The way PC cases are designed at the moment, you have to admit, they’re pretty stylish and generally have some unique aesthetics. But then again, you might always want some extra modifications. Stock PC cases come in one or two colors. That might not be enough for everyone.
Custom mod cases cost a lot, and all the LED fans in the world can’t fill up the need for some personalized color accents. That’s exactly why many choose to paint their PC themselves. This DIY method isn’t really all that tough. All you need is some essential tools along with the paint and a plan.
Not to worry, I’m here to guide you step by step throughout the whole process. This article will help you make your stock PC case have a completely personalized look that’ll make it stand out from the rest.
Contents
The Basic Supplies
This whole procedure is gonna require a few supplies to begin with. I’ll name the very basics, so you don’t run into trouble in the middle of the procedure. So, let’s get started.
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Paint
It’s pretty obvious that you won’t be getting any painting done without proper paint. Try to get something of good quality like rust-oleum paint and primer. Just about any satin or semi-gloss type paint should do just fine.
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Clear Coat
Clear coats are essential in this case. You can choose something like a clear gloss to seal in and protect the paint. In turn, it should give the case a nice and shiny look.
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Painter’s Tape
You wouldn’t wanna cut the cost on painter’s tapes. You have to make sure that these are placed properly to avoid any sort of bleeding. Getting different sizes of tapes is probably a good idea.
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Sand Paper
Another thing you might need in your arsenal is sandpaper. This depends on the surface you’re willing to paint. However, the need might arise to sand it down for an even surface for the paint to set in.
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Cloth Wipes
Keeping some clean cloth materials might actually help as you’ll be able to clean the unwanted dust and debris from the places you want to work on. Keep a few extras just in case.
The Procedure
You might wanna follow these steps very carefully if you want to avoid mistakes and accidents. I’ll explain what you have to do step by step. Precision is key here.So, read on attentively.
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Prepare the PC Case
The first thing you’ll want to do is, shut down the computer. Unplug the cables that are attached to the PC so that it can be separated from the desk.When it’s turned off, put it in a secluded area where you can start working on.
The next move would be to remove the side panel. Remove the screws carefully. Keep note that you might want to put in a bit extra care if the side panels are made of tempered glass.
Removing the front panel is necessary as well. Undo whatever clips or screws that are attached to the panel to ensure no damage is done while removing it. Remove all that needs to be removed from the panel. Including Power buttons, LED indicators and so on (Basically everything you don’t want painted).
One more thing, before you head straight to painting you’ll have to clean the surface area of the case and the panels. Remove unwanted dust and dirt to avoid inconveniences.
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Taping Things Off
The next thing you’ll want to do is to tape off the areas you want to paint. Use a credit card or some similar kind of object to make sure the tape is pressed down properly. Make sure to cover the larger exposed areas with newspaper or something like tin foil.
This is done to make sure there’s no spill in paint or anything like that. Minimize the bleed as much as you can.
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Time to Paint
Before you start spraying away, make sure you protect the surface of the area where you’re willing to paint. Plenty of cardboard or similar materials can be a real lifesaver in this case.
Next thing is, you’ll want to paint in a properly ventilated area. Wear a proper respirator if needed to avoid inhalation of the paint.
After you’ve ensured that, hold the paint can 8-10 inches away from the PC case panel area and keep on painting. The best way to do it is by using quick sweeping motions, ensuring steady passes over the desired area. You might need 4-6 coats in total. A few extras even just to give it more permanence.
Make sure you paint from different angles each time to make sure there aren’t any missing areas.
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Intervals Between Painting
Before applying a coat after the other, you’ll need to dry it up a bit. Each kind of paint may take different time frames. But let’s keep it within a minimum of 15 minutes at least. However, before applying the clear coat, give it 2 hours or more to dry out completely. It might sound like too much, but it’s necessary.
Four coats should be enough in this case, but you might go on and do a few extra if needed. The procedure here is the same as applying paint that we talked about before.
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Removing the Tape
Now, all that’s left to do is, remove the tape carefully. However, if there’s any overpaint, you might want to remove it carefully with a sharp knife. Make sure you don’t damage the case while you’re in the process. Very lightly sand it with sandpaper. Try not to scratch the surface of the case while doing it.
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Behold the Beauty
Once you’re done doing all that, just reassemble your case, including all the parts that you removed beforehand. Once you’re done, clear up the mess you might have made in your workspace. That’s pretty much it. Now, just enjoy what you’ve created with a sense of success.
Wrapping it Up
Now that you’ve read through it all, the whole procedure shouldn’t have seemed too tough. I’ve explained the details on how to paint a PC case properly, along with a few extra tips. So, I hope it helped.
But do remember that you can always do a bit of custom modification to the procedure depending on your needs. These are just the basics. If you want to be a bit artsier, feel free to go ahead.
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