Painting the chassis

b3ast · Post by **b3ast** » 14 Dec 2007, 10:23

Hi guys I am busy messing with my case to try and make it a bit more presentable.
It currently looks more or less like this:

Apart from the front panel being tottaly black( Was bored last night with the power shedding so did some painting) it actually turned out rather nice.

Now tonight I want to strip it down and paint the entire thing black, internal everwhere...

Is this a good idea? Or something that I will be slapping myself about the back of the head?

The idea is to darken the case everywhere even the cable sleeving will be black and no wires will be visible once done.
Getting the side panel cut and a perspec window mounted with the antec 200mm fan...
Will be putting in a blacklight as well.

Thanks in advance guys!

Samaya · Post by **Samaya** » 14 Dec 2007, 11:35

So you want to have everything black inside and then light it up with a UV light so you won't see any cables or wires because everything will be black

:pottytrain5:

b3ast · Post by **b3ast** » 14 Dec 2007, 11:46

Samaya wrote:So you want to have everything black inside and then light it up with a UV light so you won't see any cables or wires because everything will be black :pottytrain5:

The cables will be hiden as best I can... the blacklight will be for effect as I am looking at a darker tinted type of perspex... the aim here is to darken the case with the perspex giving off a soft glow.

So will painting the inside of the case i.e. motherboard tray ect not affect the heat buildup inside the case? Or cause any problems with the components themselves?

I do not believe it will personally but would like a second opinion just for peace of mind.

Samaya · Post by **Samaya** » 14 Dec 2007, 12:00

So will painting the inside of the case i.e. motherboard tray ect not affect the heat buildup inside the case? Or cause any problems with the components themselves?

No don't worry about that. I replaced my MoBo tray with a perspex one and there was no difference in temps. Just don't paint the components

. Remember to make sure you have sufficient airflow in any case

Dust · Post by **Dust** » 14 Dec 2007, 12:08

Man, I think that may be a nice mod. My case's wires are also hidden and I think it looks good. That's the reason for me not liking see through perspex cases, I mean, where do you hide cables?? Lol. Anyway dude, good luck with your paint job and keep us posted!

b3ast · Post by **b3ast** » 14 Dec 2007, 12:20

Dust wrote:Man, I think that may be a nice mod. My case's wires are also hidden and I think it looks good. That's the reason for me not liking see through perspex cases, I mean, where do you hide cables?? Lol. Anyway dude, good luck with your paint job and keep us posted!

Will do ,on leave as of t-minus 3 hours will be heading to builders straight from work but will try nd photograph the progress... hoping to have everything done late next week before x-mas.

Will be going to maizey plastics for the perspex and they have someone who does lazer cutting for them so still deciding how to mesh the perspec or even if i want to, might just try and flush mount the big fan...

b3ast · Post by **b3ast** » 14 Dec 2007, 12:22

Samaya wrote:
So will painting the inside of the case i.e. motherboard tray ect not affect the heat buildup inside the case? Or cause any problems with the components themselves?
No don't worry about that. I replaced my MoBo tray with a perspex one and there was no difference in temps. Just don't paint the components . Remember to make sure you have sufficient airflow in any case

Airflow is definatly not a problem, intake is a 80 mm unobstructe fan feeding two 70 mm's extraaction is a 120mm at the bck and the 200 mm on the side...

Post by **KillerByte** » 14 Dec 2007, 14:20

http://www.pcformat.co.za/modules.php?n ... ic&t=22090

b3ast · Post by **b3ast** » 15 Dec 2007, 03:35

KillerByte wrote:http://www.pcformat.co.za/modules.php?n ... ic&t=22090

Saw that thread thanks, painting was never the problem my only concern was the affect painting the interior might have.
Update posting on my notebook over GPRS as my machine is in pieces on the coffee table.

The case has been roughed and primerd.
As well as now having the first layer of paint on.
Waiting for morning(or later today

) so builders opens up I need more paint already gone trough two cans of primer and two cans of black....

Pics on the DC and will upload once the machine is back together and I will then start on the side panel.

Builders are also out of stock of dremels so will have to go to another branch as well for that.

b3ast · Post by **b3ast** » 15 Dec 2007, 10:40

Right... this was fun.
Now apart from everything already done all that is left is the plex side panel, I haev decided to do the entire panel transparent with slots for some fans and slider controls...

