First paint mod

[preolt]

Hey OC3D,

I am doing a personal paint job for the first time on one of my cases and was looking for some advice. I am planning on doing a white glossy car paint finish. My case is a Lian Li solid aluminum case.

I have a sand blaster and 80mm grade sand. I havent actually sand blasted it yet because I wanted to do the whole thing in one shot over the course of a few days. I know I need primer next but what have people come to recognize as the best? also how many coats, or will it give me an exact amount on the can? Then what kind of paint should I purchase (I want white) to give it a car like finish. Again how many coats is recommended? till it covers? Finally the glossy clear coat, is this necessary to keep it looking like a matte finish?

I have been looking at monster mawds on youtube, but I cant find all of the same products here (Holland Michigan). I also want to be positive on what I am doing at each step.

I talked to one guy at my local hardware store about paint and he said it was impossible to paint aluminum because the pain bonds to itself better then the aluminum. I know this isnt the case any more at least because I see all these beautifully modded cases made of aluminum.

Thanks for all of you help guys, hope this was the right place to post this.

>>Preolt<<

 

[preolt]

Do I need to move this some where else? I know oc3d has a lot of ppl who know how to paint and do this type of thing. I just need to place it some where were they can find it. But I also dont want to just double post.

 

[jonowee]

I guess you've seen this linked from the video http://www.mnpctech....od-how-to1.html , I'd thought it covered most things to start.

Anyways that git at the hardware should know better that painting aluminium is almost easier than the usual steel case having not have to worry about rustproofing or the higher flexibility of steel panels. Painting plastic is usually the one you need to put more thought into planning painting; taking care that the paint and primer are flexible enough, and any solvents used to clean, or in the paint or primer does not damage (eat) certain plastics; and the surface prep is done well to help the primer/paint adhere.

I know I need primer next but what have people come to recognize as the best?

Very dependant of what's available in your area. I'll just get a basic etch primer since there's no need for rustproofing.

also how many coats,

I do five, but the MNPC Tech tutorial states three. But since there's no rustproofing requirements, so you'll need to spray enough to look like it's covered cleanly evenly.



or will it give me an exact amount on the can?

Depends, are you painting the outside, inside or both.



Then what kind of paint should I purchase (I want white) to give it a car like finish.

KISS... simply enamel spray can will do. Gloss clear topcoat if using.

Again how many coats is recommended? till it covers?

Since you're going a light colour over the usually light coloured primer, five layers should be alright if you're using a clear topcoat, more if you're not. As a tip, for painting dark colour paint over light colour primer, or light colour paint over dark colour primer you might have to do at least eight-ten coats to not notice something odd with the paint having the previous colour peering through.

If you want, play around with some experimental spray layering on scrap aluminium or bargain bin aluminium baking sheets. You can even practice surface prep. If you like to; try silver over the primer, then with a steady hand a few layers (~three) of the white so that the silver shines through slightly, then finish with clear coat so that you can buff it to mirror without worrying about eating through the thin layer of white.

Finally the glossy clear coat, is this necessary to keep it looking like a matte finish?

Now I'm a tad confused which finish you want.

Maybe if this thread got moved to TTL Customs forum, but it fits here just fine.

 

[preolt]

Thanks, I messed up a few things when typing this out but you gave me thorough answers none the less. I am going to be using 800 grain* sand for sand blasting. I had one friend tell me I would be better off doing it by hand because then I wont have to worry about as much residual and cleaning it off. I will play this by ear though probs.

I live in Holland Michigan, will probably use a Lowes or Home Depot for purchases so what ever they keep in stock really. What specifications on the can do I want to look for? Will it sy for aluminum or just for metal ?

I am only painting the inside of the case which is all aluminum. Ill drill the rivets out and do each piece separately. Do people usually paint rivets for when they put new ones back in ? Or do they just not worry about it since they are small and in the corners?

The finish I want will look like this sort of http://www.iputinwork.com/?s=Emotion+XD9&paged=2

I will apply wax after 30 days probably. Thanks for the help, cant wait to start.

 

[S_I_N]

one of the things I need some clairity on is you say GLOSS and then MATTE gloss is shiniest while matte isnt as shiny but still is if you follow me lol. Basically matte is semi-gloss and you dont wax matte lol and I wouldnt worry to much about glossy if its for the inside of the case. Another thing I know its recommended to prime bare metal but imho a good scuff of the metal with several light coats of color will stick just as good. I have painted my share of cases and have never primed them I even did a full aluminum case from mountain mods before and again no primer. slow and steady wins the race proper scuff and cleaned metal with light coats works very well.