Chrome/Silver Chassis problem!

DavidVaini · 24-September-07, 02:14 AM

Hey guys, long time no see!

So I'm working on a case and I got any idea. I want to make the inside of my wind tunnel case to have the same kinda shine that the lian li or other aluminum cases have.

So while brainstorming I came up with a couple of ideas.

1. Polish the steel?
2. Use a Chrome or other spray paint to get the desired affect.
3. Pound my head against the inside of the case and hope my shaggy hair buffers the steel.
4. Apply lots and lots of chrome duck tape.

For those who don't like to translate my text into thought...
Here is a picture of what I have and what I want the inside to look like.

Have:

Want:

MRMOBEUS · 24-September-07, 06:31 AM

I'm not sure about the rest but a chrome spray isn't going to give you the same finish, believe me I tried it myself!
You could get it chromed professionally but I don't know how much it costs?!

Sn0wMan · 24-September-07, 07:35 AM

alsacorp makes a sprayable chrome that will give the desired effect, but it is pricey

DavidVaini · 24-September-07, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sn0wMan


	alsacorp makes a sprayable chrome that will give the desired effect, but it is pricey

yeah pricey is an understatement.. its costs a **** load of money!
When I was looking at the pricing I found it funny that getting the whole chassis chromed at a shop would be around the same cost as the stuff at alsacorp....

Since there are no cheap ways of doing it, Im thinkin about just painting the chassis black instead. Would anyone reccomend a nice quality black spray paint that doesnt cost over $20

TiZakit · 24-September-07, 10:27 PM

A lot of people would say that quality and spray paint don't mix.

Eh, duplicolor is what people normally use, and it is easy to find, and of desirable quality.

Edit: why black? There are tons of colors out there.

DavidVaini · 24-September-07, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiZakit


	why black? There are tons of colors out there.

Ive looked at many cases and I like how black makes the hardware standout... and I think it will look tits when I install the upper window.

Hak Foo · 25-September-07, 01:39 AM

That's not really chrome... it's more just a polished metal look-- you might try attacking the panels with a sander and some fine paper.

Most aluminium cases come with that sort of finish on the parts, most steel ones have a matte finish.

xLastShotx · 25-September-07, 01:49 PM

If your case is aluminum, you can sand it down starting with 320gritt and work your way up to 600gritt or 800gritt untill smooth. Then get something called Jewelers Rouge and a buffing wheel. I used to polish car engine parts all the time, and you can definitely get aluminum to look pretty close to chrome. Just a warning though, it is pretty inexpensive but it takes a lot of time.. Maybe you could look into having someone a polishing place do it for you. Its cheaper than chrome.

DavidVaini · 25-September-07, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xLastShotx


	If your case is aluminum, you can sand it down starting with 320gritt and work your way up to 600gritt or 800gritt untill smooth. Then get something called Jewelers Rouge and a buffing wheel. I used to polish car engine parts all the time, and you can definitely get aluminum to look pretty close to chrome. Just a warning though, it is pretty inexpensive but it takes a lot of time.. Maybe you could look into having someone a polishing place do it for you. Its cheaper than chrome.

Case isnt alluminum... its steel and I want it to look like aluminum.

I relize the Chrome spray paint isnt 98% reflective or whatever but Im not really going for a complete chrome look.... I want it to be semi reflective like the case shown above... Maybe I should of been more clear.. my bad.

So with that said would cheap chrome spray paint give me the semi reflectiveness that im looking for thats found in most aluminum cases?

Dex · 25-September-07, 09:07 PM

I used some sticky back chequer plate style stuff on an old case, not the effect you mentioned, but pretty cool none the less if it takes your fancy. It can be found at most craft stores in a variety of patterns

ranger1033 · 25-September-07, 09:37 PM

You know Bill at mnpctech has some great stuff that might work or interest you.

Diamond plated

Brushed Chrome

Engine tuned

Maltese Crosses

xLastShotx · 25-September-07, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidVaini


	Case isnt alluminum... its steel and I want it to look like aluminum. I relize the Chrome spray paint isnt 98% reflective or whatever but Im not really going for a complete chrome look.... I want it to be semi reflective like the case shown above... Maybe I should of been more clear.. my bad. So with that said would cheap chrome spray paint give me the semi reflectiveness that im looking for thats found in most aluminum cases?

I have used several different brands of chrome and aluminum spray paint, and I haven't had any good results. Its not really reflective and looks nothing like chrome, it looks like a gray silver usually. Maybe try an Aluminum spray paint. You could buy a few different types (chrome, silver, aluminum, etc.) and test spray them on something else. Then you can choose which one is closest to the desired effect you want.

DavidVaini · 26-September-07, 12:48 AM

yeah I know bill, but none of the stuff works for what I need. I could probably ask lokie if he knows of something, but Ive been so busy lately to drive over to the shop.

I will probably go to menards and test out a few different chrome, alluminum, silver spray paints and see what looks good.

I was also thinking a black chassis with gold accents would look really cool too.. But that means I would probably have to swap the led's of the two giant 250mm fans to something other than blue.

Any Suggestions for pimpin the inside of a case? Maybe a texture paint or something?

DavidVaini · 27-September-07, 12:32 AM

Well I decided to go with a Black and Gold Theme.

Im going to paint the main part of the Chassis Black while the HDD rack,Opitcal Rack, I/O Ports and Power Supply Support bar will be Gold. Since I havent found any Gold LED's Im going to use a half orange half yellow LED layout to create the desired gold effect.

Has anyone painted the blades on fans or is this to risky? Any guides out there?

