Painting Plastic

[Ookazoo]

Hi everyone

Since I am a noob I've decided for very first modding project, I'll start small, very small. I'd like to re-paint the plastic case of my TI-84 graphing calculator. It is already black, so to stand out, I'd like to paint it some solid red or blue or something like that. What can you suggest for effectively painting a plastic piece like this? I'd like it to look like it came originally painted that color, so if I have to sand and do a bunch of coats, that is fine.

Thanks for any posts

[Monsterbox]

If you're comfortable with taking it apart, I would recommend completely disassembling the casing from the electronics and then using Vinyl Paint (either Duplicolor (http://www.duplicolor.com/products/vinyl.html) or Plasti-Kote (http://www.plastikote.com/plastikote/auto/template.jsp?searchcode=RES&product=UltraVinyl) are the best imo) on the plastic. Vinyl Paint is available from auto supply stores; I picked up a can for my Wii project form Pep Boys for $7 and it's Flame Red. The thing of this sort of paint is that it is absorbed into the plastic, so you're not adding much in the way of thickness (which would be important if you have pieces that slide together like a cover).

Make sure you don't get the stuff anywhere near your electronics tho. Paint + PCB = Bad Mojo.

Additionally, buy yourself a mask and work outside or in an extremely well ventilated area, like an open garage. The fumes of this stuff make spray paint seem like potpourri.

Good luck with it! Drop a pic or two when you're done. :)

[Ookazoo]

Thanks a bundle for the reply,

Two things: Do i need to sand off the current paint on the cover? And how do I post a picture that is saved on my computer? It asks for a URL but I'm not so sure how to do that.

[Spawn-Inc]

i use webshots and upload them to that website. then you just view the picture you want and you can select the size (i got for 600) and copy the link. here is a picture of where you go for the link.


http://inlinethumb47.webshots.com/494/2271267740100511463S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2271267740100511463muLsYi)

[Monsterbox]

Do i need to sand off the current paint on the cover?
Unless you have painted it once already, it shouldn't be painted. For the TI calculators (like most plastics) it was molded from plastic the color of whatever it shipped as. So, it isn't painted black, it is actually black dyed plastic.

Long answer short, for vinyl paints, you do not need to do any sanding. In fact, you should NOT sand it before painting with the vinyl paint if you want the surface to retain it's original texture. It is also not needed for the paint to adhere since it is actually being absorbed into the substance and not just coating the top.

Hope that helps a bit.

[Ookazoo]

Cool, thanks for the advice. Another question: the cover I'm looking at painting has little rubber feet that I want to remain black. How shall I cover them up when I paint?

I'll post pics as soon as something happens

[Crimson Sky]

You can pry up those small rubber feet with the tip of a hobby knife and re-glue it after its painted using a small dab of rubber cement--or you can get some liquid band-aid at a pharmacy which is a synthetic rubber--just brush it on the feet, then paint the calculator. after the paint is dry you just easily peel off the protective layer of liquid band-aid. ;)

[Ookazoo]

Kool, thanks for the advice. I'll put it into action and post some pictures.