Spray painting a steel keyboard case

[AlexC1981]

Hi All,

I want to paint a keyboard case to match the charcoal grey plastic case of my Amiga CD32. The keyboard case is made very simply of two steel sheets with folds at the back and sides.

The finish of the keyboard is a bit shinier than the CD32 and the key caps. I would like to get it as close as possible.

I don't have a spray kit, so I was thinking about using Halfords canned spray paint. Would this be the best option? There don't seem to be many greys available in non-metallic.

Does anyone know a good mail order place where perhaps I could buy some small sample colour pots to test first?

For preparation, a going over with wire wool then primer?

Should I use a lacquer to finish or would that make it too shiny? I read that a matte finish can be achieved by applying the lacquer and then giving it a light rubbing with 0000 grade steel wool.

Thanks. Photos below:

[Matt Cup]

Plastidip is a good shout as you can peel it off if you get fed up with it.

[AlexC1981]

I don't think Plasti dip do the right tone of grey unfortunately. Shame as it looks like it would give a good finish.

There is a car spray paint place 5 minutes from me that does colour matching, but their shop is closed at the moment. I think I'll email them and see if they will let me send a sample.

[Jonesy23]

Vinyl dye? Wouldn't need to worry about the texture then, and could do the caps too. Assuming the paint would take the dye, which some will.

Plus you can probably get a colour match to the console.

[Penelope Stopit]

The paint may not take to the coating that's on the steel

May need to get it back to bare metal first

Guessing that you are going to strip the keyboard down

Suggest you post to the technical forum, poster named paintman will very likely be able to help

[AlexC1981]

Yes, I should probably have posted in DIY!

I ordered some colour matched paint from the place local to me yesterday. I was able to drop a back panel from the console down to their shop. (During my daily constitutional of course).

Yes the keyboard comes apart very simply, so I took all the gubbins and keys away first.

I rubbed the old paint finish with superfine steel wool to provide a key for the primer. This smoothed the original rough finish down a bit, which I think has made the finish closer to the textured plastic of the console.

I want to keep the primer finish fairly rough I think because it helps with the textured plastic look. I think I'll give it a very light going over with the wire wool again before I paint it.

I'll go for a gloss lacquer as apparently the matt ones can leave a milky finish when being used on dark colours.

I found a good guide here:

https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/205502-the-pr...

[hutchst]

Self-isolating?

[AlexC1981]

On furlough, so I have time now to carry out these little projects. Don't worry I would have been out walking anyway (it's 5 minutes from my home) and I cleaned the back cover with rubbing alcohol (yes really) and it was handed over on the front forecourt, not indoors. And the bloke was wearing gloves.

I've been told that when I pay I will have to do it by phone. All precautions taken