Clear Coat vs. Envirotex

[peAk]

Up to this point, I have been finishing my builds with using 5 or so coats of clear coat. I have seen Juan's tutorial on envirotex and I am curious what the advantages are over just using a clear coat spray.

I am sure there are advantages because a lot of you guys are doing it, I just wanted to know what they were.

[muddyfox]

My #1 reason and #2 reason and #3 reason is that you can do it on the kitchen counter (and I do). No fumes, no mess. Mix, pour, monitor for two(ish) hours and the hard part is done.

The downsides include (not that I care but some might)
- can't use 9mm pots (thread too short)
- can only coat the top (some people can pull off doing an entire pedal, I'm not one of them)
- several days till fully cured (depending on thickness)

That said, I'm never ever ever going back to anything in a rattlecan. Just not my cup of tea.

[pickdropper]

In many ways, it's a lot easier to do.  It takes one coat vs multiple coats.  Some folks like the thicker finish of it as well.

While clearcoat is easier to mess up (it is for me) both look very good when done right.  Clear can look more refined as well, if enough time is put into it.

[m-Kresol]

The downsides include (not that I care but some might)
- can't use 9mm pots (thread too short)

I didn't realize that until someone mentioned it somewhere. I arranged my valvetizer board in a way that I can only use 9mm. My solution to it (have not done it, but will hopefully do it soon) is to hot-glue them to the inside of the enclosure. I have no other option, because I was also dumb enough to buy 2 pots with a plastic shaft without the screw thread...

I never used clear coat on pedals before, but I also think if you don't have a garage, garden, workshop or something of that sort, ET is easy to do at home. I mainly went with ET because all of Juan's pedals looked so damn good and had a sparky, shiny finish that I really like. I think ET is better in aspects of protecting the decal since it's harder and thicker than any clear coat.
one more disadvantage though: it makes a mess of your building area when you drill it.

[davent]

The enclosure sides are part of the canvas so clearcoat it is.

Waterborne spray lacquer applied with an airbrush.

[juansolo]

Upsides: WAY more durable than paint/lacquer, can do it indoors with no hassle, cheaper (yep), and removable.

Downsides: Takes a bit of technique to get the best finish, 9mm pots don't go through, only really suited to one-offs. If you were doing a lot of pedals you'd want another way of doing things.

That's all I can really come up with.

[peAk]

okay, thanks for the input guys

I think I will stick with Clear Coat for now because I have a garage, a lot of 9mm pots, and I hate drilling more than I have to 

Eventually I will give the envirotex a try though. 

[muddyfox]

one more disadvantage though: it makes a mess of your building area when you drill it.

I keep seeing this mentioned but I find that it's not much of an issue. True, the actual volume of the mess is somewhat greater but it's also easier to see and clean up. I find metal shavings from the enclosure to be much more of a pain.

[flanagan0718]

okay, thanks for the input guys

I think I will stick with Clear Coat for now because I have a garage, a lot of 9mm pots, and I hate drilling more than I have to 

Eventually I will give the envirotex a try though.

What clear coat do you use and do you bake it after? I have the worst luck with the rattle can stuff. Been thinking of going to powder coat but can't justify it yet.

[peAk]

okay, thanks for the input guys

I think I will stick with Clear Coat for now because I have a garage, a lot of 9mm pots, and I hate drilling more than I have to 

Eventually I will give the envirotex a try though.

What clear coat do you use and do you bake it after? I have the worst luck with the rattle can stuff. Been thinking of going to powder coat but can't justify it yet.

I just use Krylon Colormaster Clear Gloss or Satin

I bake it out in the Houston Texas sun. Probably hotter than most your ovens 

[flanagan0718]

Right on. If i tried to Bake it in the Massachusetts sun I would end up with a wonderful mosquito/June bug finish!
I'll check out that Krylon stuff. Thanks!

[peAk]

Right on. If i tried to Bake it in the Massachusetts sun I would end up with a wonderful mosquito/June bug finish!
I'll check out that Krylon stuff. Thanks!

yeah, we have a ton of bugs too. I usually let it start to dry in the garage and then set it out once it's pretty dry.

I don't have anything to compare it to really and my pedals are just for me so I don't require too much protection. The finish always comes out looking good to me. I spray the whole pedal, not just the top.

[Willybomb]

Someone did a youtube tutorial here on how they applied their decals and clearcoat, can't remember who, but I applied pretty much all his tips on sticker application and clearcoating.  Re: Clearcoat, he does it in his garage, but then put a container (like a lunchbox over the top upside down to keep dust and bugs off it as it cures.  I did this and got great results.  Can't believe I never though of it... 

[davent]

For dust/bug free drying i use an old shoebox or for bigger projects a ziploc tent put together from a big ziploc storage bag, two pieces of flexible vinyl tubing a chunk of leftover plywood.

[mmlee]

You can also try one of those food covering net things.

A bit like this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/EMA-FOOD-COVER-Food-Cover/dp/B00187QLE8