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Difficulty is HIGH on this project. It also is time consuming. It can take anywhere from 2 days to a month or more
Spooky's Computer painting guide!!
![]()
That's my reflection in the paint!!!
Materials needed:
Warnings:
![]()
As you can see by my picture my laptop is going to get painted. You might also notice that it is textured. This will mean more sanding to get it smooth enough for getting that glossy reflective surface. I will be painting mine with a color shifting Red to blue. The brand I used was Dupli-color. The exact model was called Mirage. It is a three part painting system that has a base coat a color coat and a clear coat, and dries relatively fast.
Step One: Sanding/Stripping
Stripping: Depending on your case you are going to start with paint thinner to strip the paint off of the case. Place your panels in a large tub in ventilated area and let it sit for a few hours then come back and using a brillo pad scrape the paint off.
Sanding: Using the heaviest grit you bought start sanding using even pressure in a circular motion. If the surface that you are working on is completely flat use the sanding block.. It will help keep you from gouging into the case. If you have an orbital sander you can use this to cut the time. Friends work also. If your case is plastic do not use the orbital sander. It will definitely ruin it. Below I will show the results of some of the different grits I used.
240 grit
make sure you get into the groves or you will have rough spots.
![]()
240 from a distance
Notice the left groove. I sanded it to show you the difference.
![]()
800 grit
It is starting to look smooth.
![]()
1000grit
You still see the scratches, but it felt as smooth as a silk.
![]()
After sanding
![]()
After sanding take your case and clean it with soap and water. And then do the final cleaning with your tack cloth, or denatured alcohol and rags.
Other steps for after sanding:
If you are painting only part of the case use masking tape to block off the parts you don't want painted. Also make sure that you reapply the tape after each coat of paint.
Step Two: Priming the case
![]()
This is optional, but it helps the paint flow better. Heat up some water as hot as you can get it. This will cause the paint molecules to atomize as they come out the can creating a much finer spray and more even coat. It also helps prevent pooling of paint.
Spray pain Pistol grip
![]()
This thing makes life easy. It is accurate and keeps your finger clean.I think this is standard issue counter strike spray grip. When spraying keep the can about a 8-10inches [20-25cm] away from the case. At that distance move from left to right, then right to left at a steady pace. Make sure to overlap the paint above by about one third. You will also want to make sure that you do not stop on the edges go completely off the case and then back on. I recommend that you don't even stop spraying. On my first coat I went slower than my others to fill any imperfections that my sanding missed.
Spooky's Luxurious Painting booth
![]()
![]()
Make sure that if you choose this method that you tell everyone not to mess with it. My girlfriend grabbed mine and the case fell on the gravel. Allow it to dry for 5 hours for the first coat of primer. Other coats I let it sit for an hour. I did a total of 6 coats of primer before I was happy with it. Remember that my case was textured from the start though.
Results before sanding
![]()
Notice the bumps? This only happened with the primer. I am not sure why. Picture taken at 2 inches away.
Wet Sanding 600grit
![]()
Get your tub or bucket ready fill with warm water and use a mild dish soap to get your suds. get your Sandpaper wet and begin to sand . Again make sure to use even pressure and go in a circular motion. Try not to go to deep with it. Just try to get it smooth. After you are happy with your results let it dry and then wipe it with tack cloth again.
First coat results
![]()
Still a little rough. Repeat as many times as necessary to get the desired smoothness that you want. Picture taken at 2 inches away.
Final primer results
![]()
Repeat the above with both 800 and 1000grit sand papers
For chameleon paint you might want to leave it a little rougher for a better color shift .Let your case dry for a whole day before continuing to your base coat. Picture taken at 2 inches away.
Step Three: Base coat
I was loosing light so I started taking pictures inside. I apologize for the bad lighting.
After you are happy with your priming job, it will be time to move on to the base coat/coats. Again make sure to clean off the case with soap and water. Use the tack cloth when it has completely dried. Again I heated up my can before starting. This is such a good idea for your actual paint coats as it helps prevent pooling. For the base coat I allowed the paint to dry for 2 hours in between coats.
This is the paint that I used
![]()
First coat of the base
![]()
I forgot to take a picture before I sanded it. This is 800grit it Looks kind of scratchy, but it wasn't the tack cloth leaves a film on it I think. It is also slightly sticky. Next time I will use Denatured alcohol and white T-shirts.
![]()
Feels really smooth at 1000grit.
Close up of base coat final
![]()
Still looks scratchy, but the end results did not reflect the scratches. Let your case dry a full coat before moving onto your color coats. For the base I did 8 coats.
Step Four: Color Coat
This is the most important coat Do the best you can on this and the results will truely blow your mind.
After the base coat dries over night clean it again with soap and water, and then the tack cloth again. For this coat I used a very light coat to make sure there would be no pooling or imperfections.
