I need help and suggestions on painting my laptop!

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum because I am new to having a laptop as well! I have been using PCs all my life, but four months ago I purchased a budget Toshiba Satellite M115-S3094 laptop. It came in a Mist Gray color which is pretty plain, and most satellites come in that color.

A few weeks ago, I noticed a scratch that I thought I could buff out with a pencil eraser (what a mistake). It took off some of the paint and left a mark. I decided to try to even it out but now it looks splotchy and I have managed to take the paint off on the corner. I am disapointed that Toshiba put crummy paint on the laptop that comes off really easily, but I guess that is what I get for a cheaper laptop.

I want to paint my laptop because these cosmetic blemishes just look bad to me. Underneath the paint, the plastic is black. Is there a way I can remove the paint off the laptop? I probably want to spray paint it with glitter or something just to accent the black plastic underneath. What are safe paint removers for plastic? Do I have to use primer for this? What is the best spray paints to use? I need all the help and suggestions I can get!

 

A simple search in this forum will turn up plenty of threads describing how to paint and what paint to use etc..

Keep in mind that if you paint your whole notebook, it will void the warranty.

 

No, it will not void your warranty.
see the link in my sig....

 

I would definatly take the laptop apart to paint it, and I would sand all the parts down so I was at the plastic and then I would prime it and paint it with the color of my choice, but I would use automotive paint, which I highly doubt you have the ability and equipment to do. And then I would clear coat it and possibly even wax it and be extremely happy!

 

Something you could do so you are not w/o a laptop while painting it...hunt around on somewhere like eBay and buy a complete set of "plastics". Meaning the base, lcd bezel w/back, all ocvers, etc...then sand and paint that...when it is done you just need to move the guts from one case to the other...

of course this will void any warranty you have but taking the whole thing apart is the only way to do it right. You even want to remove the mousepad by sanding down the plastic welds. It all needs to come apart to make it look professionally done, just like painting a car it needs to come part to do it right. Plus by using extra parts if ya screw up, who cares just resand and repaint...

It will be a fun project and will likely take a couple months but the job will look great in the end. Make sure to fiind out what your case in made of too, then make sure the paint & primer you select will actually stick to that material.

 

Ok , I read your post. Your arguments are logical, maybe you can win if you take it to the court. But you wont be able to solve the matter by speaking with the customer support for sure.
You yourself admit that

Well, you can try and see.. But I wouldn't .

 

Look into Krylon Fusion paint, I have had good success with it and I think I few other people on the forum have as well. It is much easier to use than automotive paint. Much less prep work.

 

Krylon Fusion paint for plasic is good paint for notebooks.
I've had good luck using both types of paint and contrary to what some others say you CAN paint your notebook without taking it all a part, providing that your only painting the lid. It is all in the masking and prepwork. I've paint several notebooks with no problem at all with my latest being here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=102358

 

I painted a lot more than just the lid with masking. See pics in sig, nothing was taken apart ... did spend a lot of time on masking and prep.

 

Yup, when I painted mine I took it apart, you have to do a lot of masking either way and be super duper careful!