Aluminum and painting.

[meatwad]

Operation 'Hulk Smash!' has officially begun.

Now I need to know what kind of spray paint is best to use on aluminum.

Thanks in advance.

[ephmynus]

Originally posted by meatwad
Operation 'Hulk Smash!' has officially begun.

Now I need to know what kind of spray paint is best to use on aluminum.

Thanks in advance.

Hmm, good luck. Brushed aluminum is pretty hard to paint because it has such a fine surface. Just look for a primer that is best used on light metals and try to use about 2-3 coats before actually painting. Also, because of aluminum's cooling properties, make sure it's a good temperature outside before painting.

[Ya_know]

Interior or exterior use?

[meatwad]

exterior

[geoscomp]

doesn't hurt to wash it off with tsp (tri sodium phosphate) in warm water and rinse and dry before painting too..removes oils and other stuff that can cause the primer not to adhere

[Tacit_k]

remember this, 99% of paint is the prep work. Aluminum is a hard surface to prep, but once the primer is on the rest is simple.

If you are going to get really into it, get two contrasting color primers light grey and black are good.

Prep the metal with TSP to remove oils.

Use surgical gloves to handle.

prep with a few coats of black primer then lightly sand 320 to 600 grit.

Then coat with light grey primer and lighly sand, if there are any high spots on the suface they will come through first as black.

When high and low spots are identified and fixed you can do the final light coat of primer and finish sand at 600 to 800 grit and a light hand.

allow to cure for 24 hours and wipe with clean rag and alcohol.

Now paint.

Apply paint in light coats, do not try to get solid color on the first or second pass this will avoid runs and such.

allow the paint to fully harden (depending on paint it could be 1 week to 1 month) now buff and seal.

I am working on a color shift paint right now, it should shift from green to purple to red to blue. we'll see but I may just keep it simple with green to purple.

[Archer]

You might consider some form of chemical etching solution to key the surface prior to painting.

[meatwad]

My case is arriving today! :D :D :D

http://www.overclockercafe.com/Reviews/cases/X-PiderCase/

[ilovetheusers]

Originally posted by meatwad
My case is arriving today! :D :D :D

http://www.overclockercafe.com/Reviews/cases/X-PiderCase/

Did you get it from xoxide? I was at ups recently and the xoxide guy came in with a couple handtrucks of stuff to ship they couldn't fit on the truck. Turns out they are right down the road from me:D, but don't have a retail outlet store...:( Nice guys though, all young and industrious and stuff.

[GokuSS2]

Originally posted by meatwad
My case is arriving today! :D :D :D

http://www.overclockercafe.com/Reviews/cases/X-PiderCase/

I have had that case for about two months now except mine came with a 420 watt PS for the same price. The PS is not to bad but I put it in my spare system. I then put a Antec TrueBlue 480 in my X-pider case.:D

[meatwad]

No I didn't know about that company ILTU.

But I decided to get it w/o psupply for the same reason. My Antec should be in today or tommorow along with my PlexWriter 52X and my two WDSE 120 drives. :D

Next up is my P4 2.8 800MHz and MB which are on backorder :mad:

I talked to the artist that puts the holiday designs on the window of our shop and she's going to paint the solid side panel for me. Pics will most definitely be posted when this is finished. I should have it done before the movie comes out.