Circuitbenders Forum

Circuitbenders Forum => Circuitbending discussion => Synths & Samplers => Topic started by: Gleix on March 09, 2009, 08:11:42 AM

Title: Paint jobs
Post by: Gleix on March 09, 2009, 08:11:42 AM
I hadn't done any painting in a long time, mostly due to the cold weather, but upon getting back into it I realized how much of a difference it makes when putting together an instrument... It gives it so much more character.  Here are a few favorites I've done recently:

(http://i41.tinypic.com/1zxmflx.png) (green keys fluoresce in blacklight)
(http://i44.tinypic.com/1zmjipt.png)
(http://i41.tinypic.com/2dag1ht.png)

Simply changing the keys can change the entire look of a keyboard:
(http://i43.tinypic.com/2i1z48j.jpg)

Old favorite:
(http://i39.tinypic.com/10ekhzc.png)

I'd love to see some paint jobs anybody else here feels like sharing!
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: SineHacker on March 09, 2009, 11:14:43 AM
do you take the keyboards apart entirely to get those details?
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: Circuitbenders on March 09, 2009, 12:33:14 PM
(http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/6043/glowhrbz5.jpg)

glow in the dark HR16!
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: the_zombiest on March 09, 2009, 12:52:15 PM
They're some very purty paint jobs.

Here's my 'ugly-by-comparison' DD6

(http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/103/l_d907cfd3fe0b24513a3665976b535224.jpg)
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: noystoise on March 12, 2009, 05:21:27 AM
I hadn't done any painting in a long time, mostly due to the cold weather
i know what you mean, i painted two keyboards yesterday. both of them turned out relatively bad. i blame the cold and the humidity. ironically, when it is warm and sunny here i dont spend a lot of time circuit bending. here are the keyboards, the pt-100 isnt finished obviously. its kind of hard to see the true quality in these pictures. the light is bad in here.
(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d194/bendies/CIMG5010.jpg)
(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d194/bendies/CIMG5004.jpg)
(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d194/bendies/CIMG5005.jpg)

btw, that glowing drum machine is cool. i painted a keyboard with that glow paint some years ago but it turned out pretty bad. the paint dried all rough and transparent. i didnt realize that it was supposed to be transparent until i had already used the whole can. my friend recently sent me a box of thermochromatic paints. i havent tried them yet because they are super toxic. someday maybe.
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: Circuitbenders on March 12, 2009, 01:55:14 PM
some kind of scaling down photos might be useful here  ;)
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: goldenbaby on March 17, 2009, 01:09:45 PM
breakbeat, nice painting!  Especially the first few, they seem to have a somewhat 80s style to them.  Delish!

Once I make something worth the effort of painting, I shall do so.  Are you guys using spray paint 99% of time, or what?
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: 3rdness on March 17, 2009, 01:30:00 PM
I just got into painting stuff pretty recently.  It makes a HUGE difference!

Way more fun to play freaky looking toys.

I know i posted pics of this casio elsewhere, but it looks so sick....

I get a cool stenciled texture from using some crate and barrel perforated packing paper as a mask.
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: Circuitbenders on March 17, 2009, 03:39:26 PM
btw, that glowing drum machine is cool. i painted a keyboard with that glow paint some years ago but it turned out pretty bad. the paint dried all rough and transparent. i didnt realize that it was supposed to be transparent until i had already used the whole can. my friend recently sent me a box of thermochromatic paints. i havent tried them yet because they are super toxic. someday maybe.

I found it worked best with a white undercoat and several thin layers of glow spray paint. If you try and put on a completely opaque layer in one go it goes a bit lumpy and wierd.
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: Gleix on August 01, 2009, 03:33:01 AM
Reviving this topic since I've something to share, and maybe other people do too by now!

(http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/2167/img1979.jpg)

The Casio KA-2 is pretty ugly by itself... not sure why they made it at all, especially as a "rare" type of SA-2... Red keyboard with yellow buttons and slider just ... looks so god awful.  I think this looks pretty awesome though. The whole bottom half is black now to add contrast..
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: hoffy on August 01, 2009, 02:36:10 PM
Wow, these machines look awesome. 'Specially that casio above...

Just a quick question, sorry to go off topic- where do I get myself one of them Sesame street all-star band keyboards? I've been wanting one since i saw the schematics on getlofi, and i can't find one online anywhere.

Cheers guys :)
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: phantompowers on August 04, 2009, 10:41:02 AM
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd186/RockinRob_2007/S502000625.jpg)

I made this out of a toy laser gun, a rape alarm and a push bike back light. Along with a piece of MDF I got out of a skip. I used PVA paint for the finish.
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: Circuitbenders on August 04, 2009, 11:34:24 AM
(http://www.circuitbenders.co.uk//gallery2/content/TOYS/industrialspell.jpg)

That one was kind of an accident. I'd sprayed it silver but then decided i didn't like it so tried to spray it black, except the can of black paint had something clogging up the nozzle so it came out in splatters......... which was nice  ;)
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: mr ibrahiem on August 04, 2009, 07:28:25 PM
nice I wish i was that good at paint my instrumens but not so good iam so i put other stuff on them like bits of costume jewelry and other tactile things  any way ia get off track a bit ......all of you are done good paintjobs
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: MAGTIG on August 09, 2009, 07:50:04 AM
I like to draw on my keyboards with markers of various kinds, I was even thinking I'd start painting on them with acrylics, but obviously they need sealant. I have some alcohol based fixative for oil pastels, but something tells me that's not really the right stuff. What do you guys use?
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: Matt the Modulator on August 09, 2009, 12:03:01 PM
I like to draw on my keyboards with markers of various kinds, I was even thinking I'd start painting on them with acrylics, but obviously they need sealant. I have some alcohol based fixative for oil pastels, but something tells me that's not really the right stuff. What do you guys use?

