Etching etc

[The Tasmanian]

Who is a good mob to do front panel etching for a pair of custom compressors?
Do they needed to be supplied with the metal - or do they cut to size the sheet and etch?
Never done this before so I am a bit green in this department
How do you guys get this all done?

[mylesgm]

I try to get them cut by a good machinist and then have them professionally engraved. I like the industrial look.
You can use transfers though which is basically printed contact.

[The Tasmanian]

Engraved is what I was alluding to - Or heavy duty printing on steel that does not scratch off - like Pro Harmonic stuff

[mylesgm]

The printing on steel is actually laser cutting I think.

[rob]

maybe get Pro Harmonic to organise it

this week in fact I've been trialling a technique to get multi coloured engraving done affordably .... stay tuned

[The Tasmanian]

OK Rob - why not?
You do just about everything else for me.........

[mylesgm]

so the real question is: What custom comps?

[The Tasmanian]

Myles - my 2 custom Valve Voodoos got injured and bent in the post when they came back home after a service - so i need to replace the front panels...dam pity

[mylesgm]

ouch!!

[rob]

bugger ... bent rack ears? If so you may be able to straighten them. Protect the front with a cloth and put the ear into a vice holding the body of the unit vertical and wind the vice in. Couple of turns at this with some judicial placement in the vice jaws should iron out the worst of it.

Back to the engraving. While I can get a basic black anodised panel engraved with white for around $25 as a one off, it is only possible because I supply the artwork in a complete finalised form that requires no checking or setup on the engravers behalf. Doing the artwork takes between 10 minutes and 3 hours, depending on what it is.