Painting inside of case?

AaronS44 · 27-June-06, 01:05 PM

I have a new, cheapo case, and the drive "holders" are riveted in, like so:

I didn't want to remove the driver holders then paint them, I'd rather paint the entire inside of the case, black, with a spray can. Is this possible?

Or would there be issues with grounding and the like? I wondered if it would be safe and would I need to apply a primer?

Kind regards
Aaron

IcEMage · 27-June-06, 01:10 PM

Yep it would be safe. Primer is your friend! Get some self etching primer that worked the best for me. I would really recomend takeing appart the case to paint it. I have painted 2 cases, one that I did not take apart, the other I did, the one I took apart turned out far better then the one I did not. It is not hard and makes the job of painting much easer! Also you will want to remove those wires, the ones for the power and front usb.

O and check out the Guides section here at PCApex, there are some really good guides for painting!

AaronS44 · 27-June-06, 02:21 PM

Great advice thanks man. ANd if I were to take it apart, would I just pop out the rivets and then use screws/ bolts or what to re attach the innards to the case? I don't have a rivet gun.

IcEMage · 27-June-06, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronS44


	Great advice thanks man. ANd if I were to take it apart, would I just pop out the rivets and then use screws/ bolts or what to re attach the innards to the case? I don't have a rivet gun.

NP

To get the case apart just drill through the rivets with an 1/8" bit. that will pop them out, just be carful not to damage the case, but I doubt that would happen.

As far as putting it back together, I would go out and get a vivet gun, they are not the much, you can find them at any Home Depot of Lowes for around 15$ and then just get a pack of 1/8" rivets and your good to go

Good luck!

The Dragon Reborn · 27-June-06, 04:27 PM

I'm with IcEMage, on the "taking apart thing"... using 'fresh rivets is the best thing, imho... & the
second best thing is to go "nuts & bolts". imho...

TDR

MasterP · 27-June-06, 04:40 PM

I'm with Ice and TDR on the painting and riveting

As for grounding though, I'd recommend that you maybe cut some small circles out of masking tape and put them over the standoff holes in the motherboard tray - that'll keep your motherboard grounded (I believe that the ground wires on the ATX connector may do the job too, but to be safe, that's what I do)
The mounting screws for the PSU should ground the chassis also.

Everything else will be grounded from the PSU including your drives, so you'll be OK

silvafish · 28-June-06, 12:01 AM

Dude, just go ahead and drill right through em. It's easier to do then you would probably think. In 8th grade we did a lot of shop class lol....a while ago but i still remember some stuff....that reminds i almost lost my finger drilling through a rivet when i had a girl do it while i was holding it....hmmmm...bad idea...she was hot though so i forgave her...haha.

IcEMage · 28-June-06, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silvafish


	Dude, just go ahead and drill right through em. It's easier to do then you would probably think. In 8th grade we did a lot of shop class lol....a while ago but i still remember some stuff....that reminds i almost lost my finger drilling through a rivet when i had a girl do it while i was holding it....hmmmm...bad idea...she was hot though so i forgave her...haha.

Nothing better than hot girls with power tools....even if they have no clue what they are doing

But yah, drilling through them is not hard, just take your time and USE EYE PROTECTION...I got a bit of stuff in my eye from using a drill for case modding once, although it just itched a lot I prob could have caused more harm.

AaronS44 · 28-June-06, 11:46 AM

Again, thanks for all the help, guys!

One last thing, and perhaps the most important: The case case is going to have bright ggreen fans in it and neons. The case itself is going to be left black. But what colour should the inside be? I was thinking either gloss black or white. What do you guys think?

IcEMage · 28-June-06, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronS44


	Again, thanks for all the help, guys! One last thing, and perhaps the most important: The case case is going to have bright ggreen fans in it and neons. The case itself is going to be left black. But what colour should the inside be? I was thinking either gloss black or white. What do you guys think?

I would go with eather gloss white or sliver. Mine is silver and that makes everything glow nice, and plus it matches the outside.

Sn0wMan · 28-June-06, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronS44


	Again, thanks for all the help, guys! One last thing, and perhaps the most important: The case case is going to have bright ggreen fans in it and neons. The case itself is going to be left black. But what colour should the inside be? I was thinking either gloss black or white. What do you guys think?