I use tip ex pen to write stuff on and plasitcote clear laquer to finish
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: phantompowers on August 11, 2009, 10:01:02 AM
This isn't the greatest paint job I've done but I thought this would be the best place to post it, seeing as there were a few Casio SA-2's on this thread.

(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd186/RockinRob_2007/S502003025.jpg)
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: SineHacker on August 11, 2009, 01:16:33 PM
some tool tips on painting stuff would be good, maybe in a new thread though...
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: MAGTIG on September 30, 2009, 08:50:56 AM
Ok, so I'm experimenting with my first paint job. I'm assuming I got too impatient and that's why the paint did this (http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/6940/img4557i.jpg) when I sprayed on the gloss. Can anyone confirm or deny that for me? I'm just going to leave them in, but obviously I don't always want the cracked look.

Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: zephler on September 30, 2009, 09:16:35 AM
I find that when I use spray paint, the results always turn out to look bumpy and too much like a little kid painted the thing - maybe I am applying too thick of a coat or something, but what do you use to make such a smooth look?  It looks like that paint job is original - it is very nice!  Do you apply paint with a brush or something?  What kind of paint do you use?  Thanks!!!
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: Circuitbenders on September 30, 2009, 12:02:30 PM
Sparay paint is best done in several thin coats, giving each coat enough time to dry completely before applying another one. Make sure you clean the surface as best you can before painting it or you'll end up with odd patches where the paint hasn't adhered as well as on other bits. If you put in on too thick you'll end up with lumps or rippled patches, or possibly those weird cracks Magtig has there. If its going on too thick just try spraying from further away or move the can faster.

Patience is the key here.
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: Matt the Modulator on September 30, 2009, 03:48:23 PM
also using plasicote clear laquer over the paint gives a good hard wearing finish thats smooth and gives a depth to the look. Also apply the laquer in layers giving each layer time to dry usually 2 or 3 is enough. i use belton molotov paint and plasticote laquer but some paints will react to the laquer best to read up.
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: Gleix on October 07, 2009, 10:53:49 AM
I always do two thin coats of spray paint and one or two coats of a sealant, depending on what I'm putting it on.

One thing that's important is to never use spray paint when it's humid or really cold... I've ruined a couple keyboards before that way.  The paint ends up doing that crackly thing or being all particle-looking.
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: Matt the Modulator on October 07, 2009, 12:14:52 PM

One thing that's important is to never use spray paint when it's humid or really cold... I've ruined a couple keyboards before that way.  The paint ends up doing that crackly thing or being all particle-looking.

That takes me back to doing  piece's in the cold of winter, we used to put hot water bottles in our bags to keep the cans warm which i think made it worse as the paint hits the cold air.  :( The paint gets a dull misted look fucks ya style up a bit but youve got to keep ya name up even through winter  :)
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: noystoise on October 07, 2009, 08:39:54 PM
i have the same problem. i prefer using spray paint on a nice hot day. in the winter time i dabble with airbrush because its not toxic and i can use it in my basement. i think this winter i am going to try to build a few projects with no paint. it would save a lot of steps.
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: Gleix on October 26, 2009, 02:02:46 AM
(http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/6360/img2270mq.jpg)

Guy who commissioned me wanted it like this :P

"that's awesome. it will be like playing a watermelon."

(http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/1328/img1733.jpg)

This was made for a member of the Princeton marching band (to match their uniform). That band is nuts, in the best way possible of course.
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: MAGTIG on November 09, 2009, 06:17:03 AM
God, I'm going to follow that awesome orange paint job with pure shit. :D

But hey, it's my first attempt. I figured I'd put it in here just because I was posting about it earlier.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2504/4088055497_d9c751e49e.jpg)

So! Things I learned:
1. Don't use so much fucking paint!
2. Let the damn paint dry!

I made plenty more mistakes, but those were the big ones. Glad I did this on a test subject. Some of those small buttons won't work unless I sand the sides of them down a bit. Does anyone else paint the buttons?
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: jamiewoody on November 12, 2009, 09:19:12 PM
perhaps a wood print contact paper to give it a 70s look? that might be cool.
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: Bogus Noise on November 20, 2009, 07:42:18 PM
(http://i41.tinypic.com/1zxmflx.png) (green keys fluoresce in blacklight)
I really love this paint spatter effect! What sort of paint works well for doing this to circuit bent toys? And is it just dipping a paintbrush in a pot and flicking it at the target?

Been wanting to get into painting mine up for months... I've had the spray undercoat/gloss and a selection of colours waiting since early summer, but would really like to add a bit more flair to them.  :)
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: jamiewoody on November 21, 2009, 08:43:08 PM
i'm working on the cabinet right now for my first one. i do not have the greatest woodshop yet, nor do i havecabinet clamps. i got the basic structure together though. i set my sk1 in it, and it fits nicely. there is space for a small box to the right for controls. it will have pegboard in upper front for patch bends. it will, of course be a work in progress.
Title: Re: Paint jobs
Post by: Mbwa on June 13, 2010, 03:12:39 AM
http://www.spacepaintings.com/spraypaintart.html (http://www.spacepaintings.com/spraypaintart.html)

Some friends of mine have been doing paintings like these, and of them has gotten pretty good.  He said he would do one on a keyboard for me if I ever get one bent nicely.