Labelling Metalwork
"Raymond Koonce" wrote in message
... John Byrns wrote: In article , Raymond Koonce wrote: John Byrns wrote: In article , Raymond Koonce wrote: Hi John, Not entirely my idea. A friend built an amp using this tube and liked it. I had several pairs and some appropriate transformers, so I decided to build something with what I had. About the only thing I didn't have on hand was the copper chassis. All in all it's a nice amp, but I still have some issues with the 816s to resolve. I would like to have a small (2uF or so) cap on the input to the PS, but the 816s don't like it. I don't follow you, why would you like a 2 uF capacitor on the input to the PS, is the B+ too low? Yes, I'd like the B+ just a little higher and it's easy to do with a small cap if you're using a vacuum rectifier. The amp is pretty nice as is though. What B+ do you have now and what do you want? Here is a crazy idea that might or might not work, it's tempting me to fire up my old computer that has Spice on it and see what happens with a simolation. Idea, add an input capacitor considerably larger than 2 uF and then add enough additional impedance between the rectifiers and the added capacitor to keep the repetitive peak current to 500 mA as per the 816 spec. The added impedance could be an input inductor of smaller than normal value, but large enough to control the repetitive peak currents, or there is a chance even a resistor might work as the added impedance, depending on the currents involved, although it would get fairy warm. Regards, John Byrns My B+ is about 245, IIRC. (It's sort of hard to measure this amp because I can't run it upside down because of the MV tubes.) I'd like to get about 270 to 275. I'd appreciate some suggestions as to component values. I hadn't considered this approach. Also, I have some hash from the 816s, not much, but I'd like to get rid of it. Do you have any suggestions there? Yes, don't use MV rectifiers, to be honest I cannot see any reason to do so. In your application they are seriously OTT anyway. I just found this on the web: quote Don't use MV....they are one family of tubes that deserve to be forgotten. unquote A sentiment with which I wholeheartedly concur. David. |
Labelling Metalwork
"Ian Thompson-Bell" wrote in
message 3) If you like playing computer a lot you can print a transfer on clear self adhesive stock to cover your entire front panel, using a laser printer. Or, you use an inkjet. In either case you probably want to put a transparent layer over it by several possible means. This can look great if everything is scaled correctly and you get the transfer applied straight. That sounds interesting - only problem is how do you make hole for the post and switches? You attach the adhesive stock to the pre-punched front panel, and then trim the holes from the inside out with something sharp like an X-acto knife. Or, if you are in a hurry, you make a cross-cut in the middle of the holes and just push the pot or switch into the hole, using its threads to cut the plastic stock to size. |
Labelling Metalwork
"Ian Thompson-Bell" wrote in message ... : Andre Jute wrote: : Ian Thompson-Bell wrote: : : I am building a tube based mic pre into a 19inch rack case which is : painted black. I want to label the inputs, outputs and controls. What : options are open to a hobbyist? : : Cheers : : Ian : : Undoubtedly the most professional way to do it is to design the art in : a page layout or other vector art programme on your computer and have : it professionally silkscreened onto the metal. : : major snippage : : Many Thanks Andre, some really good ideas there. I have saved your email : for future reference. : : Cheers : : Ian ...agreed, however, as a correction, it _is_ very well possible to get white on transparancy printing done, most of the larger copyshops usually have (Canon) machines that have multiple toners available, *including white* - check around :-) Happy Holidays all, Rudy |
Labeling Metalwork
Here is an example of Datak lettering applied to a replacement front panel
for an Eico 2080 amplifier. The panel was sprayed with a matte protective coating: |
Labeling Metalwork
in article , Jon Yaeger at
wrote on 12/24/07 5:36 PM: Here is an example of Datak lettering applied to a replacement front panel for an Eico 2080 amplifier. The panel was sprayed with a matte protective coating: http://www.yaegeraudio.com/panel1.jpg And here is the panel with approximate knob placement: http://www.yaegeraudio.com/panel2.jpg A little funky, I suppose, but it'll get 'er done. Now off to cook Xmas dinner . . . . Jon |
Labeling Metalwork
Jon Yaeger wrote:
in article , Jon Yaeger at wrote on 12/24/07 5:36 PM: Here is an example of Datak lettering applied to a replacement front panel for an Eico 2080 amplifier. The panel was sprayed with a matte protective coating: http://www.yaegeraudio.com/panel1.jpg And here is the panel with approximate knob placement: http://www.yaegeraudio.com/panel2.jpg A little funky, I suppose, but it'll get 'er done. Now off to cook Xmas dinner . . . . Jon Yup, and put the presents under the tree before the grandchildren get here. Cheers Ian |
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