[R-390] Front Panel Restoration ER Don Reaves Kielbasa

[Barry]

Hi Glenn,

Glad you mentioned the drawbacks with powder-coating engraved panels.  I ran into the same problem.  I did manage to get one looking pretty nice but the second one never looked right and I think I ended up having to fill in the lettering, powder-coating, and then having it silk-screened.  Kind of sad to have had to do that...

Regards,
Barry - N4BUQ

----- Original Message -----
> From: "Glenn Scott via R-390" <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
> To: r-390 at mailman.qth.net
> Sent: Friday, July 17, 2015 9:05:25 PM
> Subject: [R-390]  Front Panel Restoration ER Don Reaves Kielbasa
> 
> Hi Don and group,
> 
> 
> Powder coating is great for lots of applications. I use it for the R390(A)
> veeder root cover and knobs, not the meters and that is a long story for
> later. However, on panels with engraves powder coating will fill letters and
> generally make a mess since it is thicker than paint. Especially on the
> earlier R390's pre-A models that have smaller and less deep engraves. Those
> panels fill in almost completely to make a flat, clean panel ready to be
> silk screened.
>  Even the knob index line of R390 or A series receiver can be powder coated
>  and the line repainted but it takes some time to get the powder flow being
>  applied to be thick enough to cover the skirts of the knob and yet not fill
>  the index line.
> R392 engraves are a little wider and deeper and will hold up well for powder
> coating
> 
> 
> I have figured out how to spray just enough powder to cover the panel but not
> fill the engraves but I still had to hand paint the completion of several
> letters before; that is a real pain. And my reason for the continued use of
> paint and all of the associated constraints and safety issues. Perhaps, a
> powder coat product will be developed that will be more suited for engraved
> panels.
> 
> 
> With powder coating, there are no messy primer nor paints, no air guns to
> spend half an hour cleaning, no volatile chemicals to deal with. The only
> clean up is to sweep up the left over powder and toss it. The MOST important
> requirement is an oven that will not be used for food preparation EVER,
> NEVER, EVER!!!!,  Though, it is OK to cook KIELBASA in a powder coat oven.
> In Fact, you can powder coat KIELBASA any color you want before consuming
> it; even St James Gray; that and OD green KIELBASA are the most tasty!!!!!!!
>  (Kielbasa comments  are not to be taken too seriously)
> 
> 
> Regards,
> Glenn Scott WA4AOS
> 
> 
> DSM Labs
> glenn at dsmlabs.com
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