Instrument panel lettering

[rocketman2tm]

I'm going to be painting my instrument panel when the weather outside finally warms up and I'm trying to figure out how I want to label individual switches and circuit breakers. I want something cleaner than the EAA lettering you get with their registration kit. What have you guys/girls done and would you recommend doing it again?

[mr bill]

Have artwork made (in SolidWorks or equivalent) then have a silkscreen made.

[jiott]

I am real happy with the labels made with a Brother Labelmaker. They stick good and never come loose, even the edges, in 5 1/2 years.
2182921830

[Geowitz]

I used water slide decals with a clear coat over the entire panel after they were applied. Like the decal stuff in plastic model kits that you soak in water and slide off. You can buy sheets of it that can be run through deskjet or laser printers. Just make sure you buy the correct version. Plenty of places online to get it. I bought the laser version and ran it through a color copier/printer so I could choose whatever colors I wanted. Design your labels in a word processor for size, color, font, etc and print it on regular paper first as a test to make sure everything comes out right. Then print on the water slide decal sheet. Takes patience to apply, but comes out clean and seamless especially once he clear coat is sprayed over it. Pretty simple and cheap. Even if you mess up it's easy to redo a few.

[jmodguy]

I used Aircraft Engravers. Nice product.

www.engravers.net

[Shadowrider]

I used Aircraft Engravers. Nice product.

www.engravers.net (http://www.engravers.net)

Did you send them your panel? I hate painting. Wondering about powered coating the panel and then sending it to them?

[jmodguy]

I painted my panel with Rustoleum! I had placards made. They come with double sided tape and stick on.

[bbs428]

I used Aircraft Engravers. Nice product.

www.engravers.net (http://www.engravers.net)


Thanks for the link Jeff. I'm going to look into this.

[PaulSS]

These guys do a lovely job:

https://www.fly-visuals.co.uk

Yes, they're based in the UK but their turnaround is very quick and we had the labels back in Oz in no time at all. They look great in the RV8 ;)

They are very thin, so they don't stick out from the panel or show white behind the sticker. That is something that would annoy me no end and I am pleased to report no aggravation of my anal retentivity :)

[Shadowrider]

Anyone have experience with a company engraving after powder coating? I want to build my panel then have it powered coated and then engraved?

[Shadowrider]

Anyone ever use these guys?
http://www.lms-laser.com/materials.php