Custom PC - UK (2021-09)

MODDING / HOW TO GUIDES

Spray-paint

your case

How to

3 / DEALING WITH RIVETS

You need to dismantle your case before you spray it. PC cases are usually

held together with screws, rivets or both. It’s easy to remove screws, but

you’ll need to drill out rivets. Start with a 3mm drill bit and increase the bit

in size until you drill the rivet out of the case. The holes are usually 3mm,

4mm or 5mm wide.

2 / INTERIOR AND/OR EXTERIOR?

Just spraying the interior or exterior has its benefits. It will mean needing a

lot less paint and you’ll be done in half the time. However, you’ll also need

to mask the areas you don’t want to paint. An ATX case will need roughly

two cans of primer, colour and clear coats for the exterior and the same

again for the interior.

S

ummer is the best time of year to spray-paint your PC, as

you’re more likely to get a better finish and the paints will dry

much faster than in winter too. It’s also easier to get outside

into well-ventilated spaces, and you don’t have to spend hours outside

in freezing temperatures either.

This month we’re taking you through the process of spraying your PC

case, whether it’s screwed or riveted together, and covering all the

information you need to make the process as pain-free as possible,

while still resulting in a fantastic finish. The products you need are

readily available and cost no more than they did two years ago, so unlike

some PC components, spray-painting your PC is affordable and a great

way to transform your case.

Antony Leather shows you how to

brighten up your PC with a splash of

your own chosen colour

TOTAL PROJECT TIME / 7 DAYS

TOOLS YOU’LL NEED

1 / CHOOSE YOUR COLOURS

Your first step is to decide on the colour or colours you’ll be spraying your

case. You’ll need to buy enough paint to deal with whole panels of your

case in a single session for the best finish.

Colour spray paint, primer

and clear coat

Most hardware stores

Frog Tape
Most hardware stores

Plastic greenhouse

Most hardware stores

Latex gloves

Most hardware stores

Safety goggles

Most hardware stores

Respirator mask

Most hardware stores

Rivets and rivet gun

Most hardware stores