Painting a drive

[xmastree]

I have a beige DVD writer, which needs to be black.

What's the best paint to use?

[DaveW]

I hear acrylic paint is the best for painting plastic; i could be wrong. I'd just spray the puppy to be quite frank. Actually, i plan to. So if i shouldn't, you have about 2 weeks to stop me (who am i kidding? I don't work anywhere near that fast...)

-Dave

[jdbnsn]

Daves right, just spray the puppy. I used standard run-o-the-mill walmart spraypaint (I think it was acrylic) and follow with clear coat and it should be fine. To get it looking good, check out Crazy billy Bob's painting tutorial.

[DeathCrush]

shouldn't he try something like Krylon Fusion since it's made for painting plastic? just a thought

[jdbnsn]

Sure, try anything. I think he'll have decent luck with most paints. As for the quality of the finish, that comes down to technique and that is why I recommend reading a how-to. The ones I have seen on the forum are excellent.

[Omega]

well i wouldn't know what paint, but ffs take the bezel off the drive first and do it right.

[xmastree]

shouldn't he try something like Krylon Fusion since it's made for painting plastic? just a thought
Never heard of that, but it sounds rather space-age... Probably only available in the developed world though, which means I guess I'll 'just paint it'.

I have some spare parts to test it on, so I'll use those first.

[The Modfather]

Dude, you live in the developed world if you have the internet, you can get Krylon Fusion online, you might have to pay a couple bucks (or whatever you use for money there, I don't know, sorry) for shipping but, it is a paint that's made specifically for bonding to plastic and will give you the best results.

But like Omega said, yes, remove the faceplates first! If you don't know how, ask, I or someone will be happy to explain.

[antheh]

I didn't removed the face plate and had a dvd-rw and a dvd-rom go down the drain. Would barely read and would burn halfway though and die.

[xmastree]

I'll certainly remove the face plates. No worries there. I'm a great one for taking things apart. That 5.25 drive? That's going to be black too, so I even removed the little green plastic LED window from it. I could have masked it, but I always think it's better to remove things like that.
I'll probably remove the volume control for painting too.

Damn, I just had a brainwave.

That volume control. never been used, ever. What if I were to make something out of clear plastic instead of that wheel, then fill in the LED hole and mount a brighter (blue, natch) LED so that it shines through the wheel...

If I get it right it'll still work as a volume control (which I'll still never use).

I have a couple of scrap drives to practice on... Hmm...

[The Modfather]

You could get a set of case feet that already have the place for the LED and use that for a knob. (Or are you talking about the volume knob in the optical drive? In that case, forget what I just said, that wouldn't work, hehe).

When it comes to bay devices, I prefer to stealth them entirely, either with a drawer or some other way (drives that is, some bay devices are meant to be seen of course, like a Matrix Orbital or whatnot).

[xmastree]

Or are you talking about the volume knob in the optical drive?Yes, I am. I'm looking for a transparent disc to replace it with.

Suggestions on a postcard to the usual address.

[xmastree]

Just for the hell, I tried painting the front of an old drive with some green spray acrylic I had lying around. Interestingly it didn't seem to like the lettering on the drawer front.
http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/117748x.jpg
I think I ought to sand off all the rubbish on there first, since I know what it is anyway.

I suspect this (http://case-mods.linear1.org/im-high-on-vinyl-dye/) would actually be the best for painting it black...

[xmastree]

To get it looking good, check out Crazy billy Bob's painting tutorial.I would if I could find it. :?

[CanaBalistic]

What i used was plastic enamel. looks awsome. If you cant find paint specificly for plastic just check the can and make sure it has Xylene in the paint. Xylene will disolve plastic but is used in plastic paint to melt the color into the surface. use sevral light coats. sanding would probly help but i find the stock surface looks a little better. and its quicker!

[The Modfather]

Transparent disc, transparent disc, hmmm....

Ok, idea... How you could possibly do it yourself.

