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Case Modding Tutorial 2

Ton Khowdee, a member of CLUB SLI, has made quite a reputation as both an overclocked and a case modder, garnering "Rig of the Month" status both here at SLIZONE, as well as in the popular DIY magazine, Maximum PC. Ton takes us through the step-by-step process of modding a PC, in this 4-part series.

Ton would like to give a shoutout to EVGA, who has worked closely with Ironmods for their overclocking and case modding projects.

We now turn the reins over to Ton...

Case Painting:
We hope everyone enjoyed the case cutting tutorial in the first part of our series. For our second tutorial, we will be covering the basics of painting a computer case. With a little preparation and a few simple steps, you can create an eye catching case mod that will be sure to amaze your friends and the envy of any LAN.

Safety:
Before starting on any case painting project, it is critical to make sure that painting is done in a well-ventilated area. Eye protection and breathing mask are some safety equipment that should also be used.

TIP: Rubber gloves – Using rubber gloves allows you to hold parts in your hands to paint hard to reach area and keeps your hands clean.

Tools & Equipment:
Unlike case cutting, there are a few tools needed. Here are list of things you should have handy:

• Denatured Alcohol and lint free cloth or tack cloth
• Sanding Block and Sand Paper – 220 and 320 grit for surface preparation, and 800 / 1000 / 1200 grit for paint sanding
• Sandable Primer
• Paint
• Clear Coat

Color Scheme:
The key to achieving a great looking case is to develop a color scheme before you start. Visualize the computer color scheme both inside and out. Consider the colors for the side panels, interior lighting, and accessories.

For this NVIDIA case mod, we will be using Sour Apple Green and Black. The side panels and lighting will be green, while the drive bays and windows will be black.

TIP: Having black drive bays will make it easy to replace optical drives. Any black optical drive can be installed, without having to paint it to match the case.

Panel Preparation:
Before the case is painted, it will be necessary to get all the parts ready and cleaned. The panels may have become dusty from the cutting process. Also, it may be necessary to remove any labels and buttons that may get in the way:

For maximum paint adhesion, a primer coat should be applied to the case before painting. To prepare the case for priming, the case will have to be cleaned of any dirt and scuffed. This can be done by slightly sanding the panels with 220 to 320 grit sand paper.

TIP: Use a sanding block. This will apply even pressure to the case while sanding. Using just the sand paper and your hand may cause uneven paint removal and grooves.

After the panels have been sanded, they will need to be cleaned to remove any paint dust that may still be on the case. This can be done with denatured alcohol on a lint free cloth, or with a tack cloth.

When the panel is clean and dry, it is now time to apply the primer coat. Applying primer and paint is done in the same manner. Hold the spray can 12” to 16” away from the case, and spray from a side-to-side motion. After every pass, the next pass should be slightly overlapping the previous pass. This should be done in a nice sweeping motion.

After the first coat is done, the panel will need to be rotated 90 degree and painted again. You will rotate the panel a total of 3 times. This will give the case a nice even coat of primer. Repeat the same technique for all parts that need primer. Using thin coats, the panel should look similar to this after the first pass:

When you have completed all 4 passes, the piece should have a nice even finish like this:

After the primer has dried, it will need to be sanded before the paint is applied. For sanding the primer coat, 400 grit sand paper will be used. The objective of sanding the primer coat is to create a smooth surface for the paint. If you happen to sand the primer completely through, just spray another coat of primer and sand again.

Painting:
After the primer coat is dried and smooth, clean the surface again with either denatured alcohol using a lint free towel, or use a tack cloth. The paint should be applied in the same manner as the primer. Hold the can 12” to 16” away and spray in a sweeping left to right motion. Once each coat is completed, rotate the panel 90 degrees and paint again.

Many people only paint one side of their panel. For a finished professional appearance, the backside of the panels should also be painted. This will give a uniform appearance when the panels are on or off the case

Wet Sanding and Clear Coat:
After the paint has dried completely, it is time to give the case a clear coat to add a glossy finish and protect the paint. Before the clear coat is applied, the paint will need to be wet sanded with high grit sand paper to remove any paint nibs, runs, or dust that may have formed on the surface. To wet sand, you will need the following:

• 1000 &1200 Grit Wet Sanding Paper
• Sanding Block
• Small Tub & Water
• Liquid Soap

In the tub of water mix in a few drops of liquid soap, this will help to break the water tension and allow the sand paper to glide on the side panel. Completely wet your side panel and gently sand in uniform motion. Do not put pressure on the sanding block. As you sand, you will feel less friction as you continue.

When sanding be careful of raised edges, these areas are prone to excess paint removal. If this does occur, just let the panel dry and apply another coat of paint and wet sand again. After you get the panel to a smooth finish, let the panel dry completely.

Now that the painted panel is nice and smooth, it is time to spray on a clear coat to give it a nice shine and protect the finish. Just as with the primer and paint, the clear coat should be applied in multiple light coats.

Painted Case

Here are some before and after pictures to show the progression of this case modding project:

Before:

After Cutting and Painting:

I hope you enjoyed the latest tutorial in our case modding series. For our next tutorial, we will be focusing on lighting, fans, and accessories to customize your case even further. So check back soon.

Ton of IRONMODS.Com