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How to Paint Case Interior?

H

hAppy

Gawd
Joined
Jun 29, 2005
Messages
624
Me and my friend decided to paint a case the other day. Well I'm guessing we didn't do it 100% correctly. We did 3 coats of primer, with about 10 min intervals, and 2 coats of color with about 10 min intervals. Then we let it dry in the sun for 30 mins, and we put it together.

During the reassembling, we noticed the paint was getting scratched and chipped. What did we do wrong? Can you guys show us a place for a guide for future reference. Me and my other friends are going to do some more paintjobs this weekend.
 
What's the interior made of? Anodized aluminum? Good luck... that's been a quest with as much research as the Holy Grail... it's very difficult to paint annodized aluminum.

Regardless though... 10 minutes isn't any real time for most spray paints. While they will often be dry to the touch in 10-20 minutes that doesn't mean they are fully set/cured. Most paints will take about a day to fully set.
 
My case is steel, I guess that's an upside for having a steel case!

So I should primer every 10 mins, 3 coats, wait 24 hrs. Then paint 2-3 coats, and let it air out for maybe another 24 hours, and then put a coat sealer over? And let that dry for 24 hours? Would that make my case pretty good?
 
While I'm sure Linear mentions it in his guide, I haven't seen it here yet; are you sanding and washing the surface? You want to sand down the surface to give the paint/primer something to stick to, then wash it off to remove all of the grit and oils from your hands. Being steel, don't let it sit for a day, dry it off quickly but thoroughly and get that first primer coat on before it starts rusting on you.
 
I'd even wait 2-3 days after your final coat before reassembling things. Even if the paint it dry to the touch, some paint can take like 30 days to fully cure.
 
Then we let it dry in the sun for 30 mins, and we put it together.
Click to expand...
What paint did you use? Centari paint would be ok to mess with after 1/2 hour. It sounds like you were using rattlecans. Those usually take a day or two before they are as good as they will get. That crap scratches up even after its had 2 years to dry.
 
ouch, we were using Krylon auto paint, it is a rattle can. Sanding the case, sounds like a lot of work, but I guess I will regret it later if I skimp on that part. Thanks for all the responses guys.
 
Do you know anyone with a paint gun? Use some real paint. My brother isnt too happy that his case with cheapo paint on it is torn and scraped to hell from the last lan. I dont know what my raidmax case has on it, but its fairly good stuff for the price.

My favorite stuff to use is centari. But, I havent tried many paints yet.

Bottom line, dont expect much out of rattle cans.
 
also another tip:
GO AS LIGHT AS POSSIBLE
do thin light coats untill you get the color you want, then STOP.

i made the mistake of doing 3 coats with 2 clearcoat layers and i had alot of problems with the fit of the case. That also causes lots of chipping.
 
I didnt read much of this thread except for the original poster...

Here is what Ive noticed with painting... let it dry after your done for about 3-6 days. Too long? Bah! In 3-6 days it should be almost 100% of what it will be in the end. It wont chip/scratch off near as easily.

Prepare the surface (I like to sand the area down, clean it off, and apply a coat of primer).

Wait about 15 minutes, apply another coat of primer (repeat like 2-3 times for me)

Wait about 25 minutes, apply layer of paint (VERY light layers, repeat 3-6 times)

Thats how I usually paint, and it comes out great...
 
www.paintscratch.com

I've used that to paint my car parts with, and other metal stuff like computer cases. (well, same material)

Order the kits they have available in any color you want. They have just about every car color you can think of. The kit comes with sandpaper, primer, paint, clearcoat, rubbing compound, etc.. It has EVERYTHING you need, and its OEM quality car paint. If you want it to not flake off or scratch easily, you have to rough up the shiny metal surface of the inside of your case, then wipe if off with a damp rag before you paint. (also when ordering you paint, make sure you order everything with "flex" ) If you use clearcoat after all the steps, that stuff takes like 3 days to dry in a well vented atmosphere. Then you have to wet sand it and use rubbing compound to buff it, then wax it with your favorite wax. (mine is the new Meguiars NXT Tech Wax--made for cars.) Make sure to allow time inbetween coats when you paint though, and always use light coats of primer/paint/clearcoat. You don't want it to run or stay wet underneath. Light coats is the key. Proper wetsanding with fine grit sandpapers makes it come out like a Ferrari paintjob too.
 
Pretty much everything you want to know about painting a case is in Linear's guide. That is the guide I am following and from all the other automotive painter's I have talked to that is pretty much exactly what they told me.
 
:cool: follow that guide... and remeber to use some good cleaner (mineral spirits) to clean all of the material you are painting... and let it sit out in the sun for a few day to really let that paint dry all the way
 
But if you let it dry outside, make sure it isn't humid out. That makes the paint dry all gummy. :(
 
You should best let it dry inside. Just kick everyone's butt and tell them THIS is YOUR space. Just put some old newspapers or something on the floor and put the stuff down on that. Lots better than letting it dry outside imo.
 
The hammered paint series is extremely forgiving of surface prep. A bit of steel wool on the surface, two or three light coats 15 minutes apart, and you're done. The stuff that comes from a can that you brush on works well for case insides - the paint orange-peels automatically, eliminating any brush strokes.
 
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