SRGilbert Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 My XEGS' case came to me in the lovliest shade of yellow/brown that I tried to correct using the popular methods of de-yellowing. Actually, it's not too bad, but it it came out with brush marks that left big swirls in the color. Frankly, yellow or white, I'm not a fan of the XEGS color scheme anyway and thought about making it black like every other Atari console on the face of the earth. I first thought about just using black spray paint meant for plastic, but I was concerned the cart port might be an issue with scratching the paint off inserting and removing carts. There is also a lot of info on using RIT dye to recolor plastics out there, but I can't find an instance of anyone using it on an Atari computer. It involves dunking the parts into boiling liquid repeatedly for a few moments at a time until you get the results you want. Will the plastic case be harmed by this? Attached is a P-shopped image of what it might look like. I'd like to recolor the buttons too, but I'm not sure how I'd re-label them if I did. Anyone tried this before? Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/181654-custom-recolor-for-xegs-case/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Stephen Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 My XEGS' case came to me in the lovliest shade of yellow/brown that I tried to correct using the popular methods of de-yellowing. Actually, it's not too bad, but it it came out with brush marks that left big swirls in the color. Frankly, yellow or white, I'm not a fan of the XEGS color scheme anyway and thought about making it black like every other Atari console on the face of the earth. I first thought about just using black spray paint meant for plastic, but I was concerned the cart port might be an issue with scratching the paint off inserting and removing carts. There is also a lot of info on using RIT dye to recolor plastics out there, but I can't find an instance of anyone using it on an Atari computer. It involves dunking the parts into boiling liquid repeatedly for a few moments at a time until you get the results you want. Will the plastic case be harmed by this? Attached is a P-shopped image of what it might look like. I'd like to recolor the buttons too, but I'm not sure how I'd re-label them if I did. Anyone tried this before? Looks pretty good flat black. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/181654-custom-recolor-for-xegs-case/#findComment-2276058 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimo Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 I have read that Krylon fusion is the best paint to use, it actually bonds to the plastic making it permanent rather than lying on the surface like normal paint. Have you thought about using chrome paint for the buttons? I hate those pastel buttons with a passion! Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/181654-custom-recolor-for-xegs-case/#findComment-2276188 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEtalGuy66 Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 Oh god... here we go again.. Krylon fusion does not "bond" to plastic.. If you dont believe me, paint something with it, let it dry for a week, and then take some WD-40 (or just about any petroleum based solvent) and spray it on it, and you can wipe the stuff right off with a rag.. TRUTH: NOTHING THAT COMES OUT OF A "SPRAY CAN" MAKES A FINSIH THAT IS WORTH PUTIING ON YOUR EQUIPMENT. IT DOES NOT HARDEN, AND WILL WEAR OFF AND LOOK LIKE UTTER SHIT IF YOU HANDLE THE EQUIPMENT OVER TIME. If you dont believe me, then contact a representative from a real paint company such as PPG, SICKENS, SHERWIN WILLIAMS, or DUPONT. ALL of them will tell you that any coating that has to be durable (withstand wear) is chemically hardened by mixing 2 or more agents at the time of application. This is why nothing that comes from a spray can ever gets hard. If they ever come up with a spray can that has 2 separate canisters, and an auto-mixing nozzle, then maybe.. Until then, if you want a "permanent" finish, then either a) invest in the equipment to mix and spray REAL paint, or b) go to a place that does automotive paint, and see what they will charge you to apply it. (probably not much if you're willing to wait until they are spraying a car the color you want) Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/181654-custom-recolor-for-xegs-case/#findComment-2276271 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fibrewire Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 Until then, if you want a "permanent" finish, then either a) invest in the equipment to mix and spray REAL paint, or b) go to a place that does automotive paint, and see what they will charge you to apply it. (probably not much if you're willing to wait until they are spraying a car the color you want) Done this many times with car parts at autobody places. If you know what you're doing, most places are happy to do trade + cost of the paint. And they'll paint ANYTHING with a hard surface... Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/181654-custom-recolor-for-xegs-case/#findComment-2276468 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari Smeghead Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 I'll be curious to hear/see what you end up doing, since I agree, the original XEGS looks kinda silly to me, but it's still nice to have a detachable keyboard and 64k. Though my 800 is currently front and center, cuz I still love the ol' battleship. For the record, your mock-up looks sweet to me. Black is the new...er, black. Perhaps something shiny, like the PS3. Cheers, Smeg Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/181654-custom-recolor-for-xegs-case/#findComment-2278208 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATARI7800fan Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 That looks very nice indeed. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/181654-custom-recolor-for-xegs-case/#findComment-2278222 Share on other sites More sharing options...
