Author Topic: To resurrect an old case (Read 8491 times)

Saxito Pau · « **on:** March 23, 2011, 08:19:42 AM »

Fellow GATTers,

As you may or may not be aware, I am the owner of a Thermaltake Armor Jr. for about 4 years now.

It has served me very well being home to a variety of upgrades. Sadly, over time, it has begun to rust. While I have made attempts to stall the proces using spray paint, It get to a point where I eventualy abandoned the case in favour of an el-cheapo Thermaltake V3.

The V3 case is actually being used 'temporarilty' while I have sought to restore the Armor Jr. I even went so far as to buy primer and sand paper and do lots of online research to that end.

That was until I came across this site:

http://www.panlandtt.com

http://www.panlandtt.com/TPC/PowderCoaters.aspx

I actually saw it on Tuner a couple months ago and found the info very interesting. Sadly the thread was removed.

Pan Land (aka Trinidad Powder Coaters Ltd) use a power coating process on any metal surface to bring back the beauty of your object. They first sandblast the surface to remove rust and other impurities, then spray paint the power coat, then bake it at 400C. IT is very strongly advised that you remove ALL non-metal fitting from the object prior to the process lest they melt and ruin the finish.

They mainly do steeplans, but can do rims, furnishings, anything made of metal. Teh finish is at leaqst equal to that of spray painting, but last much longer, is scratch resistant and will not rust.

I thought to myself: "Can they do PC cases?"

After a few calls and missing the guy who does teh evaluating, I finally got to meet one Mr. Cooper at their office in Laventille. (It's the corner after the Unipet Gas Station when going eastbound)

Mr. Cooper apparently though it would have been a difficult task until he saw how easily I took apart teh side panels and other accessories. My estimate: TT$690 VAT inclusive. Given I already spent TT$1200 to import the case 4 years ago, why not bring it back?

The colours available range from matte to sparkly, glossy colours to even textured ones. ... I will going back with a matte black finish, though the fancier colours are indeed tempting.

Arcman could not believe the quality of the work in the pictures. Hopefuly he and I can do our rims sometime in the future...

This thread will do a pictoral of the process. Soon I will post pics of the Armor Jr. in its current rusty, filthy state. I will reference older threads will show you how it was in its glory days.

Stay tuned... the process begins the first week in April.

Carigamers · « **on:** March 23, 2011, 08:19:42 AM »

Redfish · « **Reply #1 on:** March 23, 2011, 10:38:27 AM »

Good stuff man, will be looking forward to seeing the before and after pics.

My CM 590 is also being attacked with some rust and I was already looking to see what new case can replace it around the end of this year ( will be 3 yrs old )

W1nTry · « **Reply #2 on:** March 23, 2011, 11:17:19 AM »

Why not restore it yourself? might need a grinder, emry paper of different grades, and well the option to carry it by a paint shop OR do stencils yourself and spray paint ftw. I've done some maintenance on my TT Soprano AND my HAF 932 and i'm pleased with the finish. Just a thought, even engage some of the more trade inclined persons on gatt, I sure they have modders on gatt that can help or in the least point you in the right direction. Spending 50% the original cost of a case to bring it back is kinda... steep imho.

Saxito Pau · « **Reply #3 on:** March 23, 2011, 11:42:13 AM »

W1nTry,

I was planning to restore it myself. I even went so far as to buy the necessary sand paper, spray primer and spray paint. Even looked up the various online do-it-yourself guides.

But when I consider that:
- I studying for exams now and
- the amount of work and time involved (too many nooks and crannies to reach with just fingers and a sand block, considering I want EVERYHTING that is metal black), vs just 3 days witht he powder coating
- I want to be back into gaming by June, immediately after exams.

Call it laziness, but I doh feel I want to go through all that right now. Maybe with another case I will do it in the future.

In fact I did it once to an case's inside before selling it.

W1nTry · « **Reply #4 on:** March 23, 2011, 12:13:28 PM »

But therein is the joy in restoring the case, the feeling of accomplishment... you did say you have a temporary case, so how would waiting a little till after exams to work on this porject be a bad thing? or stop you from gaming. Just a thought. The poweder coating is great doh get me wrong, in fact they should consider offering it as a business in addition to what they do.

Carigamers · « **Reply #4 on:** March 23, 2011, 12:13:28 PM »

Saxito Pau · « **Reply #5 on:** March 29, 2011, 06:03:41 PM »

And so the process begins:

I tendered in my case to Pan Land after carefully removing every last non-metal component from the case.. so many damn screws!

I did some research and became concerned when I read that sandblasting can actually warp sheet metal (ie PC panels). But the guy who will handle the actual sandblasting assured me the risks would be minimal as he done it before. In fact he turned out to be a longtime customer of mine I initially didn't recognize, so I know I safe.

Before sandblasting pics to be uploaded soon...

