Culance Ok let's do a project log from day 1. This is what I will be performing surgery on... First thing is to strip the case down. Sides ,top, front. The front is clipped to the metal work. With the metal sides removed, I want to strip away the paint for the new finish. As soon as the paint stripper went on, this big bubble appeared. "Great, this won't take long!" I thought..... WRONG! would you believe that was the only area that bubbled. Fortunately the stripper did soften the rest of the paint slightly. So it was rubbed down with 200/600 grit W&T. The top panel was given the same treatment. more to follow soon..........
That's more like it Macroman a proper project log at last Can't wait to see more, and keep up the good work. Cheers, CC
Ooohh Aaahhh.... Nice patient to operate on. Wish I had one of those. Unfortunately I had to be satisfied with a cheap brandless case. But you got yourself a moddable patient
Nice and shiny. Seems like you need some really nasty stuff to get rid of the old paint if that is the result with normal paint stripper.
same here ive seen some1 do it but im not sure what you would do once the bare alu surface was exposed.
Ok a few more pics... After removing the paint from one side and the top, I turned my attention to the opening side. This was to have a window so I left the paint stripping until the window was cut. The handle was removed. The window was measured and drawn on the inside of the panel. 14mm holes were drilled in the window corners. This gives rounded corners and gives the jigsaw a starting point. Because the jigsaw would not be able to get into the edges, the window was redrawn on the out side of the panel. Clamped and ready to cut. I never bothered to protect the panel surface since it was already covered in almost indestructable paint which would be removed later. The window cut-out ready for tidying up with a file.
My intention was to polish the steel to a mirror finish. Unfortunately the steel had patches of "grain" and no amount of polishing would remove them. Not even with an industrial polisher. Since I could not achieve a perfect mirror, I needed something else. So I decided to try a "brushed" look. Hmm, I haven't fully decided on the finish yet.
I managed to accomplish that effect using a belt sander with a jig guide to make sure the lines are straight but it kept drifting around so I used a sanding block butted up against the guide... just a guess.
The brushing effect looks cool dude like someone elce said least u got a really modable case to start with My purple button seams to lack some exhaust holes . Id like to see what ur gonna do with the white front but knowing you im sure it will rock when its done
The brushed effect was done with 200grit W+D. The paper was wrapped around a block of wood. Rubbing should be done from one end of the work piece to the other, in a straight line and no stopping along the way. Keep the work piece wet when rubbing. a drop of washing up liquid helps to produce a nice finish. (I mean 1 drop!). I will post better pics of it as I continue...
