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I use a laser printer. The cartridges are more expensive, but so far have lasted 3x longer, I'm still using the ones that it came with.


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What type of paper do you use, Jimi? I'm thinking of sticky back stuff for enclosures.

I have the same printer Phil and have been using these for over a year with no problems.  You get 4 replacements for each colour in this pack for £12.99.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00K2XU6FE/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Wow, that's a bargain. Do you think the colour is in any way inferior to Canon ink?

Colin, it looks great. How do you get the sparkly finish on the enclosure? Did you spray that?

Colin, I'm thinking about getting a colour laser printer because of the high cost of replacement ink cartridges.

I just bought a Canon ip7250 for £50. The Canon ink cartridges are about £40. When the ink runs out, I could sell the printer for £10 then buy a new one for £50 giving me a brand new printer and replacement cartridges each time!

It seems that an Inkjet printer is the preferred type of printer to create artwork for enclosures. Either on water-slide decal paper or sticky vinyl paper. Then cover with Envirotex or clear coat.

But why not use a colour laser printer on white sticky back paper such as this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sheets-Quality-Adhesive-Sticky-Printing/dp/B00W2E5N36 and then cover?

Is perhaps the colour not so vivid? Other reasons?

Update - forget all these plastic cups for measuring Envirotex...

I tried the pouring into two different plastic cups and then into a third cup method and then realised that, with these small amounts of Envirotex,  you lose an unknown amount just pouring from one cup to another. So I bought some cheap plastic spoons and measure out by that into one container. Works great!

Bugger.

The pour is still tacky after 24 hours. I think it's because I mixed a small quantity of ET and this means more error in measuring out the proportions of resin and hardener.

Anyone know how to remove ET from an enclosure?

Update - forget all these plastic cups for measuring Envirotex...

I tried the pouring into two different plastic cups and then into a third cup method and then realised that, with these small amounts of Envirotex,  you lose an unknown amount just pouring from one cup to another. So I bought some cheap plastic spoons and measure out by that into one container. Works great!

So I bought this daylight fluorescent desktop lamp - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06ZYQ6MWC/ref=pe_3187911_189395841_TE_dp_1 - it's bigger than it looks, the base is a big solid piece of metal and it works for me! Now all I have to do is find a good magnifier.

I'm 57 now and the whole loss of eye sight is a major PITA....

Tell me about it. :-(

I wouldn't mind if I had to wear one set of reading glasses but I need many. Long range is fine-ish, mid range needs 1.5x, closer range 2x, soldering 3x. I have about a dozen sets of reading glasses of different strengths lying around the house. I tried bifocals but didn't get on with having only half of a lens useful at any one time.

Next up I bought this - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Daylight-Company-Natural-DN1040-Magnifying/dp/B0028RDFSC - but sent it straight back, it didn't work for me.

I think I need two separate things - a daylight desk lamp that provides overall daylight and a separate magnifier.

The decals I intend to use are not water based - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004BF8X2W/ref=psdc_13987041_t2_B000W4H63S

...Keep in mind most inkjet decals or stickers will require the use of a fixative before you do a clear coat.

But not needed for Envirotex?

Now that I'm OK with using Envirotex Lite on an enclosure I want to try my hand at printing on transparent adhesive paper (like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adhesive-Microporous-Waterproof-Sticker-PPD-36-20/dp/B000W4H63S/). But I'd like some opinions on inkjet printers and ink:

Will the ink fade over time? Or is it protected in the Envirotex?
What's the best printer and ink to use? Epson? Canon? HP?

Any tips welcome!

Did another pour today. It went well, and I used half the quantity I did last time.

One thing though - I kept an eye on it to make sure no bubbles appeared. Then, after 5 hours, just when the ET was hardening, two quite large bubbles appeared out of nowhere. I gave them a little heat blast with the lighter, which burst the bubbles but now I have two dimples. Strange that bubbles could appear after 5 hours. 

Edit - and then, mysteriously, after 6 hours, another bubble appeared and the ET set hard, encasing it forever.

Looks good Phil.  I buy plastic cups from wilko or B&M they both have cups with lines on them.  I pick up paper plates there too and pour on those so I don't make a mess of my desk.

Ah, good tip!

And big thanks to everyone who advised on this, and made it a success! Special shout out to Adam_MD who has offered invaluable advice all along the way here, and on the Fretboard forum.