Find a piece of clear plexi (I'm assuming this wouldn't be difficult), get the diameter of the current knob so you know how big to make the new one.

Take a sheet of aluminum that's bendable and roll it to the correct diameter then using a butane torch heat it up and use it to slice out the disc for the knob.

[xmastree]

Interesting idea. I was thinking about using a hole saw without the centre drill, then drilling the small hole and mounting it in my dremel like a disc and use the dremel as a lathe to finish it off.

However, it's finding the plexi which is the problem...

[The Modfather]

Hmm, there are a few online resources for plexi, I wish I had that darned site. Um, visit velocityreviews.com and send a PM to BigAl, he knows the place I'm thinking of. They'll even send you samples, which is all you'd need really. They sent me 5 pieces of plexi, about 3"x3" in size of various colors.

Can't think how you'd make a hole saw work without the center tap...

[xmastree]

Very carefully I imagine...

[The Modfather]

Hahaha, yeah, it'd have to be. :) I did see a sort of hole-saw attachment thingy for the dremel today. Not big enough for fan holes or anything but would be perfect for this.

[xmastree]

I was thinking, I could use the hole saw normakky to cut a hle in some wood. Then clamp the plexi between that piece and another, remove the drill and cur the plexi using the wooden hole as a gide.

Sounds a lot of hassle for such a tiny difference though.

[The Modfather]

Yeah, it does sound like a lot of hassle, but I'm a detail freak, i think it'd be cool even if you never use it, it'd look nice and show that you put a lot of thought and effort into the project. But if the work outweighs the satisfaction, well, just put the details elsewhere.

[xmastree]

I have a feeling that only my wife and daughter will ever see it. Both of whom will probably swoon at the pretty lights, but that's about it.
Having said that, I'm not doing it for the appreciation, I'm doing it because I want to.

[The Modfather]

That's the reason to do it man! Even if NOBODY but you ever sees it. Of course you'll post pics and we'll all see it and that's cool. And if you think it's good enough over all, submit it for contests.

[CanaBalistic]

form fallows function... if it wont operate correctly afterwards then its a complete waste of time and effort. If your never going to use it, why bother.

im my opinion, a clear tray is an utterly stupid thing to even attempt. On the bottom of the tray is a gear track for opening and closeing the drive aswell as various other track guides and would be a nightmare to cut out with anything less than a 3 axis machine. And the payoff blows goats for rice. spending a considerable amount of time on somthing so trivial and to top it off you'll only see it for 5 seconds when you change a cd.

You best bet would be to find a drive that came with a clear tray (my dvd player has one) or go with somthing simmilar to this http://www.xoxide.com/thermaltake-thermalrock-circle-case.html . I think this would be the best bet and would ACTUALLY SHOW OFF WHAT YOU'VE DONE!! :)

[DaveW]

I think he's talking about making a new volume dial. Some drives have a headphone jack and a volume dial, it's the dial i think he's wanting to replace?

-Dave

[xmastree]

Yeah, Dave's right. (right back at ya!) It's just the dial Iwas thinking about.
But I won't bother, Ill just paint it black like the rest.

[The Modfather]

Awww, don't let the naysayers get to you. If YOU Like the idea, do it. There's no other reason to do it that matters.

[CanaBalistic]

Oh, i must have missed somthing while reading the posts. A volume dial wouldnt matter as it only controls the volume of the headphone jack.

[xmastree]

Awww, don't let the naysayers get to you. If YOU Like the idea, do it. There's no other reason to do it that matters.Yeah, but I would rather spend the time doing something more useful. Anyhow, I took the front off the drive for painting today, and looked at the dial. It's not screwed on like other ones, it's more like part of the actual pot, so I left it alone, apart from introducing it to a black marker pen ;)

[The Modfather]

Ah well, might have been cool but, if it's too much of a hassle and you have other plans, well, lets see what ya got?

