Ok, I want to paint my Thinkpad after seeing this.

[Thinkpad4by3]

Now this is what I call painting a Thinkpad: http://www.trevorshp.com/creations/laptop.htm

Or when you install Linux on your R40e: http://www.craigsarea.com/paint_laptop.html

Or put David Hill( ) on the back cover: http://www.instructables.com/id/Painting-a-laptop/

I wonder if that would be a good idea for some lids that are more heavily scratched to hide the scratches?

Seems like a good idea on the commoners like those 4x machines. Wouldn't dare to put a drop of paint on the rare birds.

[TankPad]

I couldn't bring myself to deface my poor ThinkPad like that...
Maybe a vinyl graphic instead. At least you won't feel so bad about it, eh.

[Thinkpad4by3]

I couldn't bring myself to deface my poor ThinkPad like that...
Maybe a vinyl graphic instead. At least you won't feel so bad about it, eh.

I wouldn't mind it if it was scratched up a bit. If it was mint, or even close to mint, forget about it. I don't think the vinyl graphic would hold much better because the glue would make it all sticky

[axur-delmeria]

Since my X220's battered and beaten, I'm wondering if powdercoating is a viable option for the magnesium lid and bottom chassis.

[Thinkpad4by3]

Since my X220's battered and beaten, I'm wondering if powdercoating is a viable option for the magnesium lid and bottom chassis.

Powder-coat a design or just a flat color? What color/design are you thinking of.

[Dekks]

Bog standard ABS is easy to coat but remove the rubberised coating and then wipe with a solution 50% IPA 50% demin with a lintfree cloth to remove any static. Any automotive plastic primer will fill any scratches in - just don't leave anything that doesn't like heat in the lid when you cure the paint.

Since my X220's battered and beaten, I'm wondering if powdercoating is a viable option for the magnesium lid and bottom chassis.

You would have to remove all the guts just leaving the lid n base due to the electrostatic powdercoat process.

[axur-delmeria]

Powder-coat a design or just a flat color? What color/design are you thinking of.

Flat black, as a Thinkpad should be.

My aunt's X60 is even more battered-- the cat had a habit of sleeping on top of it. The lid is full of little scratches as a result.

[Thinkpad4by3]

Flat black, as a Thinkpad should be.

My aunt's X60 is even more battered-- the cat had a habit of sleeping on top of it. The lid is full of little scratches as a result.

I wonder.... could that FlexSeal stuff that is on TV could be a substitute for a rubber finish. It is rubber(??) after all. Just bondo the cover, then FlexSeal. When you are done, you can patch up your car and fix that leaking window

[axur-delmeria]

I wonder.... could that FlexSeal stuff that is on TV could be a substitute for a rubber finish. It is rubber(??) after all.

Dunno if FlexSeal is

1. available in my country
2. won't flake or run. Roofs, walls, and pipes just sit there and you don't really touch/handle them every day. Laptops on the other hand, are held, grabbed, stuffed into bags, and suffer all sorts of physical contact (or abuse for that matter).

Maybe you could test it on a Thinkpad carcass first?

Another crazy idea is "bare metal" (all paint removed/sanded down) so the magnesium is exposed, then apply a few layers of scratch-resistant, matte clear coat. :O

[Thinkpad4by3]

One problem with bare metal look, It might look like a MacBook????????

Put an IBM badge from a Z61 (titanium lid) so they know its not a mac