How about using the backing and throwing away the contact paper? Would securing it on your work area using masking tape work for you?

Not really. I'm walking on it and crawling around on it, drilling holes through it, etc. It really needs to stick.

 

The contact paper worked exactly as I had hoped/expected. I was able to draw on it with paint pens and Sharpies, which did not bleed through. I was able to walk/crawl on it without marring the subpanel finish. It prevented hot shavings from melting into the paint. It peeled off nicely and left very little residue; just a handful of small spots which were easily cleaned off with isopropyl alcohol. I find The contact paper also helps to prevent The drill bit from "walking;" about half way through I stopped center punching my holes, and had zero issues.

The process could be improved by having grid markings on the paper (of course) and by using something a bit thicker than dollar store contact paper.

FYI if you're going to do this, make sure to always sweep any metal shavings off before walking across the subpanel. Your weight will force the shavings through the contact paper and into the finish - lesson learned from a long time ago.

 

The contact paper worked exactly as I had hoped/expected. I was able to draw on it with paint pens and Sharpies, which did not bleed through. I was able to walk/crawl on it without marring the subpanel finish. It prevented hot shavings from melting into the paint. It peeled off nicely and left very little residue; just a handful of small spots which were easily cleaned off with isopropyl alcohol. I find The contact paper also helps to prevent The drill bit from "walking;" about half way through I stopped center punching my holes, and had zero issues.

The process could be improved by having grid markings on the paper (of course) and by using something a bit thicker than dollar store contact paper.

FYI if you're going to do this, make sure to always sweep any metal shavings off before walking across the subpanel. Your weight will force the shavings through the contact paper and into the finish - lesson learned from a long time ago.

Beautiful work ... congrats!

 

Glad the contact paper pulled off for you.

 

Having those helpers no doubt ensured success.

 

FYI if you're going to do this, make sure to always sweep any metal shavings off before walking across the subpanel. Your weight will force the shavings through the contact paper and into the finish - lesson learned from a long time ago.

@strantor

Walking? As a non-native, I would need you rephrasing the above for me. Gracias.

 

@strantor

Walking? As a non-native, I would need you rephrasing the above for me. Gracias.

I thought this would be a lot easier to show than to explain, but I wasn't able to quickly find a YouTube video. "Walking" is when you Mark your "X" on metal where you want to drill, you put your bit centered on the "X," you pull the trigger, and the bit begins to "wander" away from where you wanted the hole. The usual step to mitigate this, is to use a center punch to create a divot precisely where you want the hole, and then drill. The divot creates a starting point, and sometimes it's even better to drill the hole first with a "pilot" (smaller) bit before finishing with the proper size.

 

This may be too late but you can file this for next time.

https://everydayvinyl.com/transfer-tape-blue-lined-12-x5

 

Really nice work. Congrats.