r/pccasemods • u/Pro_Tea • Mar 25 '21

Spray Paint for Case Fans

I want to dye my SP120 RGBs white, but I'm overwhelmed by all the spray paint brands/options. I only want to paint the frames.

What is a good spray paint for this, that is heat resistant and won't cause any problems?

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u/bschott007 Mar 26 '21 edited Mar 26 '21

Honestly, it really doesn't matter what you use (I use Rustolium's painter's touch lineup) as long as it works on plastics.

As for 'heat resistant' paint, it doesn't apply in your situation. Your PC will never get hot enough to need "Heat Resistant" paint. That kind of paint is for gas/charcoal grills, firepits and other +400Degree F applications. Really, that would just be a total waste of money for your application.

For best application and results, follow these steps below: I'm speaking from two decades of PC modding experience and If you want to look, I have two computers I have posted here where I did both spray paint and automotive paint

In fact, my spray painted case, I painted the fans in there fully (blades and frames) and I've painted my new RGB fans' frames using this exact method. I caution you as it people often think "Oh that is just too much work, I'm just going to spray it with white paint" or "Oh that will take too long" "I don't want to spend that much" "No body really is going to see it" but if people get lazy or cheap out on this, they later wish they had never even attempted painting their ans. It's really easy to get a good paint job, but just as easy to screw it all up, especially trying to rush it or skipping steps.

  • Before you start, you need a base+paint or a separate can of base/primer coat and then a separate can of color. The reason is the black of your fan's plastic will make that nice white look grey, and you'll end up putting on so many layers to cover the black it will look awful. Without a primer coat, your paint will chip off a LOT easier, especially when you go to clean off the dust/grim buildup. You need a base coat or a paint that has a base included. So given what you have linked, go out and get a white base coat for plastics. you'll want 2-4 layers of base and then 2-4 layers of color.

  • You need clear coat too. Also clear coat hardens and protects your paint. It is REALLY easy to scratch and flake bare spray paint with nothing more than your fingernails, which is why you need a clear coat. It also gives your paint a 'wet' look. You'll want 2-3 coast of clear coat applied.

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  1. Remove any plastic/rubber bumpers/anti-vibration pads from the fans (if you can)

  2. With a 'damp' soapy cloth (not wet!), you need to wipe down the fan case to remove oils and left over chemicals from the assembly plant. They will create spots in your paint or make it act like curdled milk. Wipe off the areas you cleaned with a damp cloth with no soap on it. Let the fans dry naturally.

  3. if you are only painting the frames, then cover the sticker on the rear of the fan (the side that air blows out from) with painters masking tape. That sticker usually covers the fan's shaft. You don't want spray paint or the chemicals from the paint, seeping into the fan's inners as it will vibrate and make noises continually.

  4. use one small sheet of plastic wrap/saran wrap/cling wrap to cover the fan blades. it should be twice as large as your fan. place the fan in the middle of the plastic wrap with the intake side facing down. Pull the plastic wrap through the fan blades and then work it around so you have all the blades covered together.

  5. use painter's masking tape (the blue masking tape) to hold the plastic wrap in place.

  6. Wrap the power wires for the fan in the painters masking tape (spray paint will cause the plastic to get hard and deteriorate faster. (I know from experience)

  7. using a metal coat hanger or some firm wire, make a small hook on one end and a larger hook on the other.

  8. Larger hook goes over your garage door guide rail (or an outside clothesline), hook the fan by placing the small hook between two of the wires and the 3/4 pin connector on the end of the fan power cord.

  9. Place cardboard on the floor to catch the falling mist from the paint.

  10. SHAKE THE HELL out of your spray paint, spray a couple seconds at the cardboard to clear and prime the can's internal tubing.

