How to reproduce symbols on a knob? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: bitwelder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2021, 03:23:09 pm
content: Hello,I have a issue that while not strictly about electronics,perhaps some hobbyists that build or repair devices with knobs may have faced.I would like to replace the knob used for the oven of my cooker.I bought an 'universal knob' which fits and works well but... it's plain white.How to properly reproduce the symbols from the original knob to the replacement one?Both are white molded plastic (with black drawings).My ability to hold a black pen and draw it manually is definitely not up to scratchI was thinking of taking photos of the symbols and printing them on a sticky transparent tape,but then, would it resist to heat, as it's near to a hot oven?Any suggestions?Reason for this change is that my cooker has some almost cylindrical knobs.While those are easy to operate for the induction plates (after all they are potentiometersor maybe rotary encoders) the one for the oven is rather stiff and clunky,and the smooth knob surface is hard to grip with a hand that is even a little greasy or wet.The replacement part instead has a more sculpted profile that makes it easy to grip in any circumstance.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2021, 03:45:08 pm
content: My first inclination would be to take it to a trophy engraving shop that does plastics, have them engrave it then carefully fill the symbols with a fine tipped paint marker of your chosen color.

author: geggi1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2021, 09:21:30 pm
content: if its only letters or numbers the simplest way is to use a lablemaker like a Dymo.Just print the caracter and tape it in place.If you want it engraved you can use a fine tip on a dremmel and carefully grind the caracter in to the knob.If you want colour in the caracter dont remove the dymo tape yet, but add paint on top of where the caracter and let the paint dry before removint the tape.Clear varnish can be added on top to et a smoot surface.

author: bitwelder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2021, 06:13:23 am
content: Quote from: geggi1 on July 08, 2021, 09:21:30 pmWell no, as the title of the post, the knob has unusualsymbols(like 'oven grill', 'top and bottom heating', etc.) not text,but actually a label maker is an interesting idea:1) as my own oven doesn't have to be used by many people in different languages,I could think of replacing some of the simpler symbols with a descriptive word.2) I am actually in a search for a new affordable label maker (currently I own a really annoying Dymo Letratag),maybe I can find one that allows also to program some custom symbols.

author: ChuckDarwin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2021, 09:11:13 pm
content: Might be an expensive solution, but laser printable waterslide decal material and some acrylic overcoat would allow you to design whatever symbols ring you want, assuming a light background.

author: GlennSprigg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2021, 12:24:57 pm
content: Quote from: ChuckDarwin on July 10, 2021, 09:11:13 pmYes... Something like using a laser printer to make PCB transfers, like in the following video.