Cabinet finish

[benoit]

Maybe this should be in garage talk but I was wondering if anyone has tried the spray-on truck bed liner as a covering for an amp. That stuff or something similar is used on a lot of high end PA equipment and I can't see why it wouldn't work fine in a guitar amp. Thoughts?

[kec]

I've done it on hi-fi speakers. It's an easy finish to apply, but it takes some practice getting an even consistent coat. Durability is probably pretty good, but I think some heavy duty textured tolex would be better - although not as easy to apply as the paint. The bed liner paint stinks - may take a while for the odor to go away. Of course, contact cement stinks too.

[drhulsey]

... I was wondering if anyone has tried the spray-on truck bed liner as a covering for an amp...

I had all our PA cabs covered in LineX. Very durable. Still looks good after 3 years. But it's pricey I haven't noticed any odor problems.
Attached are pictures of a guitar cab I finished with Durabak (www.durabakcompany.com). Don't mind the dust on top It comes with a roller that makes an even application pretty easy. I think this cab has 3 coats. I found it very durable for a guitar cab. It took less than a quart to cover this cab and has to be far easier than tolex. "It comes in colors like a ra-a-a-a-inbow."

[benoit]

Tim, thanks much for the info. I sent them an email to get a quote. Is this product stocked at any major retailers?

Ben

[kec]

For the LineX stuff, I think you have to have them, or one of their dealers, apply it.

I used the Duplicolor stuff, available at most auto stores for about $7-$8 for the aerosol can. http://www.duplicolor.com/products/truckbed.html

[benoit]

I used the Duplicolor stuff, available at most auto stores for about $7-$8 for the aerosol can. http://www.duplicolor.com/products/truckbed.html

Was it difficult to get an even coating? Any tips for using duplicolor if I were to go that route?


Ben

[drhulsey]

... Is this product stocked at any major retailers?

I got mine off the internet. I don't find other dealers listed. BTW, the URL is www.durabakcompany.com
I think that rolling the finish is MUCH more controlled than spraying I felt the Durabak provided a finish that looked as good as the LineX on the PA cabs. The PA cabs were done by the LineX people. The Durabak was about $68/gallon when I bought it, but it goes a long way. It was easy to mask off any area I didn't want covered. All told, it was about as easy a way as I know of to get a good, durable, good looking finish on a guitar cab. I can't wait to try some color

[benoit]

I think I'll probably end up going with the durabak. When I emailed the duplicolor folks I received this response:

"Thank you for your inquiry. We do not recommend using the Truck Bed Coating on wood as it will not bond properly."

kec, is that your experience or has it worked pretty well for you?

[benoit]

Ouch, they're up to 80 bucks a gallon, plus 15 bucks to ship it... I don't have a garage, so I'm probably going to have to either tolex it or figure something else out. I will try calling places in town that do the liner and see what they'd charge.

[tomrasdf]

http://cgi.ebay.com/EVM12L-designed-thi ... dZViewItem

These guys are using something similar. I just bought one (hasn't arrived yet). Give them a call and ask what they use. From all the pics, the stuff looks great.

[kec]

I think I'll probably end up going with the durabak. When I emailed the duplicolor folks I received this response:

"Thank you for your inquiry. We do not recommend using the Truck Bed Coating on wood as it will not bond properly."

kec, is that your experience or has it worked pretty well for you?

Yes it bonds very well with wood/MDF. I think Duplicolor is just covering their butts by saying that. A lot of DIY speaker guys have used this with very good results.

[Funkalicousgroove]

Wasn't the Johnson Millenium amp covered in spray-on bed liner?

[drhulsey]

Wasn't the Johnson Millenium amp covered in spray-on bed liner?

I have a Johnson 2x12 extension cab. It is not as textured as bedliner, but seems to be "painted" on. It's very durable.
The Durabak adheres to wood VERY well after prepping the surface with xylene (flammable). I did my cab outside on a sunny day, finishing three sides one day and the third the next day. It applies very quickly. You do have to stir the product frequently. A paint stirrer on a drill works well.
BTW, the finish on the Boogafunk cabs is "proprietary

[kec]

Yes it bonds very well with wood/MDF. I think Duplicolor is just covering their butts by saying that. A lot of DIY speaker guys have used this with very good results.

I'd like to add that you do need to prep the wood, i.e. sand/primer for best results.

If you want a really heavy duty finish, you can apply fiberglass and resin like Altec used to do with the Stanley Screamers. Very tough finish. I used to work at Altec '78 - '82.

[drhulsey]

If you want a really heavy duty finish, you can apply fiberglass and resin...

To show you how tough LineX type material is, the Pentagon had a $10 million contract with LineX to coat the inside of the outer walls of the Pentagon. It hold things together so well that, in case of an incident such as 9/11, the fragments would be less lethal being held together by LineX. In an explosion, flying fragments are the most deadly component. The military proved the efficacy of LineX in its own studies, then asked LineX to do the job I notice they didn't use TOLEX