First Color coat
![]()
My case has a small chip in it that I did not try to fill. You should be able to fill it with bondo if you have a gash like that.
I only sanded if it was necessary. If you do have to use 1500 grit and apply very little pressure. In between coats let it dry for 2 hours. The next pictures shoe the coats as they progress
First color coat
![]()
At two inches you can kinda see the flakes and a gold and red color from this angle. I did a total of 12 coats of the color. The more you do the more shift you will get.
Third Color Coat
![]()
Doesn't look very reflective yet. It will eventually.
Fifth color coat
![]()
Puss n' Reboots
![]()
Final Color Coat pics
![]()
Final Color reflecting me
![]()
Step Five: Clear coat
You can't afford to make mistakes here DO NOT SAND AT ALL!
I did a few Light coats allowing it to dry after about an hour for each coat. I think I did a total of 4 coats of cleat coat. You can do more, but the risks are high that something could go wrong. It is too close to being finished to start over.
Clear Coat one
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Clear Coat two
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Clear coat Three
![]()
Clear Coat Four
![]()
Final notes:
For the time and effort put into this mod I would say the results are worth it. You are no longer stuck with what ever color you purchased your case with.
All in all. I would have to say it took me about a month to complete it. The hardest part was disassembling my laptop.
Mine is a Dell so I went to their website and searched for Service manual. They had a very nice manual there. Here is a small list of locations to find service manuals.
Dell's Service manuals
I found this site after the fact. It has tons of service manuals
Here are some disassembled laptop pictures for your enjoyment
![]()
If you are doing a Laptop make sure to organize your screws and bolts. Also this would be a good time to clean your fan and apply AS5 to your CPU and GPU!
![]()
![]()
![]()
If anyone has any questions or comments feel free to ask them. Any suggestions would be good as well.
If you paint your computer feel free to send me the pics and I will add them here
Here is FoRmEd's Painting project. More tips and trick in there check it
Spooky's Computer painting guide!!
That's my reflection in the paint!!!
Materials needed:
- Paint
- Primer
- Paint thinner/stripper
- Tack cloth or denatured alcohol with terry cloth or ripped up old cotton t-shirt
- Terry cloth or old shirt
- Wet sanding Sandpaper 240/600/800/1000/1500grit
- Masking tape
- soap
- water
- bucket or tub
- Tools required for disassembly
- Good weather
- Clean dust free environment
- Rubbing compound [3m brand works well]
- Spray paint pistol grip
- Paint cleaner
- Wax
- Small bucket of hot hot water
Warnings:
- DO! Be careful sanding sand too hard and you will ruin your case and the final results.
- DO! Follow the instructions on the paint that you are using.
- DO! Make sure you get plenty of paint if you run out mid case your paint will never look right.
- DO! Work in a well ventilated area and wear a respirator and eye protection.
- DO! Work in an area where you don't mind it getting some paint on it.
- DO NOT! Work in your good clothes, they will get paint on them.
- DO! Let your paint dry completely before switching between colors.
- DO NOT! Paint the case with the components in it.
- DO! Expect your computer to be out of service for the full duration of the project. Clear coat can take several months to dry completely. If you paint a laptop do not put it in its case for several months. My paint job was ruined and I waited 3 weeks for it to dry. It has the pattern carying case on it.
- DO! Test your primers paints and clear coats together to make sure they will not react with one another. Using same brands usually will take care of this.
- DONOT! Paint any connections that might be on your case [USB, Headphone jacks, Led, etc.
As you can see by my picture my laptop is going to get painted. You might also notice that it is textured. This will mean more sanding to get it smooth enough for getting that glossy reflective surface. I will be painting mine with a color shifting Red to blue. The brand I used was Dupli-color. The exact model was called Mirage. It is a three part painting system that has a base coat a color coat and a clear coat, and dries relatively fast.
Step One: Sanding/Stripping
Stripping: Depending on your case you are going to start with paint thinner to strip the paint off of the case. Place your panels in a large tub in ventilated area and let it sit for a few hours then come back and using a brillo pad scrape the paint off.
Sanding: Using the heaviest grit you bought start sanding using even pressure in a circular motion. If the surface that you are working on is completely flat use the sanding block.. It will help keep you from gouging into the case. If you have an orbital sander you can use this to cut the time. Friends work also. If your case is plastic do not use the orbital sander. It will definitely ruin it. Below I will show the results of some of the different grits I used.
240 grit
make sure you get into the groves or you will have rough spots.
240 from a distance
Notice the left groove. I sanded it to show you the difference.
800 grit
It is starting to look smooth.
1000grit
You still see the scratches, but it felt as smooth as a silk.
After sanding
After sanding take your case and clean it with soap and water. And then do the final cleaning with your tack cloth, or denatured alcohol and rags.