I think it depends on the case color mostly. Since your case is black, (glossy i'm guessing?) I would paint the inside flat black. Kinda gives it a darker look, but if you don't want the dark look then I would go with what IceMage suggested...His case is the pimp s***!

denacopoliez · 28-June-06, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronS44


	Again, thanks for all the help, guys! One last thing, and perhaps the most important: The case case is going to have bright ggreen fans in it and neons. The case itself is going to be left black. But what colour should the inside be? I was thinking either gloss black or white. What do you guys think?

You know when i started my Break the Line! case i got bored and drilled out the rivets now that the case is almost finished with paint it is totally Awesome the difference between not drilling out the rivets and drilling is what will make or break your quality. Plus if you go with black, blue or red you need to check out DragonModz.net Lokie and Twisted have some great Replacment Rivest that are already in those colors to match your paint or offset your color Choice! If i were you i would got with a Green that would accent your Fans and neons! but thats me... good luck lets see some Picts!

IcEMage · 28-June-06, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sn0wMan


	I think it depends on the case color mostly. Since your case is black, (glossy i'm guessing?) I would paint the inside flat black. Kinda gives it a darker look, but if you don't want the dark look then I would go with what IceMage suggested...His case is the pimp s***!

Thanks hehe

Yah if you want a dark look go for flat black, then you can always put mirrors in the bottom to put more light through out the case.

But if you want everything nice and bright, go with gloss white. I used some gloss white and covered it with UV blue clear paint so when I turn on the system it glows blue. But I only did that to the back panel so it only shows up behing the PSU wires, kinda makes them stand out.

AaronS44 · 28-June-06, 02:21 PM

White it is then. I spent about 40 minutes on photoshop making the red image below. I had to use a single pic of my case to make layers and carve them up.

With white, will I need a primer? Also, how many coats should I use?

One more thing though, I want to change the Power and Reset button, what type do I need? SPDT? Momentary on? or what? There's so many to choose.

IcEMage · 28-June-06, 02:25 PM

Yes use a self etching primer, when you paint you want to put down a lite coat down first then a little more down for the second, 3 coats should do it. If not 4, but keep them lite so that the paint does not run, just keep putting down paint till you are happy with the look, the let dry for 48 or more hours before working on it again.

AaronS44 · 28-June-06, 02:42 PM

Thanks ever so much for the advice! And what about the switch?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Me


	One more thing though, I want to change the Power and Reset button, what type do I need? SPDT? Momentary on? or what? There's so many to choose.

IcEMage · 28-June-06, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronS44


	Thanks ever so much for the advice! And what about the switch?

No prob, just get a momentary one that will work fine. Check out this:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...bc992c69c2f50e

*edit*

You could also use a key like I did it real easy and looks damn cool

denacopoliez · 28-June-06, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronS44


	White it is then. I spent about 40 minutes on photoshop making the red image below. I had to use a single pic of my case to make layers and carve them up. With white, will I need a primer? Also, how many coats should I use? One more thing though, I want to change the Power and Reset button, what type do I need? SPDT? Momentary on? or what? There's so many to choose.

Interesting picture thing there.... anyway, momentary should be good... what are you going to be putting in your case... and good luck!

silvafish · 29-June-06, 04:47 PM

I'm going to be painting the inside of my case soon and i'm going with silver and clearcoat on the top. I can't make it mirror finish though becusae it's a metallic paint...oh well....it's easier. I'd use silver...but it depnds on the color of the csae. Silver seems to relfect and sparkle weill.

WrathOfSocrus · 29-June-06, 06:01 PM

Be certain that the momentary switch is of the 'normally open' type. A normally closed one would really rock your world in a bad way . . . .