Saxito Pau · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2011, 05:42:59 PM »

I got back my case on monday last. it is BEAUTIFUL!

Just ask Arcman.

The only thing: expect your side panels to warp a lil bit. sandblasting does not work well with sheet metal.

here is a first look pic:

stuff is still being assembled.. when I get a better camera you will appreciate it full glory.

Philosophical45 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2011, 06:08:22 PM »

kudos man, you make the story feel like you just rebuilt ah 120y from scratch... lol.. the all black looking nice.. u gonna cut holes and do custom cable management too?

Arcmanov · « **Reply #8 on:** April 13, 2011, 09:28:57 PM »

Oh yuck...that pic does not do it justice.

I was reaaly blown away by the quality of the finish. Much better than Thermaltake could ever do, and they made the damn thing. I doubt that it will rust now.

Makes me want to do my car's rims in some matte gold. It would look rather 'crips'.

Saxito Pau · « **Reply #9 on:** August 27, 2011, 09:54:31 AM »

OK after stalling for over 5 months... it is time to show you my rig, powder coating et al:

Thermaltake Armor Jr after 4 years

A close look at the finish - top of case

Front Panel off

Side Cover off

Rear of Case

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

And if you were counting... 15 USB ports iymc...

VirtueTT · « **Reply #10 on:** August 27, 2011, 12:25:20 PM »

nice stuff there Sax. I now realize why u were looking for that fan grill lol. looking good tho. Lil elbow grease goes a long way.

QuickDraw · « **Reply #11 on:** August 27, 2011, 01:31:52 PM »

it have any b4 pictures for comparison?

Arcmanov · « **Reply #12 on:** August 27, 2011, 02:13:07 PM »

Why install the fan on the outside though? Looks like there's plenty space inside.

...and what self-respecting enthusiast uses only ONE fan on his CPU air-cooler? (oh, the horror)

Push-pull biatch!!!

Saxito Pau · « **Reply #13 on:** August 27, 2011, 07:14:33 PM »

Thank you, gentlemen.

@ ViruteTT: yes, this is why I wanted the fan grill.

@ Quickdraw: No, I did not do before pics for comparison. I'll have to contact the Powder coating people to see if they did such.

@Arcman: the Fan is on the outside because there is not a lot of room to work with. You can barely identify the RAM sticks in the pics.

And oh gosh, Arc, why yuh bad so? Why you hard to please so? One fan on the CPU is enough... it already have four 120mm fans in there... But if the sire truly insists, I will acquire a second CPU fan to satisfy his impeccable tastes..

TriniXaeno · « **Reply #14 on:** August 28, 2011, 01:16:07 AM »

Quote from: Philosophical45 on April 13, 2011, 06:08:22 PM

kudos man, you make the story feel like you just rebuilt ah 120y from scratch... lol

lol, this is EXACTLY what I thought.

Spazosaurus · « **Reply #15 on:** August 28, 2011, 02:20:48 AM »

I want to say i'll do the same, but a $30 tin of Harris spray paint later and my case looking even better than I got it. Sure it could rust again but a tin of paint every couple years is an acceptable price for me.

TriniXaeno · « **Reply #16 on:** August 28, 2011, 02:54:52 AM »

lol, Awesome for Price/Performance Champion.

QuickDraw · « **Reply #17 on:** August 28, 2011, 12:58:00 PM »

even without, dat finish looking real good. from d pics i doubt we coulda tell that it get redone at all if you didn post dis up.

about the fan outside..... how that affecting the air going to the 120mm fan in the ps? is it moving air in or out?

when u do the rims put some pics up.

Saxito Pau · « **Reply #18 on:** August 28, 2011, 01:52:19 PM »

Quote from: QuickDraw on August 28, 2011, 12:58:00 PM

even without, dat finish looking real good. from d pics i doubt we coulda tell that it get redone at all if you didn post dis up.

about the fan outside..... how that affecting the air going to the 120mm fan in the ps? is it moving air in or out?

when u do the rims put some pics up.

You have to see it in person to appreciate how good it looks. Even these pics not cutting it imho.

The fan pulls air out.... actually, I had mistakenly installed it pulling in... and temps were at least 4 - 6C higher... when I realized my mistake I changed it.

Having fan outside the case make things roomier inside.

As for powder coating my rims, That will not happen till June next year, when I finish pay for my car. in the interim, check

http://www.panlandtt.com/TPC/tpc_brochure.pdf

and

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Trinidad-Powder-Coaters/114213581945794

for samples of work they have done.

shivanandrs · « **Reply #19 on:** August 28, 2011, 02:01:03 PM »

Not bad at all...

I will definitely be checking out this place.

Carigamers · « **Reply #19 on:** August 28, 2011, 02:01:03 PM »

Author Topic: To resurrect an old case (Read 8491 times)

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