Painting aluminium cases - What to use?

bloodline76 · 12 Sep 2010 at 09:38

I was looking to paint my aluminium case on my computer and was wondering what you guys use?

What kind of paint is best and does it need any kind of finishing product to keep it from damage?

Does anyone do any fine spray painting too and if so what do they use?

Thanks

janksteruk · 12 Sep 2010 at 12:09

being aluminium id use a etch primer first then a satin black aerosol

Kanifee · 12 Sep 2010 at 18:32

Honestly i keep plugging this stuff but id use vinyl wrap, take a look here at my thread, the results are really nice and you can pick colours, also means that if you decide six months down the line you want a colour change its just a case of peeling it off and the nice alluminium is in prestine condition still.... helps with resale too, what case is it by the way?

bloodline76 · 13 Sep 2010 at 13:23

Thanks but I also wanted to customize it with art as well. But I have been wanting to change the colour of my speakers so that might work for them.

Edit: I see by some youtube pictures that some people have custom designs, how do they do this? Can you print off your own designs? That would be helpful and exactly what I need.

piggin · 13 Sep 2010 at 14:18

http://www.mnpctech.com/case-mod-paint-computer-pc-case-mod-how-to1.html

http://www.modthebox.com/paintguide.shtml

http://www.boxgods.com/dept/modding/index.php?Action=Article&ID=198&Page=1#Introduction

http://case-mods.linear1.org/case-mod-101-how-to-paint-your-computer-case-part-1/

http://case-mods.linear1.org/case-mod-101-how-to-paint-your-computer-case-part-2/

http://www.overclock.net/case-mods-general-discussion/69626-spookys-computer-painting-guide.html

piggin · 13 Sep 2010 at 14:19

Kanifee said:
Honestly i keep plugging this stuff but id use vinyl wrap, take a look here at my thread, the results are really nice and you can pick colours, also means that if you decide six months down the line you want a colour change its just a case of peeling it off and the nice alluminium is in prestine condition still.... helps with resale too, what case is it by the way?

Kanifee - love the look of the vinyl wrap

the_r_sole · 13 Sep 2010 at 14:42

not sure if it's the same stuff, but i've seen custom designs printed onto self adhesive vinyl before, guess it'd just take some serious planning to get it spot on!

bloodline76 · 13 Sep 2010 at 15:24

the_r_sole said:
not sure if it's the same stuff, but i've seen custom designs printed onto self adhesive vinyl before, guess it'd just take some serious planning to get it spot on!

Yeah that would be perfect if I could find a way of printing my own designs on vinyl.

Anyone know how its done?

the_r_sole · 13 Sep 2010 at 15:35

if you have access to a roll feed printer/plotter you can buy rolls to print yourself... although i think the actual proper plotters have better quality ink for more durable finishes

bloodline76 · 13 Sep 2010 at 18:16

the_r_sole said:
if you have access to a roll feed printer/plotter you can buy rolls to print yourself... although i think the actual proper plotters have better quality ink for more durable finishes

These seem expensive. Any alternative?

the_r_sole · 13 Sep 2010 at 19:49

don't think there's any really cheap way to get a custom vinyl covering done, a roll of vinyl was about 70-80 quid the last time i used it, that was for 18m or so, which would cover a fair few cases!! so unless you have a mate in a printers that could get it done at trade you might struggle to do it cheaper than just getting the paintbrushes out...

bloodline76 · 13 Sep 2010 at 20:20

Shame that would have been a nice way to do it. Back to the paint job then.

ckoons1 · 23 Sep 2010 at 22:01

where can you buy that stuff. that looks cool

jeckulz · 24 Sep 2010 at 11:07

Powder coating is the way forward IMO.
More durable and thicker than paint, wont flake off when you remove the side panel.
Plus it wont stink anywhere near as bad.