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Painting Toughbook lids?

Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 12:14 pm
by Rob
Does anyone have any idea about successfully and professionally painting the LIDS of Toughbooks? CF-52 specifically.

What is needed paint/powder coat wise? Is it hard? Does anyone have this experience?

Thanks in advanced for the help!

Re: Painting Toughbook lids?

Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 6:46 pm
by Toughbook
Rob... On several occasions for builds where the customer had me paint the lids and do a custom logo on the front... I took mine to a body shop and had them painted for around $75 each as I recall. This was with automotive paint with hardener and they came out flawless.

No doubt others will come in with other (cheaper) ways... I have heard of spatter paint, powder coat, etc.

Re: Painting Toughbook lids?

Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 6:51 pm
by Shawn
Easiest/cheapest is rust oleum texture paint. The silver is a very close match. Scuff it first with a scotch pad. 2 or 3 medium coats. Did my cf30 a year ago. Still looks great.

Rust o leum textured metallic silver. 251053..available at my local WalMart.....

I painted buses for 15 years using urethane paint...The finish is only as good as the prep work. Automotive paint is very durable. Epoxy is great, but expensive..Try a $7.00 can of Rust o leum and see what you think. Practice on an old lid first.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/attachm ... resize.jpg

Re: Painting Toughbook lids?

Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 9:12 pm
by Toughbook
He has plenty of old lids... LOL

Re: Painting Toughbook lids?

Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 9:23 pm
by Shawn
Texture paint is forgiving. Great for less than experienced painters.

He may need to repair the footprints and cracks first.

Re: Painting Toughbook lids?

Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 9:19 am
by mklym
Shawn wrote:...The finish is only as good as the prep work.
That is the key regardless of paint used. If you spend the time on proper prep, the end result will be good if you don't glob on the paint.

Have phun! :D

Re: Painting Toughbook lids?

Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 12:21 pm
by wyrm73
Shawn wrote:He may need to repair the footprints and cracks first.
Nope, we will never forget nor fail to remind Rob of the day he broke the seemingly unbreakable. :boing:

Re: Painting Toughbook lids?

Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 12:42 pm
by Rob
:D

Re: Painting Toughbook lids?

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 7:57 pm
by Silver Trooper
I think either Duracoat or Cerakote would be perfect. If they are good enough to coat firearms, a Toughbook would be nothing. They come in either bake on or non, but even the bake on would be okay as you don't have to heat them to a high degree to cure.