Painting on a laptop top?

[sulretal]

Well, I have the idea to paint the top of my laptop. I do draw regularly and have good knowledge of all art styles so the designs wouldn't be a problem.

However, I am unsure of what painting material to use.

Can anyone give advice as to what sort of paints I would use that would ensure the safety of the laptop and optimum efficiency? One that wouldn't crack and could sustain the heat from the lcd. It is a Compaq nc 6000.

[Vaio]

I would say krylon fusion, just because I have always had good luck with it on plastic.

[infinitevalence]

I did one with the color changing stuff and it looked good for a year or two then started to ware a little :( but if you folow the directions right you can use just about any common spray paint, plastic paint, or dye.

[R B Customs]

theres no replacement for two-pack clear coats.
if you can, find a body shop, car painter, bike painter etc to clearcoat the artwork.

the problem with single pack paints is they dry in air by the carrier evaporating. generaly for anythign that is going to be handled these paints are crap, and useless. they will tend to kind of smudge after repetitive friction in one place, or turn sticky.

Proffesional spray jobs use a type of two pack laquwer, its mixxed form a catylist ( hardener) and a base ( laquer) the paint 'dries' (hardens) by CHEMICAL REACTION, rather than evaporation / air drying. its liek comparing a two part epoxy glue to a PVA glue, the epoxy hardens no matter how thick it is, the PVA will form a skin and slowly AIR DRY

it will NEVER turn sticky, it will never yellow, it will never flake or scratch if you take care of it !


Now. IF youcan gert someone to clearcoat the piece for tyou ( which rreally isnt a big deal) you can paint the laptop in pretty much anything. bar oil & cellulose based paints.


of course im going to say airbrushing is the end all be all of painting things liek laptops... because it is !. but if your handywith acrylics, its still possible to brush paint these on too, again with a catylised two-pack clear coat

[R B Customs]

s for preperation:
first and foremost CLEAN IT !
now in the trade we use a special kind of wax / grease remover know as pannel wipe, but if you have none, a small amout of washing up liquid in water will do the trick, clean it thourougly, grease is thy enemy.

after cleaning, use a grey scotchbrite pad to scuff the surface until it is totaly matt / dull

CLEAN AGAIN
invest in a tack rag also - this is to remove every last trace of dust form the piece.

you can use an automotive style plastic primer, applied in Very thin coats, evenly as possible. thick coats will resuult in disaster, if youer thin coats feel rough, use the scotchbrite pad / pannel wipe / tack rag inbetween coats.

then when you have a smooth, primed surface you can begin painting.


one last word:
SILICONE :
its in polishes, tyre shine, furnature polish, lubricants ... everything. silicone is a painters sworn enemy. ive lost one hell of a fuel tank to silicone and ill never let it happen again. if youve ever polished the top of tyour laptop, make sure its damn clean, if possible sand down to the bare plastic. silicone is the worst thing that can happen to paint work