Anyway let's start:
This is what I started out with:

I then had to remove everything and i do mean everything that was not pop riveted or welded on, herewith all the glory on a coffe table

I then roughed the panels all over the case

Followed shortly after a good clean with the primer

After a couple of coats of gloss balck paint and clear laquer this was the result

And this was the result

I am quite pleased how it turned out and can't wait to have the plexi side panel done...

Dust · Post by **Dust** » 15 Dec 2007, 10:49

Nice job man!!! Nice to see that you haven't had any snags!

WAJeff · Post by **WAJeff** » 15 Dec 2007, 10:51

Nice work man, looking good in all black, giving me ideas for my case

Vampyre_2099 · Post by **Vampyre_2099** » 15 Dec 2007, 12:05

Thats such a simple yet awesome result-wielding "mod". I like it and now I'm thinking...

WAJeff · Post by **WAJeff** » 15 Dec 2007, 12:46

What was the process you followed with spraying it?

I wanna try something similar with my case

SurvivOrX · Post by **SurvivOrX** » 15 Dec 2007, 15:02

That was amazing! Such a simple idea, made it look completely remade! Well done man

.

Samaya · Post by **Samaya** » 15 Dec 2007, 15:51

Have to say nicely painted. BUT for some positive criticism: Clean up the cables by rerouting them, fit that huge fan to the side panel and Fit yourself a nice plexi side panel to show it all off.

BTW the first picture I saw in your post I was thinking *afrikaans aan* My Goeie F** Waar is die moederbord? /*afrikaans af* LOL

b3ast · Post by **b3ast** » 15 Dec 2007, 15:57

g0ldback wrote:What was the process you followed with spraying it?

I wanna try something similar with my case

Well I started by totally stripping the case and I mean totally... everything that could be removed was.
Then I cleaned it using a scotch bad also starting roughing the existing paint and metal, this was followed by roughing the surface even further with fine grit sanding paper.

Once done I cleaned ot again to get rid of any dust(Used a garden hose and pressure cleaner)

Air dried it and then started layering on the grey primer, Leaving to dry after each layer.

Then about three layers of gloss black and a final clear laquer layer.

What you need for a midi case.

A resiprator (very important)
1 Sheet 400 grit wet dry sandpaper.
3 Spray can's primer.
4 Can's Spray paint of your choice.
1 Can Clear Laquer.
1 Bottle thinners incase of runs and mistakes.

A well ventilated area, preferably somewhere where you can suspende the items.
I used my garage and binding wires fastend to the roof beams.

I left the primer to cure overnight and started on the colour the next morning even though I bought quick drying spraypaint.

Good luck and patience is key.

b3ast · Post by **b3ast** » 15 Dec 2007, 16:03

Samaya wrote:Have to say nicely painted. BUT for some positive criticism: Clean up the cables by rerouting them, fit that huge fan to the side panel and Fit yourself a nice plexi side panel to show it all off.

BTW the first picture I saw in your post I was thinking *afrikaans aan* My Goeie F** Waar is die moederbord? /*afrikaans af* LOL

I ran out of cable sleeving....

Will get some more the whole idea is for the fev cables that are visible to have black covering as seen in the power cable ect....

edith* I will be visiting maizey hopefully this coming week so as to get a whole panel made to fit the side and not just a perspex window...
They know someone close by that will do the lazer cutting for me as well.

shinji-aoi · Post by **shinji-aoi** » 18 Dec 2007, 12:18

Bad news - Maizey will be closing (if not already closed) and will reopen 7 Jan 2008.

I already contacted some of suppliers and they are running on skeleton staff this week. If you are in Pretoria you could try Falcon (they're in Watloo). They also do signage supplies (ie. Perspex etc.) but doubt that they'll be able to cut it to size.

I have to wait till January since I'd like to have my Perspex laser cut (professional finish

).

Case looks great by the way!

Obituary · Post by **Obituary** » 18 Dec 2007, 12:41

Awesome job there WD!

TheMartyr · Post by **TheMartyr** » 18 Dec 2007, 14:36

WD man
that case looks Great

b3ast · Post by **b3ast** » 19 Dec 2007, 06:11

Thanks for all the positive feedback guys,

unfortunatly i have to wait till jan for the side panel.
On a plus side the tempratures have dropped inside the case with the cables being neater.

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Painting the chassis

Painting the chassis

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