[wahaha686]

I want to paint a 3D printed ABS plastic part (3x3x1inch) into the Sandblasted Anodized Silver that you see on Apple's MacBooks/iMacs.

After some research, the only solution I was able to find is the DupliColor Hyper Silver Coating Kit.

However, I don't know if DupliColor's kit is the same silver color as Apple's MacBooks/iMacs, and the finish is also glossy, not the sandblasted finish I want.

I am complete newbie and would appreciate any advice I can get.

Thanks.

 

[mathmonger]

The "kit" you are referring two is basically the silver paint and clear paint to add gloss. You don't need the clear coat gloss. You just need the paint. If I were you, I'd go to the local auto parts store and pick up a few different brands and experiment.

Wheel paint seems like not the worst way to go. Prep, prime, and paint. Last year, I painted my plastic hub caps with VHT brand wheel paint from AutoZone. They are holding up great!

 

[wahaha686]

Thanks, is there a specific paint that is closer to the Silver that I want?

 

[mathmonger]

Go to the mall parking lot. Hold your MacBook up against random silver cars until you find one you like. Write down the make and model. Get some touch up paint for that car.

You could also maybe go to a paint store and have them match it. Then spray it with a little $5 Preval sprayer.

This forum tends to lean more towards home improvement. Have you checked the Mac forums? I'm sure you're not the first person to try to match that finish.

Or just paint it gloss white to match the Apple accessories.

 

[ChuckF.]

Mathmonger's tip is a good one, you will not find a wider variety of shades of silver paint than in a car parts place.

 

[LanterDan]

I don't have any advice on matching paint colors, but I wanted to give a warning. As you may or may not know, many commercial quality 3-D printers use support material during the printing process. After the print, the support material is removed by placing the part in a heated bath. In all of the 3-D printers I have used, this bath contains sodium hydroxide (lye). 3-D printed ABS is very porous, and I've never been able to fully remove the sodium hydroxide residue. This has resulted in failures of paint and other technical coating I've tried to use on such parts.

I don't think most hobbyist level printers use support materials, but I don't really have first had knowledge of this. It sometimes possible to remove support material by purely mechanical means and not use the batch. I'm also aware (but have not used) some printer manufactures which use a citrus based bath, but to be honest, I'd expect that to create problems with paint as well.