Windows 7 - painting interior of case

bassfisher6522 · 10-14-2011

I'm going to be doing some minor modding to the inside of my case. I'm going to cut some holes for cable management and then paint the interior black, then grommet the holes. I'm looking for a quality spray paint for spray painting the interior of my case. What are the preferred brands for such a task.

Hopalong X · 10-14-2011

On metal the old trusty spray can Rust Oleum brand would be my choice.
You can use the primer first if you think necessary.

Use it outside or a well ventilated area like the garage not the basement.

linnemeyerhere · 10-14-2011

Lay the case flat raised off floor, great lighting to see what your doing, mask and drop cloths. Then light dust for first two passes, let dry completely and then two even coats allowing to dry fully between them. I would use Krylon.
Krylon is the spray paint leader in color, innovation, and inspiration

Note: A key additional step is to take all the stand offs and other needed screw holes and plug then with the case screws. This will paint the screw heads the same color as the case interior and maintains the clean threads of both the screws and holes for ease of stand off threading later. Side note please only a very light finger tight as if the thread pitches are off you will stripe one or the other or both. Again finger tight as all you are trying to do is keep paint from entering. Side note to my side note, one could add that spraying where the mobo goes is a waste but it's likely easier to spray it anyway.

Hopalong X · 10-14-2011

+1 Krylon is good also.

seekermeister · 10-15-2011

The one thing I would consider before painting the inside of a case, is any possible effect on thermal conductivity. I did some Googling, looking for a paint that would promote conductivity, but found nothing that was a conclusive improvement. Neither do I have any knowledge of just how much a coat of paint would effect temperatures, but I suspect that it would.

If i were going to do anything to the inside of the case, it would be for the purpose of sound proofing, but then that is quite expensive, so I will leave mine as is.

bassfisher6522 · 10-15-2011

thanks for all the suggestions and tips...

Coke Robot · 10-15-2011

I would suggest with linnemeyerhere that you should never ever, ever paint motherboard standoffs. Doing so can cause motherboard grounding issues. I did that when I painted mine and had to scrap and thin off the paint where my motherboard tray and the case met up. Wow, every time I jiggled a USB cable in the back, I risked losing the grounding and everything shut down. But that doesn't happen anymore!

badger906 · 10-16-2011

make sure your spray paint cans are warmer than the ambient temperature =) jug of warm water works best.
In the uk I'd use a paint called hammerite, made by dulux, but not sure if they stretch all their products around the world. Krylon is great to. Takes me back to my airsofting days when I'd spray up my guns in camo lol

vspeck23 · 10-21-2011

Use PlastiCote black gloss and lacquer after with a clear cote of gloss also platicote

jobs a good'n

badger906 · 10-21-2011

I'd use the matt coat over the gloss, or you run the risk of the heat reflecting back towards your components

Plus plasticote prices have rocketed recently (I'm a stockist lol)