Painting 101

[coolmiester]

Its been law here in the UK to use water based rather than solvent paint since January 07.

Just found this DuPont Water-Based Paints Help California Auto Body Shops Meet New Air Emissions Regulations so looks like we will all be swapping before too long.

I've done my bit for the environment..........my last 2 cases were painted with water based paint

[disruptfam]

do you have to sand before you paint??? I Want to paint my antec 900 abit lazy would some primer and a few coat's of spray paint suffice?

[Serpentarius]

This is bit off topic, but i've came to notice some quality car painting which has 2 or more colors in it, more likely to shone in different angles. it looks metallic to me, or maybe the content have prism qualities?

kindly look here -> http://www.standox.com/portal/en?pag...Exclusive+Line

i wonder what kind of paint is that? and also, can the normal acrylic spray mimic such design? thinking of paint for cars on casing seems bit too off topic.

i hope someone can enlighten me. thx

[Frankenchrist]

do you have to sand before you paint??? I Want to paint my antec 900 abit lazy would some primer and a few coat's of spray paint suffice?

You should almost always sand before you paint to both remove any gloss that might prevent bonding and/or to "scuff up" the surface so the paint has minute channels and ridges to bond to. Unless it's a burly etching primer I would always give a light sanding even if the can said you didn't have to. Another good thing sanding does is remove any hand grease, contaminants, etc. which might cause a bubble or lack of adhesion...Another good way to clean the bare metal is to give it a nice toxic wipe with some lacquer thinner, MEK, or other solvent. This might screw up any existing coatings if you aren't quick but if it's bare metal it should clean off any of the grease, but you'll still have to sand at least a little. Don't worry about sanding it's not that hard.

As to the water based car paints, yes they do exist. I actually just used a "moisture cured urethane" (Gulf Coast Chemical Coatings i think...) which uses the moisture in the air in order to harden. I sprayed it on light switch and electrical outlet plates and it dries hard as nails....

[C'DaleRider]

I am unaware of any water based automotive paint. I work in the yacht industry where catalyzed urethane is the norm. I have a great friend who has been a pro painter for over 20 years. Water is not in automotive paint. At least not that I know of.


To the best of my knowledge (and I have been in the industry since 1983) there is no water based lacquer or urethane.

This glaring mis-statement of fact (which I highlighted in red) makes me seriously doubt the depth or breadth or your knowledge.

Water is the bane of an automotive/yacht painter's existence. I have shot plenty of urethane I can tell you that even too much ambient humidity will effect the finish.

The vehicle in urethanes, enamels and lacquers is always solvent--generally petrochemical based solvent.

Only in acrylic enamels like those used to paint a house will you find water listed as one of the vehicles. Certain cyanoacrylate finishs are "waterborn" and in general if you see the word acrylic on the label you will see water listed as a vehicle.

The thinner for auto paints would be water not lacquer thinned if what you say is correct. And that is not the case. Next time trying cleaning your spray gun with water after shooting a car and see how that works for ya.

Just thought that was worth bringing up.

Am I wrong?

Actually, yes you are wrong.



"Toyota completes water-based car paint rollout"

Back in 1999, Toyota Motor Corp. started to shift top coat painting for its automobile lines in Japan from organic-solvent paints to metallic water-borne paints as part of its goal to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOC). The company has just completed the rollout at its Motomachi plant.

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/08/t...lout-complete/



Carmakers opt for “greener” paints

Although most major manufacturers, including Toyota, Ford, Mazda, and Nissan, already use water-based and high-solid paints at plants built since the mid-1990s to keep their emissions in check, newer technologies could cut emissions even more.

http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journa...enerpaint.html




DuPont Water-Based Paints Help California Auto Body Shops Meet New Air Emissions Regulations

The only way to comply with the regulations is to substitute waterborne “base” coats that use water in place of much of the solvent in current paints. The base coat is the color component of an automotive painting system. DuPont™ Cromax® Pro is DuPont’s brand for its new water-based color coats.

http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/N...se&Cache=False




The move to water-based paints has been in the works for years....but I can understand that you are uninformed about it....yacht painting is such a niche market vs. auto manufacturer painting that the auto manufacturers would be the first to move to such technology......but rest assured, water-based paints will eventually replace organic solvent-based paints in most all commercial applications.

Just thought you'd like to know what's going on outside your windows these days.

[hare]

USA will be forced to use water based auto paint as of 2009 coutesy of the AQMD

Actually, yes you are wrong.



"Toyota completes water-based car paint rollout"




http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/08/t...lout-complete/



Carmakers opt for “greener” paints



http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journa...enerpaint.html




DuPont Water-Based Paints Help California Auto Body Shops Meet New Air Emissions Regulations



http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/N...se&Cache=False




The move to water-based paints has been in the works for years....but I can understand that you are uninformed about it....yacht painting is such a niche market vs. auto manufacturer painting that the auto manufacturers would be the first to move to such technology......but rest assured, water-based paints will eventually replace organic solvent-based paints in most all commercial applications.

Just thought you'd like to know what's going on outside your windows these days.

[hare]

ok, after U have sprayed your last coat it is NOT mandatory that U sand after it dries . and yes home dept sells clear coat in a spray can . ALSO look online at UV clear coats availiable

Wait !

You need to sand it after paint ???



Same question needed.

Bonus Question:
Where can you buy Clear Coats ? Does HomeDepot sells them?

[Frankenchrist]

I as a house painter, wish everything would move to water-base PROVIDED that the paints perform/look as good as some of the more toxic products on the market.

[hixie]

Long over due section about high speed polishers added!