[xmastree]

I got a source of Cheap bright blue LEDs...

A disposable lighter for less than the price of a Blue LED in the shop. 8)
http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/316lighter1.jpg
http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/6851lighter2.jpg
http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/7108lighter3.jpg
http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/1559lighter4.jpg

The CDROM I'm using, which is already black, has what appears to be a translucent open/close button so I'll shine a blue LED through that one. Maybe permanent or maybe as an activity indicator. I think permanent, and I'll also replace the activity LED with a 3mm blue one.

[The Modfather]

That should look neat. You know the voltage, etc for that LED so you can wire it up right or do you intend to just go with a battery and replace it every so often?

[xmastree]

That should look neat. You know the voltage, etc for that LED so you can wire it up right or do you intend to just go with a battery and replace it every so often?
Nope, I just replaced the activity light. The button itself is difficult to light since some crazy designer has fitted a switch right behind it... :rolleyes: So I can't light it evenly.

[xmastree]

Anyway, as for painting the drives. I painted them matt black, then gave them a couple of coats of clear. Looks ok, but I made a complete and utter mess of the little handle on the 5.25 drive. I think I just put too much paint on it. The surface was rough, and when I tried to sand it with 600 grade, it seemed to rub the paint off in lumps...

I need to start over, what's the best thing for removing acrylic? I heard acetone is good.

Edit: turns out Acetone was good, so I've started over, using primer this time.

[The Modfather]

Acetone is good but use it OUTSIDE, it'll literally eat your brain. Chances are the acetone you used was made in my back yard (almost literally). The chemical plant behind us here produces about 2/3rds of the Acetone and Fenal used in the world. NASTY stuff. :)

Sounds to me like the paint didn't get a chance to fully dry before you went at it with the sandpaper. Acrylic can be like that no matter how you work with it, it often peals off like rubber, I like to use it for painting, like on canvas, but for working on metal or plastics I don't care for it so much, I prefer enamel or water based paints.

[xmastree]

Yeah, I used it outside, then repainted it outside. Many light coats, primer first then black, then clear. It looks ok now. All that effort for something so tiny. I think I just put too much paint on before, thinking the thing is so small it can't run as it has nowhere to run to.
Maybe if I had baked it in my mini oven... But what would my reheated pizzas taste like afterwards? ;)

Acrylic was about all I could find easily.

What would you suggest for the case itself? If you see the worklog you'll see I want four stripes around the window, metal coloured. I have some 'chrome' paint (which is a light shiny silver and seems to cover very well) I was planning to use for the chassis, and maybe the stripes. The rest will be black, and there are two stainless handles running the length of it.

Bummer. Power just went out... better post before the UPS dies

[OvRiDe]

I would if I could find it. :?

Is this the post (http://thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showpost.php?p=24460&postcount=2) you were looking for?

Good luck

[The Modfather]

For the best effect on paint I'd use an airbrush, but that might not be an expense you want to tackle and it'd mean learning to use one.

For stripes, why not take the easy route and use car pinstriping, you can get that at most auto stores, then again I don't know what's available in your part of the world but, I'd imagine you can get pinstriping anywhere or as a last resort, online. Short of that, just use blue painter's tape or masking tape to do your line work, but be sure it's dry first and I wouldn't use acrylic. I figure you'll be using spraypaint of some sort so that should work out.

[xmastree]

Is this the post (http://thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showpost.php?p=24460&postcount=2) you were looking for?
Yeash, tucked away in Q&A and called wet sanding. I was looking in Tips&Tricks for something about paint.. :rolleyes:

Thanks, some reading to do it seems.

[DRece]

But has anyone used this Krylon spray paint for plastics? I am hoping to use it to paint my server, so it doesn't look so bleh. The front panel and case is plastic, which reminded me that they have fusion paint for that. :)

[jdbnsn]

Sorry I haven't read the whole thread, but I have used Krylon on plastic computer parts and it turned out great.