Badge Swapping

Thanks!

Love it!

I plan to build a separate head & speaker cabinet for my Peavey VK212 when my woodshop is warm enough to work in, because as a combo amp it's too dang heavy to lug around. I think I'll try to score a couple of TF logos like my avatar (it's the "Transfomers" logo from the movies) and re-badge my new creation with them.

Thanks for the inspiration, Beamer!

What an awesome color scheme, Beamer ... thanks!

But I'm an old fart, so I plan to do something more subdued. I'm no "Optimus" as a guitar player, and I'm way past my "Prime".

1) The cabs will be made out of 3/4" maple plywood, and I'll use my router & jig to dovetail the joints for strength. The head will be 10"H x 26.5"W x 12" D. The speaker cab will be 32"H x 26.5"W x 12"D. The width is determined by the existing size of my Peavey, so that the hardware will slide in and fit properly, without undue fuss (as Malcolm Reynolds would say).

2) The wood will be stained with a charcoal grey stain, so the grain will be seen clearly. After that, about 4 - 5 coats of Varathane's "Diamond Coat" water-based semi-gloss finish. I built an all-oak stairway system in our split entry home almost 10 years ago, and used this stuff on it. The treads show very little sign of wear yet ... awesome product!

3) The cabs will have all matte black hardware (handles, corners, etc.) and matte black grille cloth, to match the existing face on the Peavey which I'll re-use. The back will be solid, but I plan to add 2 angled ports on each side for sound distribution ... something like BOSE does with their sound systems. The guts are a 100-watt all-tube system, with the 2 x 12" speakers I put in it last year.

If I can get someone do the "TF" plates in a smokey chrome color, that would be my first choice, but a brushed aluminum or steel will also do fine. They have to be fairly good sized plates though ... at least 3" x 3" or more. My workshop has no heat, so it'll be at least 8 weeks before it's warm enough to start this. Only in Canada, eh?

Love the gas heater idea!

My version is to fire up the propane BBQ while working in the shed, and just be careful with sawdust, what kinds of containers are left open, etc. No need for anything goes boom (as Jayne would say). However, it's only a short-term solution, so wouldn't work for round-the-clock needs.

My favorite glue for this type if thing is "Old Brown Glue" by Antique Refinishers Inc. It's a hide glue which takes a long time to set up (24 hours minimum at room temp), but makes a real solid bond. It also won't interfere with finishes when little bits of it squeeze out while the project is clamped. Most wood glues (Elmer's, LePages, etc.) will glaze the surface they touch, and no amount of sanding will get rid of the carrier agent. This really shows up when staining, and just makes a mess. It's quicker, but the problems it produces are permanent ... okay for out-of-sight or solid paint finishes. Same thing happens with urethanes like Gorilla Glue.