Does anyone have any idea about successfully and professionally painting the LIDS of Toughbooks? CF-52 specifically.
What is needed paint/powder coat wise? Is it hard? Does anyone have this experience?
Thanks in advanced for the help!
Painting Toughbook lids?
Painting Toughbook lids?
~Rob - Vice President - Rugged Depot~
~Cell: (630)/300-8877~
~Owner - Toughbooktalk~
~Fully rugged Toughbook user since April 18th 2005~
~FZ-40ACAAHKM - Primary Toughbook / Workstation as of 7/29/22
~Win10 Pro (Win11 DG), Intel Core i5-1145G7 (up to 4.4GHz), vPro, 14.0" FHD Gloved Multi Touch, 16GB, 1TB Samsung SSD, Intel Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, 4G EM7690, GPS, Quad Pass (BIOS Selectable), Mic and Infrared 5MP Webcam, Standard Battery, TPM 2.0, Emissive Backlit Keyboard, Dual Batteries, USB A + HDMI + Serial X-PAK, Shoulder Strap, Flat~
~AT&T Business 1GB Fiber 1GB/1GB business static line~
~Gamber & Johnson Platinum Partner~
http://www.toughbooktalk.com
http://downloads.toughbooktalk.com/
http://www.rugged575.com - 300' UHF GMRS Radio Repeater
http://www.crete600.com - 310' UHF Linked GMRS Radio Repeater
~Emergency preparedness starts with reliable communication systems above all. Pretend the internet and cell phones didn’t exist, how will you communicate? If you’re interested in learning more, ask me!~
~Cell: (630)/300-8877~
~Owner - Toughbooktalk~
~Fully rugged Toughbook user since April 18th 2005~
~FZ-40ACAAHKM - Primary Toughbook / Workstation as of 7/29/22
~Win10 Pro (Win11 DG), Intel Core i5-1145G7 (up to 4.4GHz), vPro, 14.0" FHD Gloved Multi Touch, 16GB, 1TB Samsung SSD, Intel Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, 4G EM7690, GPS, Quad Pass (BIOS Selectable), Mic and Infrared 5MP Webcam, Standard Battery, TPM 2.0, Emissive Backlit Keyboard, Dual Batteries, USB A + HDMI + Serial X-PAK, Shoulder Strap, Flat~
~AT&T Business 1GB Fiber 1GB/1GB business static line~
~Gamber & Johnson Platinum Partner~
http://www.toughbooktalk.com
http://downloads.toughbooktalk.com/
http://www.rugged575.com - 300' UHF GMRS Radio Repeater
http://www.crete600.com - 310' UHF Linked GMRS Radio Repeater
~Emergency preparedness starts with reliable communication systems above all. Pretend the internet and cell phones didn’t exist, how will you communicate? If you’re interested in learning more, ask me!~
Re: Painting Toughbook lids?
Rob... On several occasions for builds where the customer had me paint the lids and do a custom logo on the front... I took mine to a body shop and had them painted for around $75 each as I recall. This was with automotive paint with hardener and they came out flawless.
No doubt others will come in with other (cheaper) ways... I have heard of spatter paint, powder coat, etc.
No doubt others will come in with other (cheaper) ways... I have heard of spatter paint, powder coat, etc.
Rugged Toughbooks of all types... CF-31s, CF-30s, CF-29s, CF-19s, CF-52s, CF-53s, CF-74s, CF-H2... Hmmm... What else can I buy, build or modify?
Re: Painting Toughbook lids?
Easiest/cheapest is rust oleum texture paint. The silver is a very close match. Scuff it first with a scotch pad. 2 or 3 medium coats. Did my cf30 a year ago. Still looks great.
Rust o leum textured metallic silver. 251053..available at my local WalMart.....
I painted buses for 15 years using urethane paint...The finish is only as good as the prep work. Automotive paint is very durable. Epoxy is great, but expensive..Try a $7.00 can of Rust o leum and see what you think. Practice on an old lid first.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/attachm ... resize.jpg
Rust o leum textured metallic silver. 251053..available at my local WalMart.....
I painted buses for 15 years using urethane paint...The finish is only as good as the prep work. Automotive paint is very durable. Epoxy is great, but expensive..Try a $7.00 can of Rust o leum and see what you think. Practice on an old lid first.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/attachm ... resize.jpg
Life will beat you into submission.
Re: Painting Toughbook lids?
He has plenty of old lids... LOL
Rugged Toughbooks of all types... CF-31s, CF-30s, CF-29s, CF-19s, CF-52s, CF-53s, CF-74s, CF-H2... Hmmm... What else can I buy, build or modify?
Re: Painting Toughbook lids?
Texture paint is forgiving. Great for less than experienced painters.
He may need to repair the footprints and cracks first.
He may need to repair the footprints and cracks first.
Life will beat you into submission.
Re: Painting Toughbook lids?
That is the key regardless of paint used. If you spend the time on proper prep, the end result will be good if you don't glob on the paint.Shawn wrote:...The finish is only as good as the prep work.
Have phun!