RevEng Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Automotive paint is the best solution. Second best would be vinyl dye (not a paint), which is a favorite of the case mod community. I've used vinyl dye on digital camcorders, and it doesn't wear off or chip like paints, but it's a bit more easily scratched than automotive paint. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/181654-custom-recolor-for-xegs-case/#findComment-2278237 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+remowilliams Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Just ask all the fantastically shitty orange peely looking Jaguars out there how good spray paint looks on your console... 3 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/181654-custom-recolor-for-xegs-case/#findComment-2278239 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEtalGuy66 Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Automotive paint does get hard and is very durable.. But you dont have to use automotive paint.. There are MANY MANY types and formulations of paint out there that are designed for various professional applications.. They dont come from a spray can.. NOTHING that comes from a spray can is resistant to wear (including vinyl dye).. Vinyl is a soft surface to begin with. When plastic parts are painted during manufacturing, there are paints made specifically for this. The paint cures as hard as (or harder than) the surface of the plastic. Like I said.. contact a professional PAINT REP. They sell the stuff for all manner of applications for a living.. They know their shit. Automotive paint is relatively expensive, and may not work any better for your application than something you can buy much cheaper.. If you can find a body shop that happens to be spraying a car the color you want, then you can probably get them to spray your console along with it, for next to nothing.. But if you are gonna invest in equipment to do it yourself, and you are going to BUY the paint materials, I would contact a sales representative from an actual paint manufacturer before you spend ANY MONEY.. You will be glad you did.. (and I dont mean the guy at walmert who works in the paint section.. I mean a trained representative from a professional/industrial paint manufacturer) Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/181654-custom-recolor-for-xegs-case/#findComment-2278254 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+wood_jl Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 You can spray automotive paint with an artist's "airbrush." I've done this many times in the restoration of vehicles, where I'd paint the outer body first, and then go back with the airbrush and paint the doorjambs, etc. You may have to thin the paint a little bit more with thinner, but it works, and it certainly worked better than I thought it would, the first time I tried it - over 20 years ago. Metalguy is correct, however, that the automotive paint is different stuff - and by that, I mean superior. He's also correct in that it is expensive. I haven't painted a vehicle in 5 or 6 years now, and I was astounded at how expensive it was for the materials. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/181654-custom-recolor-for-xegs-case/#findComment-2278267 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEtalGuy66 Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 You can spray automotive paint with an artist's "airbrush." Yep.. The used car "touch up service" guys do it all the time.. But noone says you have to buy a state of the art, "gravity feed" gun either. You can get a cheapo old-school paint gun from harbor freight tools (or some other cheap tool supplier) for about $20.00.. Then all you need is a decent high-volume air compressorsome thinner/reducer, (for cleaning the gun and mixing the paint) and the paint, itself. With automotive paint, the amjor expense is gonna be in the paint materials, themselves. Which is why I reccomend talking to a paint manufacturer, and finding out what they offer for durable coatings that will work on hard plastic surfaces.. They almost certainly have something alot cheaper than automotive paint that is also much better than consumer grade (pre-mixed) paint. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/181654-custom-recolor-for-xegs-case/#findComment-2278338 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flojomojo Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Frankly, yellow or white, I'm not a fan of the XEGS color scheme anyway and thought about making it black like every other Atari console on the face of the earth. Sorry for the bump ... I was reading about this crazy old system and found your black XEGS idea via Google Images. Did you ever do this? If so, got pics? If not, do you still have the ugly XEGS? Curious minds from the future want to know. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/181654-custom-recolor-for-xegs-case/#findComment-3683794 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRGilbert Posted January 30, 2017 Author Share Posted January 30, 2017 Sorry for the bump ... I was reading about this crazy old system and found your black XEGS idea via Google Images. Did you ever do this? If so, got pics? If not, do you still have the ugly XEGS? Curious minds from the future want to know. Well, let me tell you. LOL I tried the RIT Dye method, and it came out, not so good. After that I gave up and left it that way. It's not much of an improvement, I'll tell you that! I theory, I could try painting it still, but I never got around to it. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/181654-custom-recolor-for-xegs-case/#findComment-3683798 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flojomojo Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 LOL is right! I did not expect a response, certainly not so quickly!! If you get something worthy of sharing, I'd love a look. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/181654-custom-recolor-for-xegs-case/#findComment-3683803 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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