As for the people who asked how pearlessence painting is done. Special paint with a special gun is needed. The gun has an extra dial which is polarity. Unfortunately i haven't been able to play with them

[rsmaverick]

Hey I have a quick question. I am currently painting my case red,

I started off with 3 coats of primer (light coats)

Sanded with 600 grit between each,

Now I am applying color, (3 coats), sanding between each.

After the final coat...should I sand with 1500 or leave be, then apply a rubbing compound before I do my clear coat?

Or should I just let the last coat dry and then apply the clear coat?

Thank you.

[hixie]

Hey I have a quick question. I am currently painting my case red,

I started off with 3 coats of primer (light coats)

Sanded with 600 grit between each,

Now I am applying color, (3 coats), sanding between each.

After the final coat...should I sand with 1500 or leave be, then apply a rubbing compound before I do my clear coat?

Or should I just let the last coat dry and then apply the clear coat?

Thank you.

It depends, if the last coat turned out to have any defects (orange peel, dust ) then sand again and reapply coat of paint.
Try to avoid sanding/rubbing/cutting the final layer of paint. The clear coat will act like a magnifying glass and all defects will be very clearly visible.

[R1C0CH3T]

very nice guide, I'm going to try to paint the insides of my case soon

[DShankar]

If I'm painting the inside of my case black, should I still sand it down? Would you recommend a different type of paint for internal painting?

[Cpl Ledanek]

If I'm painting the inside of my case black, should I still sand it down? Would you recommend a different type of paint for internal painting?

+1..thinking of doing what lowfat did with just the inside flat black minus the powdercoat

[KamuiRSX]

Do you have any guides specifically about spraypainting keyboards?

[Cpl Ledanek]

the self-etching primer, can that be bought in Home Depot or Lowes? Or is that available only on specialty paint stores like Benjamin-Moore or Sherman-Williams?

[Zeus]

Painting the interior (black) seems pretty hot atm.

Gonna do mine as well -- you've guessed it, flat black.

[coolmiester]

Long over due section about high speed polishers added!

The Makita Polisher runs at 0 to 3000rpm with a variable trigger where as a Makita Angle Grinder runs at 10,000rpm to 11,000rpm which is way to brutal for polishing paint / clear coat.

Might be worth pointing that out hixie before someone buys / hires a grinder and wonders why their new paint job is toast.

[Cpl Ledanek]

So I was inquiring about powder coating these parts of a Stacker 830

and the painter said about $75...does that sound about right?

[lowfat]

So I was inquiring about powder coating these parts of a Stacker 830

and the painter said about $75...does that sound about right?

That isn't too bad. I got all my exterior parts on my 830 done for $75.

[Cpl Ledanek]

That isn't too bad. I got all my exterior parts on my 830 done for $75.

I finally shown the chassis (physically) to the painter...initially, he quoted via email & pics for $75, now its $100.

Ok, that's two painters telling me its $100.

I'm starting to think, these two are trying to milk me.

@lowfat, when you did yours, did you just went to Home Depot or Lowes?
I'm not entering into some mod contest or something, just for my own gratification that I did something by myself.

So far, there is a primer from Williams-Sherman for $13. I'm just not keen on going matte/flat black or something glossy red.

Be nice if ppl could give a list of specific option of spray painting it myself.

[hare]

ok, that's a bit much *LOL* . Krylon makes good primer and paint for a decent paint job on a case. U can get airosol auto paint online 4 about 20.00 a can.
Much better quality and refraction properties . ( shine/refelection )

http://www.automotivetouchup.com/spray_paint.asp chances are you will need 2 cans per case interior ( color ) metallic may require more.

http://www.duplicolor.com/products/autospray.html

I use both KRYLON and others .. with exellent results.

www.bebo.com/RADICALpcs

[firas]

super thnx for the super guide,
btw, I saw a blue lamborgini on a TV program (Bullrun) and I really liked the color and hopeI can paint my SS TJ07 with the same blue color
do you have any idea how can I achieve that? what’s the name of this blue?
I searched for some similar color now and I guess this is very close to it
http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/...ar-in-blue.jpg
notice that its not glossy like this one
http://www.snuffledopple.com/images/31054l.jpg
or metallic like this
http://www.calculateme.com/car-pictu...amborghini.jpg

[Lu(ky]

I finally shown the chassis (physically) to the painter...initially, he quoted via email & pics for $75, now its $100.

Ok, that's two painters telling me its $100.

I'm starting to think, these two are trying to milk me.

@lowfat, when you did yours, did you just went to Home Depot or Lowes?
I'm not entering into some mod contest or something, just for my own gratification that I did something by myself.

So far, there is a primer from Williams-Sherman for $13. I'm just not keen on going matte/flat black or something glossy red.

Be nice if ppl could give a list of specific option of spray painting it myself.

I would look for a place in your area you live that does POWDER COATING. I did not realize there is so much involved in painting a computer case the right way. I think if you are pressed with time vs doing it your self. Go the POWDER COATING way. I am very happy with my case that they did. Kind of a Orange shade shifter metallic color. I added up my time, cans of paint, sand paper vs powder coating. You may save about $30.00 doing it your self vs powder coating. Powder Coating is very quick and easy turn around vs doing it your self letting it dry. If you plan on doing a basic color like Black glossy or red etc. The powder coating guys should give you a better deal on the paint like $50.00 vs $100.00. And if you have 2 cases bring them in they will do 2 for 1 sometimes. The guy that paints my cases says it takes up time to load a special color then go back to the basic black color. I attached some pictures of how my case turned out.

[Cpl Ledanek]

thanks Lu(ky very inspiring, you got me cracking the yellowpages again