Shiny!
August 14, 2008 10:38 AM Subscribe
Like shiny things? Bill Owen has a step by step tutorial on getting a mirror paint finish on objects with paint and wax.
Yeah, this seems like a lot of work. Why not use, say, a piece of acrylic mirror?
Also: s/objects/flat metal/g;
posted by DU at 10:51 AM on August 14, 2008
Also: s/objects/flat metal/g;
posted by DU at 10:51 AM on August 14, 2008
Case modding is not about doing things the easy way. Any schmuck could stick a mirror on there, and then it'd look like a PC with a mirror stuck to it.
posted by bizwank at 10:53 AM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by bizwank at 10:53 AM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
Right, sorry. What I meant to say was: "Pretty cool--now I just need a way to gold plate the screws and I have the perfect machine."
posted by DU at 10:59 AM on August 14, 2008
posted by DU at 10:59 AM on August 14, 2008
Two months making your computer case look shiny, but a lifetime of annoyance at the fingerprints and grease smudges it subsequently shows.
posted by Dave Faris at 11:03 AM on August 14, 2008
posted by Dave Faris at 11:03 AM on August 14, 2008
DU writes "Why not use, say, a piece of acrylic mirror?"
Your object isn't always flat, like say the front of the case on this mod. It's essentially impossible to apply a mirror to anything with a compound curve.
posted by Mitheral at 11:05 AM on August 14, 2008
Your object isn't always flat, like say the front of the case on this mod. It's essentially impossible to apply a mirror to anything with a compound curve.
posted by Mitheral at 11:05 AM on August 14, 2008
I always like looking at cool casemods, but I'm too utilitarian to want to spend the time or money to actually do any.
Still, its amazing to see how *MUCH* time and effort this guy put into it. Its quite impressive.
posted by sotonohito at 11:06 AM on August 14, 2008
Still, its amazing to see how *MUCH* time and effort this guy put into it. Its quite impressive.
posted by sotonohito at 11:06 AM on August 14, 2008
Quarter size drop (size of CPU chip) ...
I like how he explains the size of a quarter using a cpu chip as a reference.
posted by atrazine at 11:15 AM on August 14, 2008 [3 favorites]
I like how he explains the size of a quarter using a cpu chip as a reference.
posted by atrazine at 11:15 AM on August 14, 2008 [3 favorites]
but is his carnuba wax bespoke?
posted by boo_radley at 11:29 AM on August 14, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by boo_radley at 11:29 AM on August 14, 2008 [3 favorites]
As a guy who spent $10,000 for a really tricked out 486 back in the day, I feel for these guys 18 months from now, when their whole computing platform has been obsoleted.
posted by StickyCarpet at 11:33 AM on August 14, 2008
posted by StickyCarpet at 11:33 AM on August 14, 2008
I feel for these guys 18 months from now, when their whole computing platform has been obsoleted.
Aluminum sheet metal has the advantage of not following Moore's Law.
posted by backseatpilot at 11:37 AM on August 14, 2008 [5 favorites]
Aluminum sheet metal has the advantage of not following Moore's Law.
posted by backseatpilot at 11:37 AM on August 14, 2008 [5 favorites]
There seems to be a fair bit of polishing about this week....
posted by Kiwi at 11:37 AM on August 14, 2008
posted by Kiwi at 11:37 AM on August 14, 2008
That's nothing. I put my computer under the desk and it looks totally invisible!
posted by ardgedee at 11:42 AM on August 14, 2008
posted by ardgedee at 11:42 AM on August 14, 2008
That's really incredible. The amount of work (and surprisingly necessary attention to detail considering it's a flat finish) that he put into it is impressive. He's basically demonstrated how to make your box even shinier than an auto finish, which is sweet as hell. It's nice to see that people can make boxes as nice as the VoodooPC ones for a tenth the cost.
posted by shmegegge at 11:44 AM on August 14, 2008
posted by shmegegge at 11:44 AM on August 14, 2008
> It's essentially impossible to apply a mirror to anything with a compound curve.
I don't know about that. There aren't any steps in that process that you couldn't do without power tools -- it would just take a lot longer. Just remember that a lot of thin coats are better than a thick coat.
posted by ardgedee at 11:45 AM on August 14, 2008
I don't know about that. There aren't any steps in that process that you couldn't do without power tools -- it would just take a lot longer. Just remember that a lot of thin coats are better than a thick coat.
posted by ardgedee at 11:45 AM on August 14, 2008
Aluminum sheet metal has the advantage of not following Moore's Law.
Yeah, but the new motherboards don't fit the old format. (Maybe today's the day to throw out that stack of black anodized rack-mounted cases with 5" floppy bays.)
posted by StickyCarpet at 11:51 AM on August 14, 2008
Yeah, but the new motherboards don't fit the old format. (Maybe today's the day to throw out that stack of black anodized rack-mounted cases with 5" floppy bays.)
posted by StickyCarpet at 11:51 AM on August 14, 2008
It'd be a cool thing to do with a guitar body, never mind case modding.
posted by substrate at 11:51 AM on August 14, 2008
posted by substrate at 11:51 AM on August 14, 2008
ATX cases are probably the PC component that's changed least over the years. You could still take most cases from 1998 and build a modern PC inside. So a "riced out" case isn't such a fruitless endeavour.
My own PC is basically a pile of junk hanging out of a half-busted case, but that's the æsthetic I was going for...
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 11:54 AM on August 14, 2008
My own PC is basically a pile of junk hanging out of a half-busted case, but that's the æsthetic I was going for...
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 11:54 AM on August 14, 2008
As a guy who spent two weeks last winter obsessively polishing his cranks (insert joke here) I appreciate his dedication. Even if it's not my cup of Kool-Aid.
posted by fixedgear at 12:26 PM on August 14, 2008
posted by fixedgear at 12:26 PM on August 14, 2008
"a mirror paint finish on objects"
Caution: does not work on turds.
posted by Eideteker at 12:37 PM on August 14, 2008
Caution: does not work on turds.
posted by Eideteker at 12:37 PM on August 14, 2008
ATX cases are probably the PC component that's changed least over the years.
Intel tried to change things with the BTX, but its big-ass integrated fan design proved unnecessary once it ditched the Netburst architecture direction and went with the present stuff.
Hmm, it's been six months since my last system upgrade (I cannablized a pico BTX board-based system into a regular ATX desktop Lian Li case) . . . . wonder what's out there now.
posted by yort at 12:38 PM on August 14, 2008
Intel tried to change things with the BTX, but its big-ass integrated fan design proved unnecessary once it ditched the Netburst architecture direction and went with the present stuff.
Hmm, it's been six months since my last system upgrade (I cannablized a pico BTX board-based system into a regular ATX desktop Lian Li case) . . . . wonder what's out there now.
posted by yort at 12:38 PM on August 14, 2008
It's essentially impossible to apply a mirror to anything with a compound curve.
You can use polished stainless steel though, which is close enough.
posted by smackfu at 12:46 PM on August 14, 2008
You can use polished stainless steel though, which is close enough.
posted by smackfu at 12:46 PM on August 14, 2008
As a guy who spent two weeks last winter obsessively polishing his cranks (insert joke here) I appreciate his dedication. Even if it's not my cup of Kool-Aid.
My roommate recently took on the project of cleaning a vintage bike frame he picked up in Japan. He had an allergic reaction to one of the polishes, broke out in a full body rash. When he woke up the next day, his eyes had swollen shut and he had to go to the hospital. None of which would have happened if instead of nasty chemicals, he had polished the bike with a glass of Chimay.
posted by billyfleetwood at 12:56 PM on August 14, 2008
My roommate recently took on the project of cleaning a vintage bike frame he picked up in Japan. He had an allergic reaction to one of the polishes, broke out in a full body rash. When he woke up the next day, his eyes had swollen shut and he had to go to the hospital. None of which would have happened if instead of nasty chemicals, he had polished the bike with a glass of Chimay.
posted by billyfleetwood at 12:56 PM on August 14, 2008
Yet further proof that there is no correlation between impracticality and awesomeness.
posted by danb at 12:56 PM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by danb at 12:56 PM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
...if instead of nasty chemicals, he had polished the bike with a glass of Chimay.
