PaRaDoX_883

I dunno if the Other Hardware Mods forum is exactly where this thread should go, but it is hardware, and I did mod it. But if mods feel it should be moved to Computer Peripherals, or somewhere else, by all means, feel free to move it.

This is a pretty basic thing I did, but I'm proud! No hate! :P

Well, A few months ago I realized that my Logitech MX610 wasn't working like it used to. So I pretty much gave up on it and went back to my old, wired, Microsoft Optical Mouse. It's super basic, and it works damn well.

Also a fun fact is that it also happens to be the mouse that is on the computers for CS_Office (I'm using the same keyboard too )

Here's a pic:



I didn't take a pic before I started to paint it () but if you can imagine, mine's originally white plastic had been yellowed from it's age and use.

So, basically I ripped it apart, grabbed an SOS pad, and started to clean up the plastic so it would accept paint:



You can't really tell from the pic, but the surface is much smoother, and there was permanent marker around the slot for the scroll wheel.
(I lent the mouse to my brother once and he thought black permanent marker was a good idea )

After that, I painted it with black spray paint, it was made for plastic, so it sealed up real nice when I applied it in small layers. I then brought it inside, set it on the top rack of my oven and turned on the light.
(this way it would dry nicely without dust and stuff getting all over it)

I took it out, snapped it back together and here she is!:



This brings me to the question portion of this thread. the base of the mouse is a kinda, transparent blue. And inside the mouse, there is a piece of plastic for refracting the light from the red LED so the optical sensor can do it's job. Now, I'm wondering if two things are possible:

1. Can I paint that blue base a different color, removing it's transparency, and still have the mouse work as well as it is now?

2. Can I remove the Red LED that is lighting the base for the sensor, and replace it with a blue one (Exact same as the red one or close to it, just blue) while keeping my mouse working right?

Here's a pic of the board inside the mouse for anyone wondering:



Hope you enjoyed having a look! All comments and responses are welcome!

I am also proud to say that this thread is dial-up friendly! seeing as I'm on 28.8k dial-up myself. :P

Attached Thumbnails

     

__________________

hybrid-kernel

how did you get that opened up? I unscrewed the back, but the front clips seem to be stuck. don't really want to pull hard as it will probably break.

[/partially unrelated]

__________________
~Linux Enthusiast
Don't click here, I mean it. You've been warned.

PaRaDoX_883

Yea, I almost broke them off when I un-clipped them but they do just pop out the top like they look like they should.

If you're gonna paint it, the spray paint made for plastic is holding up real well, even after a few heated L4D sessions :P

__________________

rastablast

wow it looks 10 times better in black, gj

Flux

Yes you can change the LED for a blue one of the same spec, no problems at all.

__________________

PaRaDoX_883

How would I go about checking the spec? Just a normal voltmeter?

Still looking for an answer to my question about painting the base.

__________________

snow cakes

after a few months it might wear down a little don't ya think? y didnt' you Die the plastic, it would last a few years IMO

__________________

5800 Ownerz Club

We Are The Red Tide

XCrossXFire ClubX

X58 Ownerz Club

Raiden911

I have the same mouse, but mine is broken.

nice mod.

__________________

**The Megahalems Club**

PaRaDoX_883

No, It might, but I plan to put a clearcoat onto it so it won't wear down, and I've been using it for a while and it still looks as good, if not better then when I painted it.

I'm hoping to get the blue LED's in a few days. There's 2 LED's. One for lighting the bottom, and one the back.

__________________

Flux

Don't paint the base, it will come off after a few weeks of use. I would use RIT dye on the base.

I would go for Higher MCD waterclear LED's maybe 3500mcd. Theres no real way of telling whats in there already, LED's dont have any markings printed on them that I've ever seen.

__________________