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Guide To Using Vinyl Dye To Color Your Xbox360
Posted by: Nick
So your creamy white Xbox360 is getting kind of blah, and you have had nothing but trouble with spray-paint. No worries, I have taken it upon myself to test out this "Vinyl Dye" method that’s been floating around the 'net. Below is a simple tutorial for all of you who want a simple "Factory looking" paint job; opposed to the blotchy look of spray paint. Did I mention this stuff is extremely resilient to scuffs, scratches and chips, and there's no need for primer. Need I say more?
To start this project you’re going to obviously need some tools.
Tools are:
- Exacto knife
- Masking Tape (for power button)
- Torx10
- Needle tweezers
- Black sharpy
- Black "fine" paint pen
- Dupli-Color Flat Black Vinyl Dye
Here are the set of tools you will be needing for this project
Taking Your Case Off Your 360
First thing I most mention, taking apart your Xbox360 case does void your Xbox360 warranty! Please hear me out on this; I am not responsible for a dead console that has no warranty. Yes this does void the "new three year warranty" from Microsoft. You have been warned! Now that that’s taking care of, first what you’ll need to do is take the sides off your Xbox360. Flip your console upside down and start on the non harddrive side. Grab your needle tweezers or the like and pry in the areas marked in red.
Still on the non-hard drive side, flip your console right side up. Now again use your needle tweezers or the like and pry in the areas marked in red. The areas marked in red are areas that worked for me. However you might find a different way or a better way. Those marks are merely estimates. You should now have the first grey side off.
Now on the harddrive side we are going to want to pry the edge of the grey side up. This will make it easier for prying in the areas marked in red below.
You should have now moved on to the harddrive side. First stand your 360 vertically and pry the edge of the side up as stated above(this will make it easier for prying in the areas in red). This side is a little trickier then the last side we removed. Use your needle tweezers and pry in the areas marked in red.
Unclip the areas marked in red. This is the easy part of the removal process. Simply pull up on the tabs until there all unclipped.
Now we have a pain in the backside preceding us. You may try and use a needle tweezers; however I didn't have much luck with it. I ended up bending the console case until I heard a slight click. Then I jerked a few times and with a fast motion removed the top and bottom cases without cracking anything, I was lucky. I suggest you find a tool to use, I know there out there.
Now Take the screws out using your torx10 screw driver. They are all marked in red.
The inside of the xbox360. Now would be a very good time to clean inside your console. You could take an airbrush and blow all the dust out, just be careful not to blow any unwanted dust into areas where it could get stuck and create a possible short. More than likly a short wouldn't happen with blowing some dust around but you never know be careful when cleaning.
Masking Off Certain Areas of 360
Once you have your console apart choose a part you want to paint first. I would start with the bottom of the case, this way if you screw up early you won’t really see it (if you lay it horizontal that is). I also recommend painting on a scrap piece of plastic, trust me its harder than it may seem. Make sure you spray evenly and glide slowly across the console from about 1 ½ feet in air. Do not try to coat the whole thing at once instead do multiple LIGHT coats of spray. I did six layers of light coats, however three would probably achieve close to the same look, if you have a steady hand. Your first coat should look like the picture a few pictures down. I would not do any more spraying after this coat (you’re just going to want to overspray), instead move on to another part of the case and come back to it.
However before you paint your going to need to mask off some things. Now this is where the masking tape comes in. Grab your tape and tape off your information stickers in the back. Not unless you don’t care about your consoles serial number and the like then go ahead and paint over it, I don’t recommend it though.
Next, masking the dreadful faceplate. What you'll want to do is place some masking tape covering the entire power button. Find some source of light; I used a fairly large "old school" flash light.
Press and smooth the tape over the button so it conforms to the groves. Now take an exacto knife and cut around the inner portion of the power button first (use a dull blade so you don't scratch the surface. Peel off the inner portion once traced.
Once you have everything traced around peel off the tape you don't need. That wasn't so bad was it, you wish right? It’s a process that takes some patience and effort.
Now make sure to cover the "remote infrared signal block". Now you’re ready for the dye. Note when painting the faceplate do not be conscerned with painting inside the groves. You'll have to spray so much on there that you make it look extremely thick. So instead if there's white in there leave it. Take your paint pen or sharpy and paint in the groves.
Painting with Vinyl Dye
Now before you start spraying the vinyl spray make sure your in a ventilated area, this stuff gave me a massive headache, I learned my lesson. Eventually, I got cloth to cover my nose, however having a respirator wouldn't be a bad idea, seriously. Go into the garage, get some light if you need it and get something to place your 360 case on. The picture above is the first coat. I know what you’re thinking, that’s a lot of white not covered. In fact that’s not enough white showing, I went a little too much on the first coat. If that happens to you just go lighter on the next coats. The key ladies and gents is to go slow with the coating process.
This picture is of the second or third layer, don't remember which. Just remember to go slow spray one foot away or so. I would do atleast 4 layers myself (very light layers that is).
We are talking the fifth layer or so when this image was taken. Looking good thus far.
Six and Final Layer. Looking extremely nice inside.
All parts are now painted and simply need to be reassembled. Thats it! You've painted your xbox360 with vinyl dye, enjoy.
The faceplate looks very nice. The masking came out perfectly. In the picture the green power light looks a little weak, but I had the flash on my camera on, it is much brighter and came out gorgeous.
The final product. We have sucessfully painted the xbox360 with vinyl dye. This is what all the rage is about, it looks like it came right from the store and we like it that way ;).
I hope you found this guide useful. When performing this task I couldn't find a guide anywhere, so here you are ladies and gents. This could be done with controllers as well. Why use spray paint if you don't have too. Enjoy your newly painted Xbox360!
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