CF-29LTQ,CF-31SBM,CF-52youngGUN,
Life's Journey is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways totally worn-out shouting 'Woo Hoo! What a ride!
Motorsports - the only real sport. If it doesn't have a motor, it is just a game.
There is always something waiting at the end of the road, if you are not willing to see what it is, you probably shouldn't be out there in the first place.
Life's Journey is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways totally worn-out shouting 'Woo Hoo! What a ride!
Motorsports - the only real sport. If it doesn't have a motor, it is just a game.
There is always something waiting at the end of the road, if you are not willing to see what it is, you probably shouldn't be out there in the first place.
Re: Painting Toughbook lids?
Nope, we will never forget nor fail to remind Rob of the day he broke the seemingly unbreakable.Shawn wrote:He may need to repair the footprints and cracks first.

Re: Painting Toughbook lids?

~Rob - Vice President - Rugged Depot~
~Cell: (630)/300-8877~
~Owner - Toughbooktalk~
~Fully rugged Toughbook user since April 18th 2005~
~FZ-40ACAAHKM - Primary Toughbook / Workstation as of 7/29/22
~Win10 Pro (Win11 DG), Intel Core i5-1145G7 (up to 4.4GHz), vPro, 14.0" FHD Gloved Multi Touch, 16GB, 1TB Samsung SSD, Intel Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, 4G EM7690, GPS, Quad Pass (BIOS Selectable), Mic and Infrared 5MP Webcam, Standard Battery, TPM 2.0, Emissive Backlit Keyboard, Dual Batteries, USB A + HDMI + Serial X-PAK, Shoulder Strap, Flat~
~AT&T Business 1GB Fiber 1GB/1GB business static line~
~Gamber & Johnson Platinum Partner~
http://www.toughbooktalk.com
http://downloads.toughbooktalk.com/
http://www.rugged575.com - 300' UHF GMRS Radio Repeater
http://www.crete600.com - 310' UHF Linked GMRS Radio Repeater
~Emergency preparedness starts with reliable communication systems above all. Pretend the internet and cell phones didn’t exist, how will you communicate? If you’re interested in learning more, ask me!~
~Cell: (630)/300-8877~
~Owner - Toughbooktalk~
~Fully rugged Toughbook user since April 18th 2005~
~FZ-40ACAAHKM - Primary Toughbook / Workstation as of 7/29/22
~Win10 Pro (Win11 DG), Intel Core i5-1145G7 (up to 4.4GHz), vPro, 14.0" FHD Gloved Multi Touch, 16GB, 1TB Samsung SSD, Intel Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, 4G EM7690, GPS, Quad Pass (BIOS Selectable), Mic and Infrared 5MP Webcam, Standard Battery, TPM 2.0, Emissive Backlit Keyboard, Dual Batteries, USB A + HDMI + Serial X-PAK, Shoulder Strap, Flat~
~AT&T Business 1GB Fiber 1GB/1GB business static line~
~Gamber & Johnson Platinum Partner~
http://www.toughbooktalk.com
http://downloads.toughbooktalk.com/
http://www.rugged575.com - 300' UHF GMRS Radio Repeater
http://www.crete600.com - 310' UHF Linked GMRS Radio Repeater
~Emergency preparedness starts with reliable communication systems above all. Pretend the internet and cell phones didn’t exist, how will you communicate? If you’re interested in learning more, ask me!~
- Silver Trooper
- Posts: 683
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- Location: Summerville, South Carolina
Re: Painting Toughbook lids?
I think either Duracoat or Cerakote would be perfect. If they are good enough to coat firearms, a Toughbook would be nothing. They come in either bake on or non, but even the bake on would be okay as you don't have to heat them to a high degree to cure.
One CF-52, four CF-18's, 4.5 CF-28's, one CF-29, five CF-M34's, two CF-37's, one CF-P2 and two CF-P1's. There are also two Getac A320T's, one Fieldpac and two IBM Transnotes. Not to mention the AMD 5600 CPU with three monitors and several HP PDA's. Whew! Must quit buying...no, must have MORE! Then there are the weapons...
Ineptocracy: A system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.
Ineptocracy: A system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.