Structo wrote:In my opinion nothing pops the grain like an oil.
IMHO.
I actually prefer a double stain application using alcohol..
It seems to make the grain just jump out of the wood.. plus you can
tint it for most colors.
Here are a few Wreck cabs I built last year.. plus there is a lonely Glaswerks cab over on the right..
That's some amazing work on those cabs. If had a cabinet that pretty I'd be looking for one of those ATA flight cases to keep it in for fear of putting a ding in it!
Jim
Damn, I totally have access to a laser machine at the PAiA offices. It never gets used either. Maybe I'll send my dad up there to do some front panels.. The stuff we did in wood looks really nice, especially because it can take a 2D image and make it sort of stick out at you.
Is it crazy expensive to get this laser etching done? I have enough Cherry left to make a few faceplates, so i could make more than one, send one off, and still rock a completed amp until the etched plate came back in! Next question does anyone offer these services? Jim
Big Jim wrote:Is it crazy expensive to get this laser etching done? I have enough Cherry left to make a few faceplates, so i could make more than one, send one off, and still rock a completed amp until the etched plate came back in! Next question does anyone offer these services? Jim
Check with local shops that do awards and trophies.. They usually have a laser to do engravings and with a bit of luck you can convince them to do a faceplate or two for you. You should be able to get a nice faceplate for less than $50.
Thanks Distortion,
It just so happens that we have a trophy store right around the corner! I'll check with them on Mon. Thanks for the tip.
P.S. great work on the cabs!
Jim
In recent times I have all my graphics done by laser etching. The key is to get a good operator that will work with you... "Lonely Raven" - Eric was excellent but he has since moved on to other things in his life. I can get virtually anything etched that you can come up with an image for. Sometimes it takes a sacrificial piece of material for the laser operator to run as a calibration piece but generally once that is done it will always produce about the same results with a similar piece of wood.
In my opinion the metal faceplates look best against a well done job on the cabinet.
Thanks rj,
I'll keep that in mind. I will call around to a couple trophy shops here in town first for convenience sake. Are you back on the road? If you are I hope you are having a good trip. I have 11 days off starting Mon. so I should get this thing in the cab and do some evaluation during that tiime. I do have to squeeze a trip to New York in as well. I plan to do a little tube experimenting and I will try to work on reducing the inherent hiss a little. Thanks again for all your help with this project! Stay in touch!
Jim
I use frontpanelexpress.com for 2mm aluminum faceplates but my local vinyl graphics sign company can also do faceplates in vinyl, aluminum or plastics, perhaps your local sign company or vinyl graphics company can do the same.
In distortion's photo above of the six head cabs mine is the bottom right and its a sweet cabinet, thanks again Larry for such great work.
RJ Guitars wrote: The key is to get a good operator that will work with you... "Lonely Raven" - Eric was excellent but he has since moved on to other things in his life. I can get virtually anything etched that you can come up with an image for.
That's a shame as Raven produced some nice pieces back when he was doing that. Too bad, for old times' sake, he couldn't run a black op, assault the place under cover of night and do another run of faceplates!
M Fowler wrote:I use frontpanelexpress.com for 2mm aluminum faceplates but my local vinyl graphics sign company can also do faceplates in vinyl, aluminum or plastics, perhaps your local sign company or vinyl graphics company can do the same.
In distortion's photo above of the six head cabs mine is the bottom right and its a sweet cabinet, thanks again Larry for such great work.
Mark
Vinyl graphics really has a lot of potential. I have thought about trying those with a clear lexan faceplate in front of them. We don't have a local sign shop any more although I think I could probably find that service online these days.
All those cabinets are killer. It seems like the Trainwreck cabinets eventually moved from a "plain" sorta look to various forms of figured wood. I think these amps deserve the extra effort in the packaging. The Distortion cabinets seem most appropriate to house a Wreck build.
I wish I didn't suck at wood work. True craftsmanship and attention to detail are worthy aspirations, maybe something I can work on in retirement?
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Next question does anyone offer these services? Jim
