Paint and consumer electronics

[cparson]

I don't really know how to ask this question, which is making it difficult to find any information about it.  So, hopefully someone here can point me in the right direction.  I'm constructing a cabinet to hold consumer electronics (receiver, video game systems, etc.) which generate a fair amount of heat.  For finishing, I've sealed with shellac (zinsser bulls-eye) and painted two coats of this rustoleum "painter's touch"  multipurpose latex paint. 

I noticed, after spilling a drop or two of shellac on an already dried painted surface, that the paint seemed to essentially melt and came right off the wood as I was trying to wipe off the shellac I had spilled.  It kind of turned into a gummy, sticky mess.  Now my concern is that the heat from the electronics may have a similar effect, in effect melting the paint and having it peel off, stick to the bottoms of things, etc.  Is this something I need to worry about?

I definitely prefer construction to finishing...

 

[The Dude]

My edgemacated guess is that the Denatured Alcohol from the shellac mixture dissolved the paint.  I have a painted cabinet with some stereo equipment and have had no such issues.

Timmy C

 

[cparson]

Thanks Timmy!!  I was hoping it was something like that, rather than just crummy paint.

 

[mysterium]

Sounds like you might consider adding cooling fans to the cabinet to dissipate the heat.

jim

 

[cparson]

Sounds like you might consider adding cooling fans to the cabinet to dissipate the heat.

jim

That sounds good...  thanks for the advice!  It sounds like you have done this before...  do you have any suggestions? (for what is right now an open front & back cabinet - but that could change)  It looks like there's a bunch of information on the web about AV rack ventilation, so i've got some reading to do. 

Thanks again!

 

[brandon.nickel]

There's a bunch of pro products for this but none are particularly cheap.  Check these folks out:  Middle Atlantic
I have their fans and thermostatic control on my AV rack.  I use over 1500 watts of power (Class A/AB 6 channel poewr amp mostly), so I've got 4 of the 4" fans.  Works well, but these newer products are probably quieter.

 

[gkeas]

I am actually a pro a/v installer.  I typically use 24 vdc fans that are rated for 108 cfm.  I wire them up to a 12 vdc power supply, which cuts the airflow down, but makes the fan nearly silent in operation.  The trick is to exhaust the heat, not to just blow air into the cabinet.  I use two fans, one drawing air in at the bottom, and the other exhausting the hot air at the top.  This is sort of "powered convection" as heat obviously rises.

I am a Middle Atlantic dealer, but I find their fans to be far too loud unless the rack is in its own room, or a closet with sound isolation.

I use fans available at Grainger that are about $35 ea. for a 4" model.  I'll try to post a link. Dayton Fan  I use the ball bearing models instead of the sleeve bearing as they are quieter and arguably more durable, but either will work well.

*edit*  You can also check out offerings from Active Thermal Managmenthttp://www.activethermal.com/  They have very quiet thermostatically controlled fan systems, but they are pretty expensive (IMHO).  My favorite item from them is a system that utilizes 4" ducting and places the fan remotely at the exhaust point (think bathroom exhaust fan).