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how to paint a laptop?

renswic

renswic

Supreme [H]ardness
Joined
Nov 28, 2004
Messages
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ok i have an old laptop that im useing for internet use only, but its basic black and i dont like that, i want to paint it something more fun, but im to scared to take it apart(its battery isnt holding a charge and if i unplug it for very long i have to reinstall windows)

so how does one paint an assumbled laptop? i know covering the screen and KB is a must but other then that?
 
The best way is to take the thing apart. Otherwise you are risking a few problems. Think about it. If you have to wetsand at all, you'll be getting water near electronics......

It's not a "simply tape this off" kinda job. That's all.
 
Qtip42 said:
The best way is to take the thing apart. Otherwise you are risking a few problems. Think about it. If you have to wetsand at all, you'll be getting water near electronics......

It's not a "simply tape this off" kinda job. That's all.
Click to expand...

was planing it hackers style, dont need an aswesome finish, may just paint hte top of it for now
 
I remember a thread here about a year ago, about a guy who painted his laptop without removing the screen. The paint had some kind of reaction with the screen, and it bubbled all to hell. It was so bad he couldn't use it.
 
Even before starting I would recommend borrowing or buying a can of the brand of paint you plan to use, make a stencil with a small hole and spray paint a tiny spot on each type of surface on the laptop to see if there is any chemical reaction before you start. Do this with the paper and masking tape too.

If you're painting the whole thing read on. If just a small job (a stencil or one flat side) skip this whole next paragraph.

After that, go buy your paint and enamel. Dismantle the laptop entirely so that all you have are the plastic (graphite, metal, or whatever) pieces that are visible, free of any other component and spray it down quickly. If you're no good with a spraycan, read up on how it's done and practice on some other junk. Once it's completely dry (left to sit in a very warm very dry environment for a good two days) spray it down with enamel. Most people don't even bother with the enamel coat, but it provides a nice luster that also helps protect the paint from oils and dirt scratches.

Painting is real easy, but you have to be fast, so practice a bit first on something else no matter how ghetto you want the job to be. If you really don't want to dismantle the rig be sure to cover holes and cracks that might lead to sensitive parts. Venting ports can be stuffed with cubes of foam or fabric and picked out later with pincers.

Be creative and please post a picture when you're done!
 
SarverSystems said:
I remember a thread here about a year ago, about a guy who painted his laptop without removing the screen. The paint had some kind of reaction with the screen, and it bubbled all to hell. It was so bad he couldn't use it.
Click to expand...


wasnt planing on painting the screen :p guess ill pull the thing apart as far as i can and go from there
 
Of course you aren't gonna paint the screen. It wouldn't be much of a laptop if you couldn't see your screen!

There was enough fumes in the air that it reacted.
 
what's this test for a chemical reaction nonsense? If you are going to paint anything at all you should be using lacquer thinner or prepsol (wax and grease remover) before you even get ready to paint. Just painting on a surface where you are constantly putting your fingers is just asking for trouble (if you don't clean it before hand). Paint reacts because people aren't doing things properly.

If they have a release agent on them, wash them in warm water with soap.
 
listen to qtip, he knows what he speaks of. you will rarely get away without prepping the surface.
 
Well I agree with prepping the surface. I forgot about that. I've seen plastics melt into complete goo after spray painting without any prep. Just don't want to hear about that happening again.
 
Renswic said:
(its battery isnt holding a charge and if i unplug it for very long i have to reinstall windows)
Click to expand...

WTF? I think you have bigger problems than a black case :confused:
 
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