Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 16

Okay, my warranty is about up, and I'm really getting sick of green and ice. :-)

I was thinking that I could perhaps get a can of chrome paint and spray-paint the plastic parts, then reassemble my VDX. Problem is I really worry about chipping and flaking (I'm already pretty sure I would no longer be able to use the snap cover.)

Any thoughts on this? Has anyone else repainted their Visors?

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Midwest
Posts: 232

I haven't actually painted a Visor. Mine is a Platinum and seems to be holding onto it's original silver paint pretty well.


I have, however, painted alot of plastic parts of various things. I'll share some advice...

Clean the part well. Soap and water may do. Dry well. Don't handle it before you paint it. Fingers leave oil that will keep the paint from sticking. Really smooth plastic can be roughened slightly with 0000 steel wool to give the paint a better grip. Use a paint specifically made for plastics. Many spray paints are not. You might check the auto supply houses for paint made to repaint plastic car parts. It should be very durable. Practice your painting style first. Most beginning spray painters tend to hold the spray in one spot too long, causing a build-up of paint than will drip or run. Let the paint dry twice as long as it suggests on the can before handling it. Although a paint may "seem" dry, it often will cure to a more handleable state if left longer.

Spray in a well ventilated area.
Have fun.

Dave

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Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 17

Search this site (not just this forum) There was a link to a Japanese site (parts of it English-translated) in which a guy took apart his Ice Visor Deluxe and used some dye to change its color. The final picture had his and all his friends new colors, including pink, chrome, orange, and teal. Search around, and you might consider doing something like that.

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Nazareth, PA
Posts: 99

heres the link to that japanese site http://www.fureai.or.jp/~mori-t/
I painted the back of my Green Deluxe and the paint started to wear off after about 3 months, I think is was from sliding it in and out of the case so much. Good Luck.

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Midwest
Posts: 232

Got a translucent ICE Visor? Paint just the INSIDE of it. You'll see the color thru the clear plastic, but won't have the paint on the outside where it can be worn off. You can do this with other translucent colors, but what you'll see will be a mix of the plastic color and the paint color.

We call it reverse painting.

Have fun.

Dave

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Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 16

quote:

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Originally posted by HostileJava
heres the link to that japanese site http://www.fureai.or.jp/~mori-t/

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Yeah, I've been all over that site. Some crazy stuff going on over there. The problem is that I don't want to dye the plastic; I want to paint it. The whole translucent thing is wearing thin on me.

quote:

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Originally posted by HostileJava
I painted the back of my Green Deluxe and the paint started to wear off after about 3 months, I think is was from sliding it in and out of the case so much. Good Luck.

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Hmm, what kind of case do you use? Mine is lined with felt, which may or may not wear that badly. Also, what kind of paint did you use? I think I'll be taking DBrown's suggestion as far as finding a paint that works well on plastics.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 120

DB is right on. Prep the inside of the sasing and paint IT, rather than the exterior. Re-attach the case and, the paint (done correctly) is as permanent as any other industrial surfacing (except MAYBE the Prism And it can't be rubbed off. Also, as DB mentioned. pretty much needs to be an Ice Visor, any other translucent might look, eh, well, "You roll the dice, you take 'er chances."

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 120

sasing, sheesh! Monday! heh heh... CASING

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 118

Painting a VDX

I was one of the original posters on the "dye your own" under my other nick (forgot the password and had to make another account, d'oh!)

The things that I have found for coloring a ICE case are as follows.

1. Using RIT dye. Works, but color tends to be on the very pale side of whatever you are using.

2. Sharpie marker. I used a purple sharpie (the kind you use to write on a CD with) and then covered it with clear nail polish. This worked really well. I have a translucent purple and dark purple DLX, and I have really liked the effect.

Things I suspect would work.

1. Plastic model (testors or other brand) paint. Its designed to work on plastic without a primer base, and comes in a variety of colors. I have never seen it do anything bad to plastic (after years and years of models) and it can be put in an air brush, and very evenly coated on the case.

2. Colored nail polish. It's designed to be able to stick to acrylic (fake) nails as well as regular nails. I don't know if it would cause warping on the plastic however, I recommend you use it on a part of the snap-cover or blank visor cover first, so if it causes damage, you don't bollix up the actual PDA.

Cheers!

Tucson Sailors

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 16

Re: Painting a VDX

quote:

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Originally posted by tucson_sailors
Plastic model (testors or other brand) paint. Its designed to work on plastic without a primer base, and comes in a variety of colors. I have never seen it do anything bad to plastic (after years and years of models) and it can be put in an air brush, and very evenly coated on the case.

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Aberdeen, SD
Posts: 2531

quote:

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Originally posted by HostileJava
heres the link to that japanese site http://www.fureai.or.jp/~mori-t/

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Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 16

Results

Well, I'm back. It didn't work out so well. My painting style was good enough (and I was able to sand and repaint a little accident on the hard cover), but I really had trouble painting the ridges on the sides, and now my springboard slot cover is really tight.

It looks good from a distance (I picked GM Royal Blue) but isn't terribly impressive close-up.

If anyone has a broken Visor, I'm looking for its casing

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 17

pictures

could you snap a few photos for us?

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 22

Inside?

I like the idea of painting the inside of an Ice Visor. Has anyone actually done this? I'm thinking of giving it a shot one weekend.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 16

Re: pictures

quote:

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Originally posted by Leo
could you snap a few photos for us?

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If I had a digital camera

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 64

Painting the inside

Bear with me...

I recently picked up a controller for my dreamcast that was transparent plastic. Vowing never to bring anything of the transparent plastic variety into my home I decided to paint the inside of the controller.

I took the controller apart and taped up all of the holes with packing tape. Then I masked the edges as not to paint the outside.

I spray-painted the inside o the controller with chrome paint. When put together it looks like the controller is made of metal covered with a coat of plastic.

The effect is totally impressive.

Since that time I have started looking at other items that come with transparent cases. Already I have modified the crystal VMU (Visual Memory Unit) my friend has.

I imagine this could be applied to the inside of a Visor as well. There are even metallic paints with a hint of color that would look superb inisde an Ice visor.

If you want to get fancy you can try some of the fleck-stone, marble or cracked metal look.

The nice part of this is that the paint will never wear off since it is protected from the elements and the oil from your hands.

Kamalot

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 99

Please tell me you have some photos of your work?

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 64

Photos?

Why yes I do!

This file shows a red and blue VMU from the front.

The inside of the blue has been painted. You can see that it looks like metal plates covered with a blue plastic shell. The Red one is untouched and shows the curcit board inside still.

This photo was taken with the Eyemodule camera.

Kamalot

Attachment: vmu_front.jpg
This has been downloaded 204 time(s).

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 64

More Photos

Controler_Front.jpg shows the wacky-pink controler. I don't have before/after photos of it. Everything pink used to be transparent-pink.

This photo was taken with the Eyemodule camera.

Kamalot

Attachment: controler_front.jpg
This has been downloaded 176 time(s).

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 99

AWESOME

That looks so awesome, I can't wait to give it a shot!

To people who have already taken their visors apart - is it difficult? Any tips? I took apart a wince device and it never worked again - no worries though, that was my excuse to buy the VDX!