Coloring Components to Match Black Case

[Ken Hall]

I recently bought a new case. Unfortunately, the one I wanted only
came in black. Now I have this black case with two beige components
standing out like sore thumbs.

I'm kind of afraid to spray paint the faces because I think the paint
will blow inside the components (e.g., a CD-ROM reader/writer) and gum
up the works.

How do most people blacken components to match cases?

Ken

 

[JAD]

most front bezels come off of the drives.... I use an epoxy type paint or krylons' ''plastic'' paint

 

[jeff findley]

How do most people blacken components to match cases?

http://www.modthebox.com/vinyldye.shtml

Jeff

 

[Ken Hall]

http://www.modthebox.com/vinyldye.shtml

That's just the sort of think I was looking for. And, it seemed to me
they should be dyed or inked rather than painted.

Thanks for both replies.

Ken

 

[Sooky Grumper]

I recently bought a new case. Unfortunately, the one I wanted only
came in black. Now I have this black case with two beige components
standing out like sore thumbs.

I'm kind of afraid to spray paint the faces because I think the paint
will blow inside the components (e.g., a CD-ROM reader/writer) and gum
up the works.

How do most people blacken components to match cases?

Ken

1. Carefully remove the face plates.
2. Spray with black vinyl dye.
3. Allow to dry.
4. Reattach face plates.

 

[Ric]

I recently bought a new case. Unfortunately, the one I wanted only
came in black. Now I have this black case with two beige components
standing out like sore thumbs.

I'm kind of afraid to spray paint the faces because I think the paint
will blow inside the components (e.g., a CD-ROM reader/writer) and gum
up the works.

How do most people blacken components to match cases?

Ken

power up drive, open it, unplug it.
unclip the drive tray bezel, then unclip the drive surround bezel.
give it a quick spray (not too much, little and let it dry!) with black
plastic spray paint.
wait till dry - 5 mins on a radiator - and then repeat if necessary.
looks absolutely factory, and it's trivial to do.

ric h

 

[DaveW]

They buy optical drives that come with black plastic bezels from the
factory.

 

[JAD]

for twice the price?.....not me..\\

 

[Crooked-Ridez]

They buy optical drives that come with black plastic bezels from the
factory.

Or they do it themselves and save the money by using a perfectly good unit
that they already have.


Ken,
I used SEM plastic bonding spray and SEM texture black paint. I used the
Texture Black because I also painted my whole case with it. You may want to
choose flat black to get the desired look.

 

[callsignviper]

for twice the price?.....not me..\\

Hmmm.......

$9 for a Panasonic floppy drive with factory black bezel.
$39 for a LiteOn 52x32x52x CDRW drive with factory black bezel.
$90 for a Memorex (rebadged Pioneer 106D) DVD writer with a factory black
and silver bezel.

Hardly seems like "twice the price" to me.


I considered painting and dyeing but at the price of some of these
"coloring" methods I decided to pass. In the long run there just didn't seem
to be a significant cost savings based on the above prices. The replaced
beige components will find new homes in my backup system, my daughter's
system, or become spares.......just in case.



I suppose if I wanted to go with green, blue, purple, or some other color
besides beige or black then painting would make sense. The prices on
components with black faceplates have dropped considerably in recent history
except for a few remaining price gouging resellers.



--
callsignviper


The truth is out there. You just have to look in the right places and ask
the right questions.

 

[JAD]

should we post and quote a million different products or what?
IN the past and currently there are still over priced peripherals based on their black color,,,(or any color other than beige/white)

 

[L David Matheny]

I recently bought a new case. Unfortunately, the one I wanted only
came in black. Now I have this black case with two beige components
standing out like sore thumbs.

I'm kind of afraid to spray paint the faces because I think the paint
will blow inside the components (e.g., a CD-ROM reader/writer) and
gum up the works.

How do most people blacken components to match cases?

Ken

You had several good replies. You could also talk to a local auto
body paint shop. They prime and paint plastic auto parts all the time.

 

[Phisherman]

I recently bought a new case. Unfortunately, the one I wanted only
came in black. Now I have this black case with two beige components
standing out like sore thumbs.

I'm kind of afraid to spray paint the faces because I think the paint
will blow inside the components (e.g., a CD-ROM reader/writer) and gum
up the works.

How do most people blacken components to match cases?

Ken

If I have to deal with this, then I want a (boring) beige case!

 

[Ruel Smith (Big Daddy)]

I recently bought a new case. Unfortunately, the one I wanted only
came in black. Now I have this black case with two beige components
standing out like sore thumbs.

Replace them with black components.

I'm kind of afraid to spray paint the faces because I think the paint
will blow inside the components (e.g., a CD-ROM reader/writer) and gum
up the works.

They usually use a screwdriver to trip the tabs and pull the faceplate off
before painting...

How do most people blacken components to match cases?

They buy black components. They're widely available.


--
Big Daddy Ruel Smith

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