Painting a monitor case? Methods? Which paint?

[MichaelD]

This may turn out to be The Mother of All Really Bad Ideas...but I'm thinking about it.

I want a black monitor. I have no money. I DO have a perfectly good Micron MX900 (rebadged Sony) with a butt ugly beige case.

I want it painted black. <--Rolling Stones!

*ahem*

I know they sell "Plastic Dye" as I've used it on car dashboard parts. Do I use this, or actual spray paint?

I am pretty handy at taking stuff apart and putting it back together; what are the odds I can remove all the guts from the case and get it all back together w/no extra parts and it works? :Q


Anyone do this? Results?

 

[wkwong]

you should use the krylon fusion paint. it's made especially for plastics and requires no primer. very good results so far.

zapwizard has painted his monitor before. he used some kind of dye, not sure, but you can just take it apart the same way and use the spray paint.

heres the link:
http://www.zapwizard.com/black_monitor/index.html

 

[MichaelD]

Thank you, Wkwong. I'm checking that link out now. It's the "taking apart" thing that worries me.

 

[Jaxidian]

When you take it apart, don't touch any of the electrical leads. I've seen somebody hurt pretty bad by a capacitor in a CRT that wasn't discharged until he touched it.

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks, Jax.

I'm pretty smart when it comes to electrical and mechanical danger; though I'm not infallible...I've crunched myself quite a bit. :Q

I'm more worried about say, pulling the back cover off and 14,000 pieces go flying everywhere...I know those things are a tight fit.

I'm hoping someone can chime in w/exact "do's and dont's." That link above was neat, but the guy doesn't share the techniques involved.

 

[Jaxidian]

Actually, monitors aren't packed in tight at all. There's all kinds of room to spare. And the stuff in there is mostly fixed, so you won't really even have to worry much about loose cables coming unplugged and stuff.

Things to keep in mind when taking it apart: Sometimes there's an aluminum heatspreader inside the case that is pretty permantently attached to the plastic case shell - those can be a pain in the ass. Also, sometimes it's a bit hard getting the front bezel off. When/if you do this, be sure not to lose your buttons for your OSD nor paint them such that they get stuck. Also, once you get your CRT out of the case, be sure not to scratch your screen!

Good luck!! (sorry, not an exact step-by-step guide but hopefully it'll help)

 

[MichaelD]

That helps, Jax. Thank you.

 

[MichaelD]

Bump for any additional info or assistance.