My first case mod project... pics and a question

[Hi Ho]

I've started modifying my old PowMax case in my spare time. I will probably sell it if I can find a buyer. I have cut out fan grills and started painting. Colors are not final. I may redo the blue in a different color. Here are some pics so far.

Chassis
Front Facia
Problem

As you can see, there is a picture labeld "problem" and that's what my question is about. I cannot get any paint to stick to that piece. I have tried liquid sander, paint thinner, and i have sanded with sand paper and it still looks like it does in that picture. The thinnest coat of paint beads up like that. It even does it where I have sanded to bare plastic. It is the same kind of plastic as the stuff I painted blue. Why won't the paint stick? I have tried three different paints (regular Krylon, Krylon Fusion, and Rustoleum) and they all do the same thing. Any ideas?

[JPMiller]

Thats odd... I know you said you sanded to bare plastic... but you may have to do it again, and use alcohol a couple times to remove any oily residue..
Its possible this case was damaged and then fixed at somepoint... is there any difference in the material in that area?

[Panama Red]

Try wiping it clean with a "tack cloth". You can pick them up in any good paint dept. Then try applying a coat of primer before you apply the top coat.

[TwoRails]

I'm Not a painter, but that may have some silicone on it at the molecular level. Do you have / use silicone spray or lube in the area?

[Spartan]

The paint job looks really good. As for the "problem" it is most likely some oil on the parts. As mentioned above try cleaning with alcohol or a product like Pre Cleano from 3M.

-Spartan

[cm13]

cant u just go to home depot or lowe's and tell them what material it is and get some sort of primer so the paint will stick

[Hi Ho]

I got the paint to stick. I went over it a couple more times with LiquidSander and Goo-Gone. I've been too busy to work on it for a couple days but I'll post pics when it's done.

[Designer]

I like the colour, hope it comes out OK.

One tip i'll give to anyone painting a case, especially if they bought it new is to use rubbing alcohol on it first as most case fronts are injection moulded, it's quite common to use a silicon based mould release agent in the moulding process, which leaves an unnoticable oily residue epsecially in grained finished plastic.

[R@nger]

Next time I would get some gray or even black primer, very lightly sand the plastic and then give it a good coat of that primer. Let it sit overnight then shoot it with your top coat, let it sit overnight again and then hit it again with another coat. You will have a perfectly painted case with zero problems .

Glad you got it to work for ya.