Thanks

GrandpaNoob72 · 27-September-07, 04:48 AM

If I recall, you can use the paint pens that Testor's has for metallics (gold, silver, etc), and use those to paint the fan blades. I used a silver Sharpie to paint the back of a fan & housing for my Untitled project, and then a black paint pen for the fan blades on the Zalman CPU cooler (from clear with green LED)

I think you can still pick up the paint pens pretty cheap at the toys/model kit departments of stores like Wally World or something... been a while since I went shopping for mod supplies...

DavidVaini · 27-September-07, 06:01 PM

Thanks for the suggestion but I already baught the perfect Gold metalic paint and Id really like to use it on the fans... Any tutorials out there to show how to paint fans via spray paint or a brush or something?

24-September-07, 02:14 AM		#1 (permalink)
DavidVaini The Green Gator	Chrome/Silver Chassis problem! Hey guys, long time no see! So I'm working on a case and I got any idea. I want to make the inside of my wind tunnel case to have the same kinda shine that the lian li or other aluminum cases have. So while brainstorming I came up with a couple of ideas. 1. Polish the steel? 2. Use a Chrome or other spray paint to get the desired affect. 3. Pound my head against the inside of the case and hope my shaggy hair buffers the steel. 4. Apply lots and lots of chrome duck tape. For those who don't like to translate my text into thought... Here is a picture of what I have and what I want the inside to look like. Have: Want: Last edited by DavidVaini; 24-September-07 at 03:39 AM..

24-September-07, 06:31 AM		#2 (permalink)
MRMOBEUS Voided Rev-Hoe-lutionary	Re: Chrome/Silver Chassis problem! I'm not sure about the rest but a chrome spray isn't going to give you the same finish, believe me I tried it myself! You could get it chromed professionally but I don't know how much it costs?!

24-September-07, 07:35 AM		#3 (permalink)
Sn0wMan Apex Tech Demi-God	Re: Chrome/Silver Chassis problem! alsacorp makes a sprayable chrome that will give the desired effect, but it is pricey

24-September-07, 10:27 PM		#5 (permalink)
TiZakit Apex Tech Demi-God	Re: Chrome/Silver Chassis problem! A lot of people would say that quality and spray paint don't mix. Eh, duplicolor is what people normally use, and it is easy to find, and of desirable quality. Edit: why black? There are tons of colors out there.

25-September-07, 01:39 AM		#7 (permalink)
Hak Foo Apex Elite Tech	Re: Chrome/Silver Chassis problem! That's not really chrome... it's more just a polished metal look-- you might try attacking the panels with a sander and some fine paper. Most aluminium cases come with that sort of finish on the parts, most steel ones have a matte finish.

25-September-07, 01:49 PM		#8 (permalink)
xLastShotx Apex Techie I	Re: Chrome/Silver Chassis problem! If your case is aluminum, you can sand it down starting with 320gritt and work your way up to 600gritt or 800gritt untill smooth. Then get something called Jewelers Rouge and a buffing wheel. I used to polish car engine parts all the time, and you can definitely get aluminum to look pretty close to chrome. Just a warning though, it is pretty inexpensive but it takes a lot of time.. Maybe you could look into having someone a polishing place do it for you. Its cheaper than chrome.

25-September-07, 09:07 PM		#10 (permalink)
Dex Retr-hoe Reviewer	Re: Chrome/Silver Chassis problem! I used some sticky back chequer plate style stuff on an old case, not the effect you mentioned, but pretty cool none the less if it takes your fancy. It can be found at most craft stores in a variety of patterns

25-September-07, 09:37 PM		#11 (permalink)
ranger1033 Imperial News Bounty Hunter	Re: Chrome/Silver Chassis problem! You know Bill at mnpctech has some great stuff that might work or interest you. Diamond plated Brushed Chrome Engine tuned Maltese Crosses

26-September-07, 12:48 AM		#13 (permalink)
DavidVaini The Green Gator	Re: Chrome/Silver Chassis problem! yeah I know bill, but none of the stuff works for what I need. I could probably ask lokie if he knows of something, but Ive been so busy lately to drive over to the shop. I will probably go to menards and test out a few different chrome, alluminum, silver spray paints and see what looks good. I was also thinking a black chassis with gold accents would look really cool too.. But that means I would probably have to swap the led's of the two giant 250mm fans to something other than blue. Any Suggestions for pimpin the inside of a case? Maybe a texture paint or something?

27-September-07, 12:32 AM		#14 (permalink)
DavidVaini The Green Gator	Re: Chrome/Silver Chassis problem! Well I decided to go with a Black and Gold Theme. Im going to paint the main part of the Chassis Black while the HDD rack,Opitcal Rack, I/O Ports and Power Supply Support bar will be Gold. Since I havent found any Gold LED's Im going to use a half orange half yellow LED layout to create the desired gold effect. Has anyone painted the blades on fans or is this to risky? Any guides out there? Thanks

27-September-07, 04:48 AM		#15 (permalink)
GrandpaNoob72 Eleven-Bravo Sitrep Writer	Re: Chrome/Silver Chassis problem! If I recall, you can use the paint pens that Testor's has for metallics (gold, silver, etc), and use those to paint the fan blades. I used a silver Sharpie to paint the back of a fan & housing for my Untitled project, and then a black paint pen for the fan blades on the Zalman CPU cooler (from clear with green LED) I think you can still pick up the paint pens pretty cheap at the toys/model kit departments of stores like Wally World or something... been a while since I went shopping for mod supplies... Last edited by GrandpaNoob72; 27-September-07 at 04:59 AM..

27-September-07, 06:01 PM		#16 (permalink)
DavidVaini The Green Gator	Re: Chrome/Silver Chassis problem! Thanks for the suggestion but I already baught the perfect Gold metalic paint and Id really like to use it on the fans... Any tutorials out there to show how to paint fans via spray paint or a brush or something?

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