A follow-up to my prior posts about panel labeling.
I went ahead and decided to use dry transfer (rub-on) decals. I purchased the decals through Avery at drytransfer.com. The vendor was great to deal with turn-around was a little slower than quoted, but I ordered over the holidays, so I will give them a little leeway. Took about 1.5 weeks for me to have them in-hand.
The layout was designed in CAD and then transfered to visio where I had more font options. From that I converted to high-res PDF for the vendor. I included a scaling block on the sheet for reference. I fit all my labels along with duplicates on one 11X14 sheet. I chose that size so that I could put the entire switch panel on as a single label and maintain the CAD-levl alignment.
Along with the labels Avery included a really nice plastic burnishing tool! Total cost was $106 shipped.
I painted the panel with PPG MTK Omni Urethane topcoat. This is the same paint I am using for the two-tone interior. The paint is a single-stage so it requires some sanding if a clear os going to be applied. I wet-sanded with 800 grit to provide a good surface for the labels and clear.
The labels went on very easy. I would cut out a section of labels and position it on the panel with the backing still in place. Once happy with the position I would tape it along one edge. I could then lift the label, remove the backing, and lay it back down. Some more tape on the opposite side made sure it stayed put. Some rubbing with the burnishing tool and careful removal of the carrier finished the application.
The CB labels went on as one large label, so there was no concern over alignment. The same goes for the switches and dimmer panel.
With all the labels applied, I could shoot the clear. Since this was the only portion of the interior I was planning a Matte finish, it didn't make sense to buy $100 in paint products to clear the panel. Eastwood sells a 2K Urethane clear in a special two-chamber spray can. you use a tool to open the inner chamber and mix the two components. Pot life is about 48hours at a cost of $24 per can.
The one can was enough to apply a few coats over all the panel parts. The paint was easy to work with, dried fast, and seems bullet-proof. Warning, the can does not spray down well, so you have to hang the parts near vertical! I had used a test piece to make sure there were no compatability issues with the base paint or labels. Light or heavy coat made no difference, the labels did not try to lift or dissolve.
All said and done, I am very happy with the results.
Linear Mode
