[ARC5] Winter Project

[jcoward5452 at aol.com]

 Thanks all you Gentlemen for your replys and possible solutions.Now, if I were a production manager on the A.R.C. assembly line, I would make dam* sure that "lettering" of panels didn't slow down shipments. Was this process "Top Secret"? There must be documented process specs and techniquies somewhere 
 BTW, my boss at Phase Matrix is building a Ford racing car and wants to do some interior panels in black wrinkle. Any thoughts on the best paint or should he go with powder coat for durability?
 Thanks,
             Jay KE6PPF



-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Hanz <aaf-radio-1 at aafradio.org>
To: jcoward5452 <jcoward5452 at aol.com>
Cc: arc5 <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sat, Oct 8, 2011 5:25 pm
Subject: Re: [ARC5] Winter Project


On 10/8/2011 6:34 PM, jcoward5452 at aol.com wrote:
 Please, what might that "new" brand of black wrinkle paint be? Also, many 
olks who do these BC-348 front panels carefully sand or scrape off the paint 
rom the raised lettering. A stereo microscope is very useful for us gracefully 
oving up in years. It would be interesting to know what the original process 
as. If we knew that, we could duplicate it in some fashion.
 Anyone have any ideas on A.R.C. gear with engraved lettering? My 1st guess is 
 silkscreen type process but with ancient technology (i.e. no computers and 
raphics software!).
I use a fine grit Excel 55678 Sanding Stick under a strong magnifier.  
unno how they originally did it, but I do notice abrasive brush marks 
n some NOS items with raised lettering.
> I do have a thought here though. On an engraved panel, one could first apply 
he white lettering paint and let it dry. The paint would form a "shallow" in 
he engraving.That then could be filled with an inhibitor to the black wrinkle. 
hen it could be carefully cleaned all aroud the engraving and then primed and 
ainted with the final finish.
   Does this make any sense?
It does in concept, Jay.  The problem with engraved lettering is that 
he engraving is *extremely* hard to see under the black wrinkle paint, 
hich fills the hollows of the engraving very well.  I have recently 
egun a series of experiments with masking fluid using a product that 
ends itself very well to a stereo microscope applied approach.  
ssentially it is a hypodermic method - you use a needle to apply it.  I 
ust finished refinishing a raised letter High Voltage tag for the top 
f an ART-13 and it came out very well.  I tried an engraved panel and 
he "bump" that appears under the paint gives you a clue where the 
ngraving (and rubber cement masking) really is, but it takes a lot more 
atience to dig it out without damaging the side of the paint film 
etween the film surface and the aluminum panel surface.  I have to keep 
hinking Mona Lisa style restoration or I tend to get in a hurry.  One 
utlet for the Masquepen products is at 
ttp://www.dickblick.com/products/masquepen-art-masking-fluid/
The quicker way is simply to fill the engraved lettering with aluminum 
aint before you paint and then re-engrave the lettering.
No magic solution here.  It all takes work.
Very 73,
ike