Painting Wood Logic Displays to Look Like Real Aluminum

Painted Logic Surround

R2’s Logic Display Surrounds are supposed to be made of metal. What are you supposed to do if yours are made of wood? The answer is simple. Take aluminum paint and fine grit sandpaper or a dremel, then paint, sand, and repeat this process until you see no grain in the wood. Since wood shows grain, the goal is to paint and sand once the paint is dry. The sanding is a light coat to attempt and sand off high spots in the grain of the wood. This process is constantly repeated over and over until the grain can no longer be seen or until you like the look of the “metal”.

Testor’s paint is the first thing I used and wet/dry sandpaper. Keep the sandpaper wet.

Wooden Logic Display Surrounds Pt. 3

Once all parts are cut, we need to glue them together.  I used the panel from the outer dome as a guide to test the fit of the wood pieces.  After verifying the fit, I took some wood glue and put it on each side of the wood pieces and assembled them in the panel.  After one hour, they were dry and awaiting a bit more cutting.

After the glue is dry, we take the piece out of the panel carefully so we don’t bend the panel.  The panel is made of Aluminum so it can bend easy.  The outside area is then cut to fit the inside of the panel per the plan.

This is a quick video of the whole process for cutting and constructing the wooden logic display surrounds.