Identify: Gloss Black over MDF (not paint)

[icor1031]

I saw a small, commercially-built subwoofer.

It had what appeared to be some sort of sheet of gloss black material, placed over MDF.

The shape at the corners implied it was a continuous piece in one direction (may have covered 4 consecutive sides, in other words.)

Does any one know what this may have been?

Thanks.

I found this image, if it helps:

[bkeane1259]

Vinyl laminate is my guess. I recently ordered some (similar) from PE and while it's NOT glossy, it does look pretty good. Have not actually used it yet....

[bkeane1259]

Crap...you're talking about the FRONT ??

Sorry...PE sells nothing like that. Especially a laminate that would crease into those grooves.

My bad.

[icor1031]

Can you make it glossy?

Vinyl laminate is my guess. I recently ordered some (similar) from PE and while it's NOT glossy, it does look pretty good. Have not actually used it yet....

[icor1031]

The rear, sides, and top use some glossy black material.

Ignore the grooves, my sub won't have those.

Crap...you're talking about the FRONT ??

Sorry...PE sells nothing like that. Especially a laminate that would crease into those groves.

My bad.

[davepellegrene]

It looks like the finish I get from pour on epoxy. It has a learning curve but once you get it figured out it does a nice job.




Dave

[icor1031]

That is beautiful.
But from what I can tell, the epoxy only creates the gloss.

So, two questions:
1: What epoxy is it? I'll see if I can find more info on it. Because, that's gorgeous.
2: On that sub, what is the black thing?

It looks like the finish I get from pour on epoxy. It has a learning curve but once you get it figured out it does a nice job.




Dave

[davepellegrene]

I used the Famowood brand from Lowes. I would not recommend Home Depots brand. Can't remember what it was but I had a lot of problems with it.

Not sure what the black thing is. I thought it was a reflection until you asked. You can also get that gloss look with plexiglass. They may have molded it then placed it over top. Even painting the back side of plexiglass gives you that look. To try to put those waves in it like on the sub would be interesting to try.

Dave

[icor1031]

Someone mentioned plexiglass before, but I didn't understand it then. I recently learned how that works when I was looking for some photography tools.

Thanks for the help.

I used the Famowood brand from Lowes. I would not recommend Home Depots brand. Can't remember what it was but I had a lot of problems with it.

Not sure what the black thing is. I thought it was a reflection until you asked. You can also get that gloss look with plexiglass. They may have molded it then placed it over top. Even painting the back side of plexiglass gives you that look. To try to put those waves in it like on the sub would be interesting to try.

Dave

[icor1031]

I looked up PE's black vinyl, and it appears they only have textured.

So, I still need advice.

[fastbike1]

Gloss black laminate (e.g. formica) or acrylic will give the same effect.

[Steve Henry]

Alsa Corp has the gloss black sheeting. Also check out the Burls.

http://www.alsacorp.com/products/she...sheetingfx.htm

[edgecreek]

It may well be vinyl/plastic that is painted. Definitive Tech did piano black on their end caps that way. It had a plastic coating over MDF and then painted over that. It made a really smooth deep glossy finish. It looked like it was vacum formed over the MDF.

[r-carpenter]

It's special laminate, done in the membrane press.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yznOWD3zVr8&feature

[Paul Carmody]

It's special laminate, done in the membrane press.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yznOWD3zVr8&feature

Is that how they do those cheap white pre-fab kitchen cabinets with faux raised panels?

[r-carpenter]

Is that how they do those cheap white pre-fab kitchen cabinets with faux raised panels?

yep. I've seen similar press on one of the woodworking shows. It did a complete set of kitchen doors (like 30 or so) in about 7 minutes.
I have also seen conveyer fed presses where the doors or other parts are shoved in continuously. One guy feeds parts in, other guy stocks them on the other end. It's insane.

[bkeane1259]

Alsa Corp has the gloss black sheeting. Also check out the Burls.

http://www.alsacorp.com/products/she...sheetingfx.htm

This Mirror Black sheeting looks cool, but it's quite expensive. Steve, have you used any of their FXSheeting products?

[bobbarkto]

Di-Noc from 3M maybe. Very high gloss, can be wrapped around corners and other details with a little heat.

There are also vinyl films like Scotchprint. Easily form to shapes like that.

[donparsons]

I used the alsa corp black on sub. You need very smooth substrate, but it was much easier than gloss black paint.

[Whitneyville1]

3M makes a dozen or more heat set films that may or may not be pulled-down with a vacuum. Some are soft, some are nearly hard as glass. They come in finishes from suede to ultra high gloss. Call your local 3M films distributor for the low-down. Prices run from dirt-cheap to "OH MY GOSH!!!!" Some are a type of non-fused ceramic and are cooked at 400*+ (if the substrate can handle it) and these are similar to powder coating. It's better than black Plexi for product photography because it doesn't scratch when you breath on it, and black glass "skid-marks", and rarely photographs a true black.The 3M rep will likely throw a half-dozen CD-ROM's at you and say "Pick what you like!" They even have thick Mylar tape in black gloss for set-building for TV and movies. (You'll never know that Grand piano in the shot for 3 seconds is cardboard).