Embossed letters

[MoonDawg]

Here's my trick. Spray paint all letters white with automotive paint. Allow to cure fully.
       Spray red with a two-part paint. I use Chromobase.
The color goes on dry and dull, and never hardens  or shines until covered with it's clear coat.
        Spray one side of the box with red, wait 30 minutes, and begin wiping the red paint off the letters, spraying a light solvent (pre-cleano) on a paper towel and cleaning in a circular motion on the top of the letters. Be sure to absorb the red, not just knock it over the edges. You will begin to see nice clear white letters emerge, with edges a pinstriper would adore.
(and no brush strokes).
         If your happy with your work, continue on the other sides, one at a time, paint removes easiest when fresh.
         Last, spray the whole box with the clear-coat and watch your work become a masterpiece! Red now shines brilliant, and white paint is locked under clear, and cannot be buffed off by cleaning.
         A picnic cooler is great practice!                  Glen

[Jim]

Very interesting...

Can you show us a close up photo of the end results on any of your machines...?

[Jim]

Here's a photo Glen sent for everyone to see what the final results looks like...

What trouble are you having with attaching files, Glen...?

[MoonDawg]

The entire top of this door was painted red first.(when spraying only the lettered area, the overcoat often wants to react around the edges of the undercoat). Covering the whole top left no ring around the letters. For a large chest this would be too expensive, so colors must be blended together. A fine sandpaper works fine
     If you choose to blend in the halo with primer, avoid spraying the letters. Primer does not remove as easily as the chromobase, and will show up on the edges of the letters, (right between the two colors).
      When spraying, shoot light coats,several times,let dry.
      I can't stress enough......go slow!!!                         Shoot too much paint too fast, you will wish you had just let the kids paint those letters for you.
     '>     Hope this helps......                         Glen

[davet426]

(MoonDawg @ Aug. 27 2003,8:16)

QUOTE

Here's my trick. Spray paint all letters white with automotive paint. Allow to cure fully.
       Spray red with a two-part paint. I use Chromobase.
The color goes on dry and dull, and never hardens  or shines until covered with it's clear coat.
        Spray one side of the box with red, wait 30 minutes, and begin wiping the red paint off the letters  Glen

Glen that Pepsi machine looked awesome! I am going to try this on my cooler.

If I do this will I need to paint the whole cooler white? I noticed someone said you could feather it, would that be just paint the side with coke and feather the edges in to the primer? Seems like a waste to paint the whole cooler unless it makes the difference in the outcome.

I don't understand automotive paint? Can you be more specific?

Thanks!

[MoonDawg]

(davet426 @ Dec. 07 2006,4:13)

QUOTE

If I do this will I need to paint the whole cooler white?

I don't understand automotive paint? Can you be more specific?

Paint the letters and feather around them is OK. It will then take more red paint to hide the white halo underneath.
      Automotive paint  is tough.........not  like spray can or brush on paint

[zadd]

My two sense. I like to paint the machine white first or what ever color your embossing single stage paint (cheaper).3 to 4 coats over the embossing area ,Let that cure for a few days or bake it in a paint booth. then sand out any imperfections. Paint the machine the main body color, base coat let that dry. And then take a small wooden block, and wet sand one by one the raised area with 1000 git until the first color start to appear ,touch up any small sand threw on the corner edges ,then clear coat the whole thing. Show quality results. Kinda hard to explain '> Same as wiping off the paint just nicer edges.