Painting a Pedal?

behndy · #1 07-07-2010, 03:27 PM

hey there.

was wondering, if i had a pedal i liked a lot, didn't care about wrecking the resale value on, but hated the way it looked, how would i go about giving it a paint job?

i'm thinking specifically of the EHX Freeze. i'm picking up one tomorrow, and from the limited documentation i can find on it, it seems like something i'll wanna keep on my board.

it's that grey unfinished.... finish?... that the smaller new EHX pedals are done in. i think just a sticker on it for the name.

any suggestions from the builders out there?

thanks!

**TheMutt** · #2 07-07-2010, 03:58 PM

Remove the components from the box first. Peel off the sticker (if it is a sticker), rough it up with some sand paper to give the paint something to stick to. Any time you sand, make sure to clean off all of the sanded material before you continue. Use something like a damp rag or sponge. Before you primer, make sure that the pedal is completely clean and free of rust/corrosion as this will eventually work your nice finish right off the pedal. Always make sure to use paint that is designed to work with metal, and primer that is designed for metal as well as the color of paint that you are going to be using. Give it two coats of primer, allowing it to dry completely and carefully sanding inbetween to smooth. Then you can paint on whatever color you would like giving it three coats, allowing them to dry completely and carefully sanding inbetween to smooth. Then finish with one or two layers of clear coat.

Also it would be best to paint when it is still warm out, not overly humid, and not in a windy location (but well ventilated please!).

It's a pretty lengthy process, but if you follow these steps, you should have a very durable finish that should be ready to take years of abuse from stomping, drops, and anything else. If you want to add in decals, put them on waterslides and add them to the pedal right under the clear coat.

M0ses · #3 07-07-2010, 04:09 PM

Honestly, why go through all that trouble? It's a pedal. Hardly anyone will see it. Fewer will bother looking at it. And no one will care. Do you paint your patch cables with pretty colors, too?

IMO.

McSpunckle · #4 07-07-2010, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M0ses

Honestly, why go through all that trouble? It's a pedal. Hardly anyone will see it. Fewer will bother looking at it. And no one will care. Do you paint your patch cables with pretty colors, too?

IMO.

If I could find purple wire suitable for making patch cables, I'd use it in a second.

Here's a good write up on Beavis Audio (basically my favourite DIY site)

http://beavisaudio.com/techpages/boxinaday.html

behndy · #5 07-07-2010, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M0ses

Honestly, why go through all that trouble? It's a pedal. Hardly anyone will see it. Fewer will bother looking at it. And no one will care. Do you paint your patch cables with pretty colors, too?

IMO.

WELL Snarky McSnarkerton, there's a few reasons.

01) i like things on my pedalboard to be wildly different colors if possible, making them easier to differentiate between in low light situations.

02) pretty is good.

03) pretty is REAL good.

04) i've never done any painting of metal stuff, and it seemed like a fun project.

and yesh, when i built the cables for a larger pedalboard i DID use different color wire and different color shrink wrap on each cable. again, pretty = good, easily traceable routing of cables = better.

that a good enough set of reasons?

McSpunckle · #6 07-07-2010, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by behndy

WELL Snarky McSnarkerton, there's a few reasons.

Dude, I love you. xD

behndy · #7 07-07-2010, 05:51 PM

::blush::

behndy · #8 07-07-2010, 07:39 PM

Mutt - thanks! super detailed walkthru ROKKS. 'preciate it!

McSpunkLer - thanks for the link! good read.

woot!

BassInUrFace · #9 07-07-2010, 09:08 PM

yeah....shame it isnt a sticker though (well at least all of those other "unfinished.... finish" pedals with the one decal by EHX arn't).

behndy · #10 07-07-2010, 10:38 PM

hurm. you're saying the Freeze isn't a decal? is it something that can be scraped or sanded off?

murrph.

Robertron · #11 07-07-2010, 11:35 PM

If it's anything like what is on the Memory Boy or POG, I think it can be easily scraped off. I've scratched the graphic on these pedals just by having the tip of a patch cable swing down on it.

Also, please post some clips of how you use the Freeze when you get it! I'm very excited to get mine and hearing what other people are doing with it until I pick it up will keep me excited.

**TheMutt** · #12 07-08-2010, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by behndy

Mutt - thanks! super detailed walkthru ROKKS. 'preciate it!

No problem! That is essentially the procedure I used to use when re-painting PC housings back when that was the cool thing to do (this was long before Alienware came along and ruined it). Unfortunately, I've since moved away from PC's and wouldn't dream of repainting my 2010 unibody MacBook Pro for fear of voiding the warranty.

behndy · #13 07-08-2010, 12:03 AM

........ i still love you even tho you run Macs............