Sprint Black Battery Cover

[marcus_cruz]

The battery cover was just getting to me. White would have been fine, black would have been fine, I could have even dealt with a gray cover.. Not burgundy or whatever the hell that color is.

So this is what I did. Painted it with some paint.

It's more detailed than that, but anyone who has done any rocketry or models should know how to paint something nicely. This will hold me over till there are some decent battery covers out.

***PLEASE BE SURE YOU OR WHOEVER YOU HAVE DO THIS FOR YOU IS EXPERIENCED !***
***DO A SMALL TEST SPRAY ON SOME OTHER PLASTIC ITEM TO SEE IF IT LOOKS GOOD AND HAS THE FEEL YOU WANT***
***DONT USE GLOSS FINISH PAINT. IT TURNS OUT STICKY***

[JoJoCal19]

Thats pretty cool that you did that but... I simply cant understand why everyone is making an absolute huge deal over the battery cover. Its not like its flaming pink or seafoam green or purple. And I quote someone who I dont know and cant give credit to, "Do you sit there and look at the back of the phone?"

But, can you share the brand of paint? Might be interesting if I want to mod it later and make it some other color.

[doctorPDA]

JoJoCal19, the look of the device is a very big deal to some, as you can see from all of the posts. I have been waiting for many many many years for a CDMA PDA/phone with a VGA screen and I am very hesitant to get this amazing device because of the unappealing color. I think I'll wait until I see the device in person or until a black replacement back comes out for it.

Painting it sounds extreme marcus_cruz, though I definitely envy your determination. Does the paint alter the "soft" texture of the back???

[hempy]

I'd be very wary of painting anything that gets as much hand-time as a phone. Even automotive paint/clear comes off of things that are handled too much.

It looks good, just expect to be touching it up at some point (or a lot, depending on the paint).

[zo7]

That don't look so bad

[willysp]

Originally Posted by marcus_cruz

The battery cover was just getting to me. White would have been fine, black would have been fine, I could have even dealt with a gray cover.. Not burgundy or whatever the hell that color is.

So this is what I did. Painted it with some plastic paint.

It's more detailed than that, but anyone who has done any rocketry or models should know how to paint something nicely. This will hold me over till there are some decent battery covers out.

Thanks for posting. No offense (seriously and sincerely), but anyway you can post a photo that is in focus, and isn't backlit?

Thanks again!

[marcus_cruz]

Originally Posted by willysp

Thanks for posting. No offense (seriously and sincerely), but anyway you can post a photo that is in focus, and isn't backlit?

Thanks again!

I will post some nice images as soon as I get a chance this weekend.
working 50+ hours plus getting a new bad arse phone is alot of work.

Originally Posted by hempy

I'd be very wary of painting anything that gets as much hand-time as a phone. Even automotive paint/clear comes off of things that are handled too much.

It looks good, just expect to be touching it up at some point (or a lot, depending on the paint).

If my the paint doesnt come off on my motorcycle at 185+ in florida's elements, "heat, sand" then it shouldnt be too bad. It's factory finish paint.

Originally Posted by doctorPDA

JoJoCal19, the look of the device is a very big deal to some, as you can see from all of the posts. I have been waiting for many many many years for a CDMA PDA/phone with a VGA screen and I am very hesitant to get this amazing device because of the unappealing color. I think I'll wait until I see the device in person or until a black replacement back comes out for it.

Painting it sounds extreme marcus_cruz, though I definitely envy your determination. Does the paint alter the "soft" texture of the back???

I have painted all my laptops, my dedicated linux lappy is pearl white. There are actually people that make big money custom painting phones and such.
Yes it has a powder/satin finish.
I like it, but to each his own. When my friends ask me to paint their things for them, some of them ask for chrome, or glitter, or whatever. Customizing our phones is a multi-million $ industry. It's Just there arent many options for our phones.

Originally Posted by JoJoCal19

Thats pretty cool that you did that but... I simply cant understand why everyone is making an absolute huge deal over the battery cover. Its not like its flaming pink or seafoam green or purple. And I quote someone who I dont know and cant give credit to, "Do you sit there and look at the back of the phone?"

But, can you share the brand of paint? Might be interesting if I want to mod it later and make it some other color.

The brand of paint is colorrite i think. It's a urethane based paint. Dont use acrylic if you try this your selves ! it will feel sticky all the time.
The paint I use is a semi-flat black with pearlescent specs in it. "diamond effect"

[willysp]

Originally Posted by marcus_cruz

I will post some nice images as soon as I get a chance this weekend.
working 50+ hours plus getting a new bad arse phone is alot of work.

Excellent - thanks in advance. Again, absolutely no offense intended. I'm considering painting mine also.

Thanks for the other tips re paint, etc.

[hempy]

Originally Posted by marcus_cruz

If my the paint doesnt come off on my motorcycle at 185+ in florida's elements, "heat, sand" then it shouldnt be too bad. It's factory finish paint.

Hope it holds up. Everything that I've done (alarm remotes, pc mice, etc) looks pretty worn after a few months of everyday use. They were all from leftover paint, so it wasn't a loss; but HoK isn't cheap.

[willysp]

OK, some research:

1. The type of plastic the back is made from is PC-ABS (aka ABS-PC, ABS+PC)
2. It appears to be easy to paint
3. Paints - Krylon Fusion seems to be a common choice for people painting computer cases, etc.

Any comments or experience to share? TIA!