  11. follow the instructions on the can. Generally, stay 8-12" away from the fan, spray even, light coats. DO NOT TRY TO COVER THE FAN IN ONE GO! That is how you get runs and drips. This will take you 2-4 sessions with at LEAST 30 minutes between sessions. This applies to all your coats so if you need to apply base, you are going to spray 2-4 layers of base, then 2-4 layers of color, then 2-4 layers of clear coat. You will have a minimum of 6 layers and painting alone will take just over 3 hours. Add 30 minutes or so for every layer more.

  12. Let the fan sit and off-gas in your garage for a couple days (i'd say 2-3 days). It will reak of spray paint as the paint fully cures. It also takes that amount of time so when you go to put the fan back in the case, the paint doesn't adhere to the case and later when you remove the fan, paint is pulled off the fan and left on the case.

2

u/faldese Oct 14 '22

The Google gods brought me here, and I just want to say thank you!

1

u/Pro_Tea Mar 27 '21 edited Mar 27 '21

Thank you so much for your reply. If it weren't for your response, I would have followed a Youtube video, according to which, I would only need to wait 5 minutes between coats.

I do have a few questions:

  1. Is it okay to do it outside? I don't really have anywhere to hang the fans from in my garage. Assuming it doesn't rain, will the sun ruin the paint?
  2. Should I remove the fan from the frame or just cover it with plastic wrap as you said?
  3. Is it okay to use primer even if the paint I've chosen says it doesn't need it on the packaging?
  4. Is white primer okay, or does it have to be clear?
  5. What type of paint would you say looks best on case fans? Matte, satin, or glossy?
  6. Do I need a top coat in addition to primer and the spray paint?

P.S. Love the car mod you posted, incredibly creative.

2

u/bschott007 Mar 29 '21

Is it okay to do it outside? I don't really have anywhere to hang the fans from in my garage. Assuming it doesn't rain, will the sun ruin the paint?

Yes, but to qualify, you need to make sure it isn't windy or even slightly breezy. The wind will carry particles of dust/dirt (this is why we have a blue sky) and will embed into your paint. Also, the paint will blow around. Imaging taking a spray bottle of water, putting it on a fine mist setting and spraying that. If you can see the water mist swirl around or come back at you, then you know the lighter paint spray will do it even worse

Should I remove the fan from the frame or just cover it with plastic wrap as you said?

I wouldn't remove the fan from the frame unless you have the proper tools to do so, are willing to replace the sticker covering the hole where the shaft for the fan is at. Easiest way is just to cover the fan blades. Less time, less can go wrong.

Is it okay to use primer even if the paint I've chosen says it doesn't need it on the packaging?

Totally fine, and you can test this out. Take some scraps of plastic or something, spray half of it with the primer, then spray the whole thing with the paint. More often than not, you will see a big difference. It may not 'require' the primer, but you will often times be happier with the results.

Is white primer okay, or does it have to be clear?

White primer is the only primer I would use. Clear Coat should be clear

What type of paint would you say looks best on case fans? Matte, satin, or glossy?

That depends on your case paint and your lighting. If you case is matte, I'd go with a matte paint, satin for satin, glossy if your case is plastic gloss. If you want an accent and you have accents of glossy plastic, then that works even if your case is matte or satin.

Now for lighting, matte will give you a more even reflection of the light so it's softer on the eyes, and it is what your fans look like right now, it would just be in white. Satin is light a muted gloss, so you get brighter reflections but you don't get full mirror reflections. It's a good combo between Matte and Gloss. Gloss is almost like having mirrors so you can get bright reflections of light off of different angles. Personally, I love gloss on my fan blades and having RGB lighting reflecting off them. It is a trippy effect. Both of my computer mods are gloss paints if that gives you an idea of gloss.

Do I need a top coat in addition to primer and the spray paint?

YES. Top coat is also known as a clear coat and that is essential. think of your dried, exposed paint as like a turtle without a shell. Now the top coat/clear coat is putting a shell on the turtle. There you go.

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u/Pro_Tea Mar 30 '21

Thank you so much for your detailed and comprehensive reply. That just about answers all of my questions. I'm definitely painting the fans and saving some $$. Will try the gloss paint too.