flekstone paint?

[lobadobadingdong]

I'll be re-doing my case, and was thinking about doing the whole thing (including drive face plates) in either granite or slate using flekstone with an over coating of spray acrylic (to reduce the risk of the paint flaking off).

my thinking is to make it "rock" solid

thoughts?, opinions?

 

[JBDan]

I think its a great idea actually. Just roughen up the surface to get good adhesion. That and a good oil based primer is KEY!

 

[Zardnok]

I have worked extensively with fleckstone in the past and do not recommend it for a computer case. It chips easily, especially on a metal surface, and would work as a thermal insulator holding excess heat inside your machine. Fleckstone sounds like a good idea, but once you use it, you are pretty well stuck with it and it grows old really fast.

If you really want to use it, I recommend a LOT of primer and to make sure you have whatever base color you want on the case prior to painting. As for oil base primer, you may want to read the instructions, but I think it specified latex. Also make sure to tape any holes you want to remain open as well as inserting screws anywhere that you want them in the end. I would put a dab of tape over the screwhead as well after you put it in to keep the fleck from getting into the head and making screw removal impossible. Fleckstone is messy and will clog up all sorts of orrifices.

As an alternative to Fleckstone, you might go to one of your local sign shops and see what color vinyl sign material they have. Perhaps they have a granite laminate that you could use. I know I used a brushed aluminum laminate over the face of my amber drives so they matched my case. I hit the drives with a hair dryer to warm them up and stretched the laminate across. Then hit it with the hair dryer some more and worked the laminate into all of the little creases before using an exacto knife to cut around the tray door and the buttons.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

Originally posted by: Zardnok
I have worked extensively with fleckstone in the past and do not recommend it for a computer case. It chips easily, especially on a metal surface, and would work as a thermal insulator holding excess heat inside your machine. Fleckstone sounds like a good idea, but once you use it, you are pretty well stuck with it and it grows old really fast.

If you really want to use it, I recommend a LOT of primer and to make sure you have whatever base color you want on the case prior to painting. As for oil base primer, you may want to read the instructions, but I think it specified latex. Also make sure to tape any holes you want to remain open as well as inserting screws anywhere that you want them in the end. I would put a dab of tape over the screwhead as well after you put it in to keep the fleck from getting into the head and making screw removal impossible. Fleckstone is messy and will clog up all sorts of orrifices.

As an alternative to Fleckstone, you might go to one of your local sign shops and see what color vinyl sign material they have. Perhaps they have a granite laminate that you could use. I know I used a brushed aluminum laminate over the face of my amber drives so they matched my case. I hit the drives with a hair dryer to warm them up and stretched the laminate across. Then hit it with the hair dryer some more and worked the laminate into all of the little creases before using an exacto knife to cut around the tray door and the buttons.

Thanks for the input, I've used it on wood before when building subwoofer enclosures, I've only had issues with it flaking when I didn't overcoat it with acrylic. (the acrylic gives it a somewhat glossy look like polished stone) It will be a few weeks before I get the time to do this, I'll post before and after pics when completed.