For rattle can paints - if you use them, pay attention to the preparation, and masking! When you use rattle cans, be sure to soak them in warm water (NOT HOT) for ten minutes before spraying for more pressure, and a finer mist!

1 - Shake for 2 minutes or until your arms are numb
2 - Soak in warm water for ten minutes
3 - Shake for 30 seconds
4 - Paint in a lateral motion - left to right or right to left, but make sure to spray before the xbox and then after so that there is no pooling effect.

Prevention
========
I highly recommend that you paint outdoors, or in a well-ventilated area. Lacquer paints can be very noxious, and stink up the whole house. Not only that, but you can get yourself into trouble without ventilation, causing headaches at first, followed by the more gruesome homage to the porcelain god (vomiting of course) if you aren’t careful.

Always, always, always use a painting mask! Why? Inhaling this stuff is just as bad as sniffing glue. Be sensibile. They aren’t that expensive, and can really save your lungs. Without a painting mask, you run the risk of breathing in the paint, which will coat your lungs. The body cannot break these chemicals down, and therefore, are there forever.

Also, use goggles, or safety glasses. Heating a rattle can too much, and have them blow up in their face. Nothing worse than having paint in your eyes, I can guarantee you that! Be on the safe side – better to look like a dork than a dork covered in paint that cannot be easily cleaned off. If it can happen, it will happen – Murphy’s Law always will prevail!

Materials
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There are several brands of paint out there; some are better than others. When you buy paint, be sure to get the kind that is specifically formulated for polycarbonate plastic (or lexan for short). The correct paint bonds itself to the lexan, is flexible, and allows it to stay in intact in case of an impact.

Dont's
=====
You do not want any Acrylic based paint as it will fail to adhere to the plastic and fail to dry correctly. If you make this mistake, then you will need to go to your local Home Depot and get some Turpentine as this will not eat the Xbox plastic.
Some cool colors to look at, but as long as it’s paint that is intended for polycarbonate you should be fine.

Cool Colors

Hope this guide was helpful in getting the results you were looking for in a custom paint job.

I am sure that there are other paints that you can use to get the results you want, but if you want a paint that will surly adhere and not bubble, flake, chip over time due to poor adherence then Lexan is what you want.


This is a newbie guide, for the professionals out there, please feel free to add to this post with you experiences.

PX


This post has been edited by PhantomX: Sep 3 2003, 03:56 AM

nice guide! gave me just the amount of info I need to paint my xbox (or GBA to start!)

This is a good (very good) guide for beginners...heck i might do it myself now that its all laid out here

I am putting together an ultimate case modding guide...and this has guaranteed itself a spot in it!

brahm2: btw, nice site you have, can you tell me more about your custom jewel you have as that is some classy artwork.

PX

i never thought to put in warm water.

thx for the tip

Just started painting my xbox with standard car paint cans from halfords.
damn i love the smell of that Lacquer [skulks off into corner]

This post has been edited by psibob84: Sep 25 2003, 12:09 AM

i've painted 3 xbox cases so far. i always use plastic primer to start. it makes the paint stick very good.

Great guide! Now I HAVE to paint my box (that's what I love about these forums...as soon as I start thinking I should do something to my box [adding a led to my dongle, adding a new type of fan to my box, or in this case painting my box] a new thread about it always pops up, niftyness!!) Thanks again! Now all I need is some 350-400 grit sandpaper...

This post has been edited by zhaka: Sep 25 2003, 12:54 AM

Hey i am new to this stuff how do i paint the box 2 colors i saw the link but it doesnt show the best way to cover the big x ???

Awsome tips remember do not paint near anything that will give off dust or any little particals unless you are doing a beach scene on your BOX. oh yeah always wear a mask vomitting up a can full of paint is not fun. later guys.

This post has been edited by xcosta54: Dec 26 2003, 03:05 AM

Hey i used regular Krylon Interior-Exterior paint, not Krylon Fusion. on the can it says "for wood, metal, plastic, wicker, and more". is it alright that i used the regular Krylon spray paint and not the Fusion?

it might work but lexan paint is the best but to make sure spray some primer on it. and in fact that step needs to be added to the tut. primer is a must for plastics. and for most painting.

and 350-400 what you trying to do give it a "sanded look" ? better go for 1000 or higher, it dont need to be RUFF just need to take the smoothness off the xbox case.

if you want to do it RIGHT also grab some pre paint cleaning liquid that stuff is super strong and will remove anyhting that might cause bubbling or paint spreading, spreading is like when the paint dont stick in certain spots and it spread there and no paint sticks or the paint is thin.
if you sand, be sure to clean it afterwords, might look into some tack cloth,, its a cloth that is slightly sticky and removes dust particles and such.

This post has been edited by LESTAT: Jan 1 2004, 11:55 AM

umm, last night i sprayed it directly on the plastic without primer or anything. all i did was wash the case with dishwashing soap. this morning it dried with dots all over in the paint, should i just put more coats?

was the case clean and dry when you painted it?