Panel - Paint or Powder Coat

[n82rb]

Powdercoat for me. But my wife's company has a production powdercoat shop.

Bob burns

[bruceh]

Jetflex water-based has held up perfectly for my panel. I put labels on using the Decalpro system and sprayed over them with some clear/flat spray paint (Krylon) and no issues. Even added the Dynon Knob panel later and had no problems cutting/filing a new opening.

Keep it simple!

[9GT]

I used rattle can paint on the RV-10 panel and had Stein print up a sheet of water slide transfer labels that I clear coated after application. It looked great but after taking the panel on and off a couple times, the paint started to chip off around the edges and mounting screws. I plan on doing the same on the RV-9A panel except for using a two stage urethane and clear coat. You can see the chipping in the photo and how the water slide transfer labels look after application and clear coat.
[IMG]DSC01553 by David C, on Flickr[/IMG]

[cccjbr6]

I painted mine with a rattle can but then had a printer reverse engrave the labels on a piece of thin sticky Lexan film that he glued on top of the panel. In three years not a mark has been left on the Lexan. It is extremely durable. You cannot feel the lettering. I added one switch to the panel since then and was able to print a white label on clear tape with a Brother labelmaker that matched the font of the other labels.

[dtw_rv6]

I did a Type II anodizing finish on my panel. It is MUCH more durable than Type I which will fade with UV exposure over time, but you can't vary the color much and the shade of brown to black is largely dependent on the particular grade of aluminum. However, I love mine. I did the lettering in photoshop and a local laser shop etched the aluminum after the anodizing, which turned the graphics white. 3 years on mine - the text will not fade since it is oxidized aluminum. Panel anodizing is still sharp.

[Simon Hitchen]

I used two part epoxy paint, decal pro fx for all the lettering then Matt clear coat over it all. Bullet proof.

[penguin]

Aerothane Polar Grey (stir well) with flattener.
Have used the cellulose version (Polytone?), easier to spray but not so robust.
My panel changes every couple of years - powder coat is a non-starter!

Pete

[rvbruce]

Rattle can paints are amazingly durable. Panel changes may happen sooner than you think and for $6 or so you can change the color if you want. Less is better here.

[RV7A Flyer]

Stock powdercoat color that matched all the Van's powdercoated parts, for consistent look throughout entire cockpit (used color-matched PPG paints for any visible interior painted parts, like the aft inside top skin, etc., also).

[Steve Melton]

I saw an RV-14 with a powdercoated panel. I liked the look.

Originally Posted by RV7A Flyer

Stock powdercoat color that matched all the Van's powdercoated parts, for consistent look throughout entire cockpit (used color-matched PPG paints for any visible interior painted parts, like the aft inside top skin, etc., also).