Other steps for after sanding:
If you are painting only part of the case use masking tape to block off the parts you don't want painted. Also make sure that you reapply the tape after each coat of paint.
Step Two: Priming the case
This is optional, but it helps the paint flow better. Heat up some water as hot as you can get it. This will cause the paint molecules to atomize as they come out the can creating a much finer spray and more even coat. It also helps prevent pooling of paint.
Spray pain Pistol grip
This thing makes life easy. It is accurate and keeps your finger clean.I think this is standard issue counter strike spray grip. When spraying keep the can about a 8-10inches [20-25cm] away from the case. At that distance move from left to right, then right to left at a steady pace. Make sure to overlap the paint above by about one third. You will also want to make sure that you do not stop on the edges go completely off the case and then back on. I recommend that you don't even stop spraying. On my first coat I went slower than my others to fill any imperfections that my sanding missed.
Spooky's Luxurious Painting booth
Make sure that if you choose this method that you tell everyone not to mess with it. My girlfriend grabbed mine and the case fell on the gravel. Allow it to dry for 5 hours for the first coat of primer. Other coats I let it sit for an hour. I did a total of 6 coats of primer before I was happy with it. Remember that my case was textured from the start though.
Results before sanding
Notice the bumps? This only happened with the primer. I am not sure why. Picture taken at 2 inches away.
Wet Sanding 600grit
Get your tub or bucket ready fill with warm water and use a mild dish soap to get your suds. get your Sandpaper wet and begin to sand . Again make sure to use even pressure and go in a circular motion. Try not to go to deep with it. Just try to get it smooth. After you are happy with your results let it dry and then wipe it with tack cloth again.
First coat results
Still a little rough. Repeat as many times as necessary to get the desired smoothness that you want. Picture taken at 2 inches away.
Final primer results
Repeat the above with both 800 and 1000grit sand papers
For chameleon paint you might want to leave it a little rougher for a better color shift .Let your case dry for a whole day before continuing to your base coat. Picture taken at 2 inches away.
Step Three: Base coat
I was loosing light so I started taking pictures inside. I apologize for the bad lighting.
After you are happy with your priming job, it will be time to move on to the base coat/coats. Again make sure to clean off the case with soap and water. Use the tack cloth when it has completely dried. Again I heated up my can before starting. This is such a good idea for your actual paint coats as it helps prevent pooling. For the base coat I allowed the paint to dry for 2 hours in between coats.
This is the paint that I used
First coat of the base
I forgot to take a picture before I sanded it. This is 800grit it Looks kind of scratchy, but it wasn't the tack cloth leaves a film on it I think. It is also slightly sticky. Next time I will use Denatured alcohol and white T-shirts.
Feels really smooth at 1000grit.
Close up of base coat final
Still looks scratchy, but the end results did not reflect the scratches. Let your case dry a full coat before moving onto your color coats. For the base I did 8 coats.
Step Four: Color Coat
This is the most important coat Do the best you can on this and the results will truely blow your mind.
After the base coat dries over night clean it again with soap and water, and then the tack cloth again. For this coat I used a very light coat to make sure there would be no pooling or imperfections.
First Color coat
My case has a small chip in it that I did not try to fill. You should be able to fill it with bondo if you have a gash like that.
I only sanded if it was necessary. If you do have to use 1500 grit and apply very little pressure. In between coats let it dry for 2 hours. The next pictures shoe the coats as they progress
First color coat
At two inches you can kinda see the flakes and a gold and red color from this angle. I did a total of 12 coats of the color. The more you do the more shift you will get.
Third Color Coat
Doesn't look very reflective yet. It will eventually.
Fifth color coat
Puss n' Reboots
Final Color Coat pics
Final Color reflecting me
Step Five: Clear coat
You can't afford to make mistakes here DO NOT SAND AT ALL!
I did a few Light coats allowing it to dry after about an hour for each coat. I think I did a total of 4 coats of cleat coat. You can do more, but the risks are high that something could go wrong. It is too close to being finished to start over.
Clear Coat one
Clear Coat two
Clear coat Three
Clear Coat Four
Final notes:
For the time and effort put into this mod I would say the results are worth it. You are no longer stuck with what ever color you purchased your case with.
All in all. I would have to say it took me about a month to complete it. The hardest part was disassembling my laptop.
Mine is a Dell so I went to their website and searched for Service manual. They had a very nice manual there. Here is a small list of locations to find service manuals.
Dell's Service manuals
I found this site after the fact. It has tons of service manuals
Here are some disassembled laptop pictures for your enjoyment
If you are doing a Laptop make sure to organize your screws and bolts. Also this would be a good time to clean your fan and apply AS5 to your CPU and GPU!
If anyone has any questions or comments feel free to ask them. Any suggestions would be good as well.
If you paint your computer feel free to send me the pics and I will add them here
Here is FoRmEd's Painting project. More tips and trick in there check it
