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Painting My Box

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  • 07-04-2004 6:40pm
    #1
    Fidelis
    Registered Users Posts: 2,425 ✭✭✭


    I'm only beginning to mod my box. I did a stealth drive the other day & it looks pretty cool, so easy to do too! :)

    Anyways, I'm moving on to painting my case. I've read a fair few articles from various sites on how & how not to paint one's case. I also did a search here on boards but couldn't find anything conclusive, nothing to answer all my questions at least. I realise that there's no specific way to paint a case, but I plagiarised this method and I'd like if people could comment on whether it looks sound or not. Thanks!
    sand case - electrically sand metal & hand sand plastic

    clean area, hoover etc.

    primer - 2 thin coats (2hrs each)

    sand - 600 then 1000

    clean

    paint - 2 thin coats (overnight)

    sand - 800 to 1000 (super-smooth)

    paint - 1 coat (overnight)

    sand - 1000

    gloss - 1 thin coat (overnight)

    sand - 1000 then 1500 (gently)

    gloss - 1 thin coat (overnight)

    apply polishing compound

    Wipe away compound w/ cloth

    I'm hoping some people can answer these questions from experience :)

    Q. How many cans of 500ml spraypaint would be sufficient to completely cover the outside of a standard ATX case?
    Q. Enamel or acrylic spraypaint. I read that enamel was better for some reason. Is one better than the other? What is the difference between the two?
    Q. What's this 'primer' I keep reading all about? Is it like an undercoat or something? Probably a silly question but is it important to use metal primer on metal & plastic primer on plastic?
    Q. Rubbing compound, is this the same as a polishing compound? Is it applied to protect the paint-job?
    Q. Gloss, is this the same as a lacquer or a clear coat? For that extra glossy effect I presume?

    Thanks in advance!


Comments

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    #2
    Col_Loki
    Registered Users Posts: 2,754 ✭✭✭Col_Loki


    Ok , im speaking from experience with general spray painting (not computer cases) so ill do my best.
    How many cans of 500ml spraypaint would be sufficient to completely cover the outside of a standard ATX case?

    Very hard one to answer, it depends alot on how much you apply with each coat.... id say 1 can primer, 2 (mabye 3 - max) cans of the colour ..... but thats just an estimate and im thinkin you will be applying a good number of coats.
    What's this 'primer' I keep reading all about? Is it like an undercoat or something? Probably a silly question but is it important to use metal primer on metal & plastic primer on plastic?

    Primer is an undercoat, its a dull colour....... grey primer being the most popular. Its pretty important to have. You can get plastic primer , its different from normal primer but ive used normal stuff and it was fine on plastic. The most important thing is the sanding, do it well and you will have a nice finish.
    Gloss, is this the same as a lacquer or a clear coat? For that extra glossy effect I presume?

    Gloss paint is basicly a shiny version, ie theres matt black (dull), gloss black is shiny. Lacquer is a nice finishing coat and also acts as a protector to a certain degree. When the guide says gloss id take it as laquer.

    That guide looks spot on, follow that some bit closely and you should be fine.


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