Modding an external HD

[MrPete1985]

I just got a new (to me) external hard drive, I bought it cheap from a friend turns out it was just a bad USB cord 

So I bought some sand paper grit 150, 220, 320, and 400 and some Krylon Fusion blue gloss and I will be replacing the white LED with a red LED.  I'm not stranger to swapping a 0603 SMD LED but I am a first time painter, anyone have some tips for a first time painter?

The HD sill together


Taken apart


And a close up of the LED

[Sammy]

Sounds nice, can't wait t see it finished. i've got this same hdd also!, sorry i do not have any tips, because i am also a fist time painter, just don't put like 500 tons of paint because it runs and looks bad! lol

[nEoVaLoR]

I just got a new (to me) external hard drive, I bought it cheap from a friend turns out it was just a bad USB cord 

So I bought some sand paper grit 150, 220, 320, and 400 and some Krylon Fusion blue gloss and I will be replacing the white LED with a red LED.  I'm not stranger to swapping a 0603 SMD LED but I am a first time painter, anyone have some tips for a first time painter?

The HD sill together


Taken apart


And a close up of the LED

Two? Years ago I bought a 500gb toshiba hard drive and drilled holes and added leds to it. It looked really really nice. I hope yours turns out well too.

You only bought one can? I'm pretty sure you need the bare minimum of two, preferably three. Basecoat, Color, Finish. I can not instruct you on sanding, but I'm also pretty sure that the grit you listed is much too low for the sanding you need. It's going to leave scratches.

I suggest you talk to Rodent, he's really good with paint.

[Luigus]

The Fastest way to put this in steps is to first:

Get 600-800 Grit, 1000-1200 Grit, Primer, Color paint of choice, and clear coat

1. sand your case with the 600-800 grit, then after that the 100-1200 for the smooth feel

2. Wash off the dust on the case,

3. spray on your primer, about 2 Coats is the neccesary (10-20 min between coats)

4. spray on the color of choice (same like above 2-3 Coats, 10-25 Mins between coats)

5. Wait until completely dry, spray on 2 or more coats of you clear coat (10-20 mins between coats)

Tip: dont spray when there is wind outside as it will cause bubbles, and do it on a sunny day, otherwise youll have to wait up to 30 Mins between Coats

hope this helps

[toadzilla]

The Fastest way to put this in steps is to first:

Get 600-800 Grit, 1000-1200 Grit, Primer, Color paint of choice, and clear coat

1. sand your case with the 600-800 grit, then after that the 100-1200 for the smooth feel

2. Wash off the dust on the case,

3. spray on your primer, about 2 Coats is the neccesary (10-20 min between coats)

4. spray on the color of choice (same like above 2-3 Coats, 10-25 Mins between coats)

5. Wait until completely dry, spray on 2 or more coats of you clear coat (10-20 mins between coats)

Tip: dont spray when there is wind outside as it will cause bubbles, and do it on a sunny day, otherwise youll have to wait up to 30 Mins between Coats

hope this helps

depends every person is different i don't even put primer on i put 2 - 3 layers with a sand between them and then a bare minimal of 3 coats of clear  i know i add on a little kick of throwing it in the oven at minuim temp and allowing it to cook the paint on to the piece im doing

[Rodent]

The Fastest way to put this in steps is to first:

Get 600-800 Grit, 1000-1200 Grit, Primer, Color paint of choice, and clear coat

1. sand your case with the 600-800 grit, then after that the 100-1200 for the smooth feel

2. Wash off the dust on the case,

3. spray on your primer, about 2 Coats is the neccesary (10-20 min between coats)

4. spray on the color of choice (same like above 2-3 Coats, 10-25 Mins between coats)

5. Wait until completely dry, spray on 2 or more coats of you clear coat (10-20 mins between coats)

Tip: dont spray when there is wind outside as it will cause bubbles, and do it on a sunny day, otherwise youll have to wait up to 30 Mins between Coats

hope this helps

I TOTALLY AGGREE!!!!

Make sure you wet sand though don't dry sand it.  wet sand between primer coats and painted coats  then clear it, and if you want wet sand between the 2 coats of clear just enough to take any blemishs out and when your final coat of clear just don't touch it.. might want to wait a day though before your final clear coat... but the Results will be very impressive. ALLOW a little more driy time after wet sanding to make sure the paint sticks good.

