Years ago, I used a spray lacquer to cover up my artwork on a power supply project. It was very nice and neat looking, but I could not resist the temptation to clean it with the best solvent I had at my disposal, tri-clorofloroethane, it dissolved the lacquer and destroyed the artwork. This solvent is very common in electronics and called tri-chlor. I'm not sure what else will dissolve the lacquer, but be careful of solvents and lacquer coatings over electronic project artwork. Regards, Mike ----- Original Message ----- From: "Thomas McGahee" To: Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2001 9:31 PM Subject: Re: [OT]: How to print words on enclosure box? > The following site has a discussion of various methods: > > http://fstewart.ne.mediaone.net/DaEtiCsuiLblMethods.html > > Here are a few methods I have used: > > 1) MAKE YOUR OWN DECALS > Print using a Laser Printer to DynaArt Toner Transfer paper. > Then spray on a few light coats of lacquer directly over the > printed area. A few light coats works better than one heavy > coat. Let the coated image dry for at least an hour for best > results. Use scissors to trim the paper to the proper size, > and then place the Toner Transfer paper image-side-up in > a bowl or pan of water. The paper may curl a little at first > because the back-side of the paper absorbs water faster than the > side that was sprayed. Be patient. After a minute or so you will > see the decal separating from the paper. Apply as you would > a regular decal, that is, by sliding it off of the paper > onto the desired surface. I usually get one side slightly > off the paper and then slide the paper out slowly so the > decal has a minimum of stress applied. > > Avoid bubbles, but if they occur, wipe them out towards the > edge. On some materials you can remove the lacquer carrier > with ordinary denatured alcohol. (Alcohol will mar certain > surfaces). Wait until decal is totally dry! > Use a gentle circular motion, using an absorbent > cloth such as an old T-shirt. > > On the other hand, you might opt to let the decal totally dry > and then give it one or two coats of lacquer spray so that the > entire work surface has a coating of laquer. > > 2) MAKE A VANITY PLATE. > Using a Laser Printer, print a MIRROR image to DynaArt Toner > Transfer paper. Use an iron to transfer the toner image to the > vanity plate. Soak the vanity plate in water until the transfer > paper floats away from the plate. Rinse carefully under cold > running water and carefully dry. (I use warm air to dry). Once > vanity plate is totally dry, you can spray a couple of thin coats > of lacquer over the entire surface. Several thin coats are > better than one thick coat. It is best to allow a few minutes > drying time between coats. > > Vanity plates must be able to withstand the ironing heat, so > they should be metal, not plastic. > > 3) MAKE AN **ETCHED** VANITY PLATE. > Carefully clean the vanity plate and ensure that it is dry. > Using a Laser Printer, print a MIRROR image to DynaArt Toner > Transfer paper. Use an iron to transfer the toner image to the > vanity plate. Soak the vanity plate in water until the transfer > paper floats away from the plate. Rinse carefully under cold > running water. > > Dip the vanity plate in acid. Keep the plate moving. > An alternative method is to "paint" acid/etchant onto the > vanity plate using a broad brush (one that is not affected > by the etchant, obviously!) Once the acid/etchant has > changed the surface characteristics the desired amount, > remove the vanity plate and rigorously rinse the plate clean. > Remove the toner using Acetone or finger nail polish remover. > Where the toner once was the surface should be smooth and > shiny, whereas the etched metal will have a duller complexion. > > Vanity plate must be metallic. > > 4) MAKE A **PLATED** VANITY PLATE. > Carefully clean the vanity plate and ensure that it is dry. > Using a Laser Printer, print a MIRROR image to DynaArt Toner > Transfer paper. Use an iron to transfer the toner image to the > vanity plate. Soak the vanity plate in water until the transfer > paper floats away from the plate. Rinse carefully under cold > running water. > > Plate the Vanity Plate with a metal of contrasting color. > When the plating is finished, remove the toner using Acetone > or finger nail polish remover. You will now have a two-tone > vanity plate. > > Vanity plate must be metallic. > > 5) MAKE A **TRANSPARENT** OVERLAY. > Print a MIRRORED image using a Laser Printer. The print > material can be either transparent or matte finish on one > side. If using matte finish, print to the matte side. > > There are some additional things you can do with this method. > > A) After printing, spray the toner side. Metallic paints > look especially "cool", although a simple flat white is also > nice. > > B) Print a MIRRORED and also NEGATIVE version of the lettering > onto the transparent/translucent material. The letters are now > CLEAR. You can individually apply color to the toner side and > the letters will take on that color. You can apply a few > simple "masks" that consist of cut-out areas and quickly > spray paint the desired color scheme to hundreds of overlays > in just a few minutes. -OR- print the color scheme onto paper > and apply the overlay on top of the paper. I have also used > paper that had one side "metallic". Use your imagination! > > *** The overlay is normally applied to the case using spray-on > adhesive. > > 6) MAKE AN ADHESIVE PAPER PANEL. > The companies that make labels also sell full sheets of > paper that are adhesive-backed and can be printed on a Laser > Jet or Ink Jet. In color even! Great for quick prototypes. > I find the smooth paper better than the textured. The > thinner paper works better in many Laser Jets, since > thick paper prevents the toner from fusing (unless your > printer has an adjustment for thick paper). > > Once the paper has been applied, you can give it a few > coats of clear lacquer or acrylic spray to increase its > lifespan. You could even apply a clear transparency material > if you want. > > > *** > I hope someone finds this useful. > > Fr. Tom McGahee > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: > [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads > > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads