(Pseudo-off-topic) What type of paint to use?

[Stu L Tissimus]

Hi, new poster, always loved the stuff I've seen on this site. Anyway, let me start off by saying that I am *not* building a new portable system (at least not yet) - rather, I'd like to fix up my Nintendo DS's paint job. I brought it to camp and converted a few people to DSism, in return for a bunch of scratches on it both the screen and the housing. So, I've decided I might as well give it a new coat of paint. And these forums would probably be the best place for me to ask about it.

I'm going to order a triwing screwhead, take out the internals and things, and paint the parts that are normally silver another color (I'm thinking black). But then it hit me - What type of paint should I use that doesn't chip easily on plastics? Airbrush? Spray paint? ......Brush? >_>

[G-force]

Really any non-cheapass spray paint would work, but probably the best would be Krylon Fusion spray paint. Be warned though, it's fast drying so you'll want to experimint a bit with it before you use it.

Also Rust-Oleum spray paint would be good. That stuff always holds up pretty good. I think they even make some paint similar to the Krylon Fusion stuff.
Once you get the main coat on, a clear coat wouldn't be a bad idea. You should be able to find all this at Wal-Mart.

As for a color, you should consider krylons color shifting paint. Now THAT would be badass.

[Stu L Tissimus]

Thanks for the reply. That color changing paint.... Whoa. I think I may have very well found my new color. And what exactly does the clear coat do, just protect it a bit?

[madc0w]

you should ask cennar, i think he painted his DS. I think Glossy black or Glossy white.

[Foxx373]

Krylon Fusion chemically bonds to plastics, so yeah, thats pretty much self explanitory. Before you paint anything buff any deep scratches out. Paint doesnt like to stick to smooth surfaces. Either lightly sand, or prime whatever you are going to paint. When spraying, dont blob on one thick coat, do several thin coats. You can lightly sand between coats to get smooth down any high spots. Is the DS plastic, or anodized aluminum?

If you want a craptastic and cheap way of protecting your stuff, get something called Contact Paper. Its just a plastic sheet with a sticker backing. I get clear rolls from my local dollar store. I used the same roll to completely cover my 17" widescreen anodized aluminum laptop top to bottom 3 times, and I still have plenty left over. I wish i did the same for my SP. The top of that thing has bald spots now. I wound up covering the top and bottom of it with fuzzy black velcro so i can attach some homebrew accessories. That doesnt look half bad, and its fun to see the odd look on someones face when they see my fuzzy SP.

If you dont want to paint it, im sure you can get a sticker skin online somewhere. Or go to a car customizing shop and have them either hand you a piece of color vynal, or make your own custom skin and have them print it for you.

In the long run, most noobs have crappy paint jobs. I mean CRAP! I suggest experimenting on something you dont care about.

I botched a paint job on one of my Gameboy Colors... EEEW! I had to sand down so far, the embossed letters for the A and B buttons are gone. The texture is a flat smooth, and there are no more details left.

[marshallh]

Hi, new poster

Heh, doesn't your name mean "Very foolish" in latin? When you put the letters together it's stultissimus which is the superlative form of stultus, meaning foolish.

Now just put 'es' after it and it will mean "You are very foolish"

I don't mean for you to take this the wrong way (you're already lightyears ahead of most newbies)

[Triton]

lol, perfect name for a newb lol

[Stu L Tissimus]

Thanks for the warning. I intend to practice the paintjob on something like my broken N64 controller (whose internals I've already taken out) or my old Gameboy Pocket, if I can find it anywhere.

And Marshall, completely correct. Not many people pick up on that

[Darth Fett]

Be sure to post a picture of it when your done,oh foolish one.

[Foxx373]

... BTW, plastic doesnt like to be painted, it likes to be dyed. You can get plastic or vynal dye from an automotive customizing shop. Use the suggested Krylon fusion if you cant get dye.