Only Chimay blue may be used for this purpose, avoid red or white.
posted by fixedgear at 1:19 PM on August 14, 2008
Only Chimay blue may be used for this purpose, avoid red or white.
posted by fixedgear at 1:19 PM on August 14, 2008
I think I shall do this to my car.
posted by Lou Stuells at 2:47 PM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Lou Stuells at 2:47 PM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]
ardgedee writes "I don't know about that. There aren't any steps in that process that you couldn't do without power tools -- it would just take a lot longer. Just remember that a lot of thin coats are better than a thick coat."
I guess I phrased that wrong. What I meant is it's essentially impossible to take a sheet of acrylic mirror and cut it to fit a compound curve. You can sort of do it with a bunch of small pieces but you'd have dozens of seams that would look like smeg.
Lou Stuells having cut polished a few cars over the years I hope you have lots of time. And then please post pics.
posted by Mitheral at 3:29 PM on August 14, 2008
I guess I phrased that wrong. What I meant is it's essentially impossible to take a sheet of acrylic mirror and cut it to fit a compound curve. You can sort of do it with a bunch of small pieces but you'd have dozens of seams that would look like smeg.
Lou Stuells having cut polished a few cars over the years I hope you have lots of time. And then please post pics.
posted by Mitheral at 3:29 PM on August 14, 2008
I would have thought that after all that obsession to detail there'd be fewer spelling mistakes. cf. turds above.
posted by sneebler at 5:17 PM on August 14, 2008
posted by sneebler at 5:17 PM on August 14, 2008
Caution: does not work on turds.
hikaru dorodango.
posted by Dave Faris at 7:02 PM on August 14, 2008
hikaru dorodango.
posted by Dave Faris at 7:02 PM on August 14, 2008
He is probably just compensating for his tiny video card.
posted by Mr_Zero at 8:36 PM on August 14, 2008
posted by Mr_Zero at 8:36 PM on August 14, 2008
I think I shall do this to my car.
Chrome it!
My friend got to drive this car at a performance shop in Scottsdale. He said it was really unnerving. So many people were gawking at the car that they were slamming on the brakes and swerving all over the road. He came back right away because he thought he was going to get into an accident.
posted by Mr_Zero at 8:48 PM on August 14, 2008
Chrome it!
My friend got to drive this car at a performance shop in Scottsdale. He said it was really unnerving. So many people were gawking at the car that they were slamming on the brakes and swerving all over the road. He came back right away because he thought he was going to get into an accident.
posted by Mr_Zero at 8:48 PM on August 14, 2008
I suppose that could be problematic. Sure would make a 98 S70 volvo sedan look spiffy, though!
posted by Lou Stuells at 6:04 AM on August 15, 2008
posted by Lou Stuells at 6:04 AM on August 15, 2008
More of my case mods on YouTube
@ StickyCarpet, Don't feel sorry for me. Case Modding has been an established hobby for several years now. It continues to grow and adapt to whatever the current hardware platforms will be regardless of size.
I was asked by the pc modding community to write this tutorial. Theres many kids out there without the proper tools and paint equipment, so I broke the tutorial down to the simplest solution to accommodate everyone. remember, this was enamel paint which has longer cure time, not like lacquer. You can speed up the cure time if you have the proper paint curing equipment.
Mnpctech.com Case Mods
Thank you for the plug Metafilter, Bill Owen
posted by Mnpctech.com at 5:59 AM on August 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
@ StickyCarpet, Don't feel sorry for me. Case Modding has been an established hobby for several years now. It continues to grow and adapt to whatever the current hardware platforms will be regardless of size.
I was asked by the pc modding community to write this tutorial. Theres many kids out there without the proper tools and paint equipment, so I broke the tutorial down to the simplest solution to accommodate everyone. remember, this was enamel paint which has longer cure time, not like lacquer. You can speed up the cure time if you have the proper paint curing equipment.
Mnpctech.com Case Mods
Thank you for the plug Metafilter, Bill Owen
posted by Mnpctech.com at 5:59 AM on August 17, 2008 [1 favorite]
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posted by sixswitch at 10:48 AM on August 14, 2008