Case painting...is it safe?

[Roots]

I am getting a Chemning Silver AX-01 case soon. My mother is an artist (and has nothing to do), and I was wondering would it be safe for her to paint small designs or decals on the outside of the case? If so, is there a specific type of paint that I should have her use? Also I am getting a DVD drive and I think I would like the face to be black or silver instead of beige, is this safe as well? Thanks!

 

[amdskip]

On the plastic areas of the case, vinyl dye works best. It's sold with automtive type items.

Does she hand paint or spray designs? Just use paint good for metal and you should be fine. You may want to seal it somehow too. Do a search in this forum for painting and you will get a ton of links and opinions.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: amdskip
On the plastic areas of the case, vinyl dye works best. It's sold with automtive type items.

Does she hand paint or spray designs? Just use paint good for metal and you should be fine. You may want to seal it somehow too. Do a search in this forum for painting and you will get a ton of links and opinions.

Also check out Krylon Fusion for plastics - I tried Walmart (supercenter), 2 hardware stores, and 2 auto-supply shops, and there weren't any products labeled "vinyl dye" anywhere. NAPA auto parts had a catalog that did have vinyl dye in it (they didn't have any there) and it listed the colors that were available. The color selection isn't too great - greys, blacks, blues, whites, and one green. The Fusion spray comes in a variety of colors.
I like the Fusion spray - good color, and it dries thin. I ALWAYS have overspray when I use spraypaint (not a lot of practice; I only first used spraypaint about a year and a half ago) so there's usually drips in whatever I paint. With the Fusion spray, I do still get the drips, but they are usually very tough to see because of how thin the dried coloring is.

 

[amdskip]

Fusion is awesome too and it is available in most walmarts. I work at walmart in the paint department so I should know. We can't order the fusion right now so color selection is even more limited as it's selling and being picked over pretty good. Walmart does have black vinyl dye in the automotive department near the touch up/automotive spray paint.

 

[Roots]

Thanks guys. I'm pretty sure she will be doing the painting by hand, I dont think she has any experience with spray. She has a lot of free time so I was thinking of something really detailed and intricate. I'll do some research and see what works the best.

 

[KouklatheCat]

Painting the drives is easy. It drives me insane to see computers with "stock" drives. All you need is a paperclip a small screwdriver masking tape and some spray paint. Use the paperclip to pop the tray open and the drive face usually has three or four small tabs around the perimeter. Mask off the places where the drive activity light peeks thru.

Modding computers and painting drives is like potato chips, once ya have one..................