27-June-06, 01:05 PM		#1 (permalink)
AaronS44 Apex Techie Wannabe	Painting inside of case? I have a new, cheapo case, and the drive "holders" are riveted in, like so: I didn't want to remove the driver holders then paint them, I'd rather paint the entire inside of the case, black, with a spray can. Is this possible? Or would there be issues with grounding and the like? I wondered if it would be safe and would I need to apply a primer? Kind regards Aaron Attached Thumbnails

27-June-06, 01:10 PM		#2 (permalink)
IcEMage Apex Tech God	Re: Painting inside of case? Yep it would be safe. Primer is your friend! Get some self etching primer that worked the best for me. I would really recomend takeing appart the case to paint it. I have painted 2 cases, one that I did not take apart, the other I did, the one I took apart turned out far better then the one I did not. It is not hard and makes the job of painting much easer! Also you will want to remove those wires, the ones for the power and front usb. O and check out the Guides section here at PCApex, there are some really good guides for painting! Last edited by IcEMage; 27-June-06 at 01:17 PM..

27-June-06, 02:21 PM		#3 (permalink)
AaronS44 Apex Techie Wannabe	Re: Painting inside of case? Great advice thanks man. ANd if I were to take it apart, would I just pop out the rivets and then use screws/ bolts or what to re attach the innards to the case? I don't have a rivet gun.

27-June-06, 04:27 PM		#5 (permalink)
The Dragon Reborn Apex Elite Expert Tech	Re: Painting inside of case? I'm with IcEMage, on the "taking apart thing"... using 'fresh rivets is the best thing, imho... & the second best thing is to go "nuts & bolts". imho... TDR

27-June-06, 04:40 PM		#6 (permalink)
MasterP Da' Thunda' From Down Unda'	Re: Painting inside of case? I'm with Ice and TDR on the painting and riveting As for grounding though, I'd recommend that you maybe cut some small circles out of masking tape and put them over the standoff holes in the motherboard tray - that'll keep your motherboard grounded (I believe that the ground wires on the ATX connector may do the job too, but to be safe, that's what I do) The mounting screws for the PSU should ground the chassis also. Everything else will be grounded from the PSU including your drives, so you'll be OK

28-June-06, 12:01 AM		#7 (permalink)
silvafish Apex Tech Fanatic	Re: Painting inside of case? Dude, just go ahead and drill right through em. It's easier to do then you would probably think. In 8th grade we did a lot of shop class lol....a while ago but i still remember some stuff....that reminds i almost lost my finger drilling through a rivet when i had a girl do it while i was holding it....hmmmm...bad idea...she was hot though so i forgave her...haha.

28-June-06, 11:46 AM		#9 (permalink)
AaronS44 Apex Techie Wannabe	Re: Painting inside of case? Again, thanks for all the help, guys! One last thing, and perhaps the most important: The case case is going to have bright ggreen fans in it and neons. The case itself is going to be left black. But what colour should the inside be? I was thinking either gloss black or white. What do you guys think?

28-June-06, 02:21 PM		#14 (permalink)
AaronS44 Apex Techie Wannabe	Re: Painting inside of case? White it is then. I spent about 40 minutes on photoshop making the red image below. I had to use a single pic of my case to make layers and carve them up. With white, will I need a primer? Also, how many coats should I use? One more thing though, I want to change the Power and Reset button, what type do I need? SPDT? Momentary on? or what? There's so many to choose. Attached Thumbnails

28-June-06, 02:25 PM		#15 (permalink)
IcEMage Apex Tech God	Re: Painting inside of case? Yes use a self etching primer, when you paint you want to put down a lite coat down first then a little more down for the second, 3 coats should do it. If not 4, but keep them lite so that the paint does not run, just keep putting down paint till you are happy with the look, the let dry for 48 or more hours before working on it again.

29-June-06, 04:47 PM		#19 (permalink)
silvafish Apex Tech Fanatic	Re: Painting inside of case? I'm going to be painting the inside of my case soon and i'm going with silver and clearcoat on the top. I can't make it mirror finish though becusae it's a metallic paint...oh well....it's easier. I'd use silver...but it depnds on the color of the csae. Silver seems to relfect and sparkle weill.

29-June-06, 06:01 PM		#20 (permalink)
WrathOfSocrus Apex Tech Fanatic	Re: Painting inside of case? Be certain that the momentary switch is of the 'normally open' type. A normally closed one would really rock your world in a bad way . . . .

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