How to Build a Sleeper PC Part 4: Spray Painting your Vintage Computer Case

Whether you seek to restore, upgrade, or simply modify your vintage computer, spray painting the case can be an accessible (though not always perfect!) option. Here I walk you through the steps I typically take when painting an older computer case.
How to build a sleeper video series:
Part 1, Intro: • How to build a sleeper...
Part 2, Air Flow: • How to Build a Sleeper...
Part 3, HD Caddies, Hot Swaps: • How to Build a Sleeper...
#sleeperpc #spraypainting #spraypaintcase #spraypaintcomputercase #howtospraypaint

[@jimjackle6046]

i've worked in a furniture factory for over 25 years. You hit the nail-on-the-heads with the 'wait for a few days' aspect on finish. Don't rush it. Your wife doesn't like it and neither does paint.

[@gregdaweson4657]

Lol, the wife likes it to last for multiple days!

[@Snickerrick]

Great tips! Prep is important but patience is just as important. It's easy to want to just throw down a heavy coat even though the end result wont be nearly as good.

[@8-bitarghya718]

Nice man, I like to watch your videos, Keep it Up !!!!!!

[@GamingRetro]

Thanks, I appreciate the comment!

[@curtismbeard]

Looks good. Wish I had this info 20 years ago when a added a side window and painted a case black. Did not turn out as well. Love all the videos, keep up the good work, and thanks for making them!

[@GamingRetro]

Thanks for watching!

[@mOddEdLiKeHeLL]

Im glad I’m not the only one! That tower of doom looks great! I’ve been messing around with paint parts for a month. Take a look a the color “Matte Clamshell” made by Krylon. And satin” Smokey Beige” by Rust-Oleum

[@0wen101]

looks great

[@mrvellu]

good job!

[@GamingRetro]

Thanks!

[@DarDarBinks1986]

Glad to have all this info going in! I already have some stuff in mind for a sleeper rig such as the hard drive caddies and a Blu-ray drive for games that came on optical discs. Ditto repurposing the floppy drive as an SD card reader like Dr. Moddenstine did. Never thought about painting a case, though. I always thought the beige it came with was integral to the look. But if I do paint the case, I might go with the trans pride and lesbian pride colors. Maybe black to match any black drives I put in the front.

[@vidsurfer0725]

If you are spraying metal, self etching primer is more eyour friend than anything.

[@stewartfraser5357]

How did you go about getting the monitor beige? Was that stock or did you have to spray paint that too?

[@jorgem50]

too much prep. I bought the paint and went to town on my case. Took me 1hr total and looks fantastic. No primer no wating 24hrs later. Just started painting and 1hr later I was done

[@zainkhalid3670]

Can you give an update if the paint is still going fine?

[@jorgem50]

@@zainkhalid3670 paint is still good. Of course I haven't moved my computer from my desk but the paint hasn't chipped or peeled or anthing like that.

[@BennyTech]

Does this apply to painting the inside of a case as well?

[@GamingRetro]

It would to some degree. I'd remove whatever you can from the case and paint it separately. If you are painting the outside of chassis only (and want the inside to remain unpainted) you would need to use some plastic and tape to cover up all the openings. You can see when I did that with the ivory tower -- the first pic I show here after the intro.

[@GamingRetro]

Aaaand if are just painting the inside of the case it is basically the same (angles are a bit trickier though). Just make sure everything is removed first!

[@BennyTech]

Good to know! Thanks

[@mOddEdLiKeHeLL]

Hey Benny, if the inside of the case is bare metal, clean it with mineral spirt. That’s to get the oil and whatever is stuck to the metal off. Let it dry for an 30mins. Then use “etching primer”. Etching primer is made to bond to bare metal better then regular primer. Then you can follow all the other steps in the video