I cant wait to see the end results this looks awesome!!

[1TONpete]

First wet sanding tips.
1 count your strokes.
2 lil drop of dish soap in your water will keep the paper from binding.
3 always crisscross strokes. diagonal motion with your hand. say like 10 strokes one way then crisscross. This is so you always cut against your micro scratches. Priming:
First you don't have to sand the piece first. unless you have scratches or damage or custom inlays or something. All you have to do is skuff the surface with a green scour pad. Take the shine off the piece, thats it.
next you will want to wipe down your piece with alcohol or quick prep if you have it, with a microfiber cloth.
Then you can prime.
I recommend you use 2 different color primers your first couple times around. This will help you learn how to properly wet sand.
Make a base primer coat , maybe 2 thin coats of a dark color primer if using a lighter color for actual paint. And a light primer if using a darker color like black.
Do not sand this coat. Spray a second coat or 3rd if using thin coats, of the opposite primer. So if you sprayed a white primer the first time , then spray a black or gray primer this time. When this is dry , you can wet sand this coat with some 800-1000 grit wet paper.
What will happen is the high spots will show through the different color primers showing you where you need to sand. This will also teach you the feel for how much wet sanding takes off. later on you wont need this cause you will have a good feel for wet sanding and wont need the training step.
If you have a flat surface you need to paint put a light down the side of the piece and look at the reflections of the light and check for warps, this tells you something ain't right in your surface.

Color coat: now that you have a feel for wet sanding time to color coat.
start very light, misty.
Build up your coats a lil fatter. 3 coats of color should do. with the last coat being a "wet" coat. Once dry wet sand quickly and coat 1 more time for good measure. wet sand again. color coat should be 1000-1200grit.
when you are happy with your color surface you can prep for clear coat.
check the can for repaint window.
by now you might have some time into your paint . some paints require you repaint with in 24 or you have to wait a week to recoat. if you recoat outside recoat window you will ruin your paint. So what I like to do is take my time and get my color coat up to standards, let it sit for a week then clear. more time you take on wet sanding your color coat the better the finish product will look.
Clear coat:
So much to learn....
basics.
start light work to heavy. you last coat should almost sag. let each coat set properly in between. do not rush set times.
you want every clear coat to look wet. This way it settles nice and flat. You will have a lil bit of uneven surface when done, but try not to make to much work for yourself in clear wet sand.
clear coat wet sanding is tricky. you need great lighting. side light everything. Look at reflections. 1200-1500 grit paper.
buff and polish when done.

example of my work.
[smg id=2205]

[MrPete1985]

thanks for the tips I'm going to go to Home Depot tomorrow and get some more paint and higher grit sand paper.

I am doing what looks like the same blue from Rodent's avatar so I'll get a can of white for the primer layers and pick up a can of clear coat

[Rodent]

You can use a silver base paint , before you paint the blue will bring out the blue even more, better then white primer  grey primer works good , then silver base paint then your blue then the clear coat   

[MrPete1985]

do I need to buy paint that says primer on the can or will just regular krylon fusion white be ok for the primer

also I stopped at home depot before work and the highest sand paper grit they had was 600 so I ordered some 800 and 1200 online

also for wet sanding do I wet the paper the case or both?

[Rodent]

do I need to buy paint that says primer on the can or will just regular krylon fusion white be ok for the primer

also I stopped at home depot before work and the highest sand paper grit they had was 600 so I ordered some 800 and 1200 online

also for wet sanding do I wet the paper the case or both?

You can use primer and use other paints, or just buy the krylon fusion , it has adheision promoter in there to help it stick.. you can get 1200 or 1500 grit sand paper at auto part stores.. wet the paper you will get a feel for it you can put some water on the part use a spray bottle or you can just get a bucket and dunk the paper in the bucket of water you will get a hang of it. only need to sand till smooth  and the paint will look dull .. but when repainted again and cleared after this , will give the paint depth like you can stick  your arm in to it up to your elbow ... you will see what i mean

[MrPete1985]

thanks rodent

I replced the LED


0603 LEDs are small little things