Anyone have experience with anodizing or powdercoating computer cases?

[ericeash]

just like the topic says, i'm wondering if anyone has experience with anodizing or powdercoating their aluminum computer cases. i've had my Stacker 830 for about 2 months now, and while i love the case, i'd much rather have it in black than silver. if it can be turned black for under $100, i'll do it.

eric

 

[Greenman]

Why not just use spray paint? Cheap, fast, and looks great.
If you do it yourself, use lacquer. Sand between coats with #400 wet paper. After the last coat, sand with #1200 grit, then hit it with polishing compound. The result will be a very deep black that you can almost fall into.

 

[nafhan]

For less than 100 dollars you won't be able to ship both ways. Someone local that does car painting might be your best bet

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

If you really are in Nippon, shipping to The States will be a deal killer

I don't care for paint on aluminum. Paint is made for lesser metals like steel.

Powder coating is a major NO-NO for any thin metal panel. Why?? You might ask.
The prep-process demands sandblasting. Sandblasting will cause thin soft panels to grow.
I would guesstamate the panel growth to be about 0.5mm on average=not good. Now the surface
has to be properly cleaned, iirc, it's a three step process that most places short-cut.
Powdercoating, by it's nature, is a thick coating and this will cause further growth=bad thing.
Now it has to be heated to bond the powder to the surface and itself and some warping
might occur=another bad thing.

Google, splash anodizing as the hits will be close to what you seek. Read how the process is done.
Read what the surface is. There is decorative anodized, hard anodized and something inbetween.
Anodizing is a de-plating process that leaves the silicate in the aluminum on the surface.
If the aluminum your case is made out of has a high copper or magnezium content, this can
interfear with the anodizing process. It still can be anodized but more labor is involved, so the
real cost will NOT be known until after the case is done. Some thing that is a known entity could get
a firm cost prediction.

PM me if you want anymore of this dribble. There are a couple experts on this forum that just
revel in getting attention from threads like this by thread crapping or asking stupid questions.

...Galvanized

 

[ericeash]

thanks galvanized, some good info there. yes, i have been living in nippon for the last 4 years but will be moving back to the US in a month. i really just want a little more subtle look for my home theater where the PC will reside. of course, i could just get a more subtle black case like a lian-li, but i really like this case. i don't have the patience right now to paint it myself, but taking it somewhere to get painted might be an option.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

What about getting it done at an automotive paint shop?

 

[essasin]

i saw a lian li that was powdercoated black inside out and it looks awesome. I dont think he report any warping at all. For one thing its hard to paint aluminum pc cases.

 

[beatle]

Originally posted by: essasinFor one thing its hard to paint aluminum pc cases.

Why would it be more difficult than painting a steel case?

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Companies that would offer splash anodizing would treat you parts with care because of the decorative nature of the work they do.

Most powder coating shops are pretty rough handlers of componets to be coated.
I've had thin panels used on motorcycles stretched by sandblasting.

If you go with paint or powder coating(UGH) seek the services of a shop that paints or powder coats the smaller bits of motorcycles. These guys are really into the visuals because bikes are exposed in the bright light of day, so it must be perfect.

Powder coating can come-out orange-peeled, then it has to be block sanded w/o breaking through the surface. Your arms will look like Popeye's after blocking out powder


...Galvanized

 

[herm0016]

at least in my experence restoring cars and trucks black powdercoating looks awsome, but is easy to scratch up. i would look into getting a paint job like a new car, a base coat, clear coat system, with a little work this will be the most durable and the best looking.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
PM me if you want anymore of this dribble. There are a couple experts on this forum that just
revel in getting attention from threads like this by thread crapping or asking stupid questions.

...Galvanized

I suppose that's me you're referring to.