I just got the control panels I bent up back from powder coating today, textured black sure is the way to go. I couldnt be happier with the finish, they look a treat. for anyone else wanting to make these. Dont waste your time with standard steel hole saws at $35 a pop spend $100 at hafco and get a set of carbide tipped hole saws. It saved me a lot of time and no broken teeth on the hole cutting.
I used a handheld hydraulic punch for the holes, the electricians at work had one for working on electrical cabinets. Would be a very handy tool if you were mass producing panels.
