Stencil or decal Universal Cabinet

colonelsnow

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I have two Universal Cosmic Aliens that I am going to use to make one from. One of the cabinets has trashed artwork, with the graphics peeling off. My thought is that the best use of this one is to turn it into a generic Universal cabinet. What would give a more authntic look, paint, stencil, and clear coat or the TOG decal? If paint I am not sure how to best prepare the surface. After removing the graphic layer I will be left with particle board.
 
Last edited:
Can side art be clear coated after it is applied.

Why would you want to? Universal used a clear film that was applied directly to the screened artwork. It was meant to protect the art, which it kinda did, but it also yellowed horribly and peeled off in chunks leaving behind sticky, unprotected areas that eventually got covered in dirt and grit. You try to clear coat that vinyl artwork and it may cause a bad reaction with the solvent ink. Even if it didn't, in time the clear would start to shrink, yellow, crack, peel, etc. Just look at original Williams cabs (which were painted and then clear coated). I have used Rich's artwork and it looks great. If you end up removing the thin, outer plywood veneer when you take off the old artwork, just replace it with plywood veneer the same thickness or do what I did, add 1/8" hardboard to the sides before installing the artwork.

Artwork/ Plywood Veneer off:
15160649612_52ad4c19a8_h.jpg

Hardboard installed:
15593813296_9e8487706c_h.jpg

Hardboard primed/painted:
16439585400_3702d10f3a_h.jpg

Artwork installed:
18543682305_30e4e14d9e_h.jpg
 
Why would you want to? Universal used a clear film that was applied directly to the screened artwork. It was meant to protect the art, which it kinda did, but it also yellowed horribly and peeled off in chunks leaving behind sticky, unprotected areas that eventually got covered in dirt and grit. You try to clear coat that vinyl artwork and it may cause a bad reaction with the solvent ink. Even if it didn't, in time the clear would start to shrink, yellow, crack, peel, etc. Just look at original Williams cabs (which were painted and then clear coated). I have used Rich's artwork and it looks great. If you end up removing the thin, outer plywood veneer when you take off the old artwork, just replace it with plywood veneer the same thickness or do what I did, add 1/8" hardboard to the sides before installing the artwork.

Artwork/ Plywood Veneer off:
15160649612_52ad4c19a8_h.jpg

Hardboard installed:
15593813296_9e8487706c_h.jpg

Hardboard primed/painted:
16439585400_3702d10f3a_h.jpg

Artwork installed:
18543682305_30e4e14d9e_h.jpg



Thanks. I came up with the clear coat idea because I saw other people saying that the vinyl "didn't look right" Yours came out beautiful though.
 
Thanks. I came up with the clear coat idea because I saw other people saying that the vinyl "didn't look right" Yours came out beautiful though.

It "didn't look right" because they are all used to looking at the 35-40 year old yellowed clear film on those cabs. Trust me, the original vinyl color was white, just like the repro.
 
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