[NTLK] Plastdip Case?

[Woody Smith]

Some years ago someone did a complete white paint job on a 2100.  I  
did a quick search and couldn't find it but as I recall he documented  
the entire process.  It may have been called snow.

Anyone have a link?  For history's sake.  Mine looks a little rough on  
the outside but inside has SER- 001, 5 MHz crystal and white display.   
Every bruise scrape and repaired crack is a story. ;-)

Woody


On Oct 17, 2012, at 7:35 AM, James Fraser wrote:

> Hello,
>
> --- On Sun, 9/30/12, Chris C. <chrisc30 at me.com> wrote:
>
>> Yep. It's flaking off. I'm thinking of removing the [rubberized]  
>> coating >and redoing it.
>
> Pardon my asking, but: did you move ahead with this?
>
> I ask because I found myself in the awkward position of needing to  
> bring an MP2000 to a dinner table last week*.  Before I left, I gave  
> the MP a quick appraising glance only to discover that the clean,  
> presentable, almost showroom-new device that I -thought- I was still  
> carting around with me had come to more closely resemble a "beater"- 
> type unit in appearance after a trip or two. :/
>
> (Good thing the lights were dim.)
>
> The chief offending bit is a worn spot in the middle of the screen  
> lid door.  I had quite forgotten how gold leaf-thin the rubberized  
> coating of the MessagePad really -is- until it deteriorated on this  
> unit in what seemed (to me, at least) like no time flat.
>
> At any rate, Plasti Dip appears to hold some promise as a possible  
> way to "re-rubberize" Newtons.  If you have, in fact, taken the  
> plunge, do you have any advice to offer those of us following in  
> your footsteps? :)
>
> While I think of it: does anyone know if Goo Gone will harm  
> MessagePad case plastics?  Goo Gone seems to be what the Plasti Dip  
> folks themselves use to clean up any PD that's gone astray in the  
> factory and I expect it's what a NewtonTalker would need to use if a  
> Plasti Dip spray job should go awry. However, a search of the list  
> archives doesn't turn up any references to anyone using GG  
> successfully on a MessagePad case and after reading Daniel Padilla's  
> account of his experiences using acetone on his MP:
>
>
>> The only two parts that cannot be submerged [in acetone] are the  
>> >interconnect door and the screen cover hinge.  They will melt.   
>> You sure >know how I discovered this :-(
>
>
> http://marc.info/?l=newtontalk&m=101137831903110&w=2
>
> ...I am (perhaps understandably) wary of using any "unknown"  
> solvents on case plastics, seeing as how MessagePads seem to be far  
> thinner on the ground today than when Daniel made his pioneering  
> discovery a decade ago.  That being the case, I am anxious to avoid  
> making any similar exciting discoveries if it can be helped,  
> especially seeing as how a warped/damaged screen lid might not be  
> able to fulfill its chief function: protecting the screen on the  
> MessagePad when not in use.
>
> (If you've never found yourself mincing around clutching an MP with  
> a screen lid sporting a newly-broken hinge, believe me: you quickly  
> develop a sudden, very profound appreciation for normal, non-fiddly  
> screen lids that you don't have to play with in order to get them to  
> close properly.)
>
> Since I'm not completely clear at present on how well Plasti Dip  
> might work to rehab a MP, perhaps this would be a good time to ask:  
> has anyone here ever played around with Polymer Vinyl**?
>
> http://preview.tinyurl.com/bqarn3h
>
> (Adam Tow's Fun with Polymer Vinyl page)
>
> It's too bad the photograph on the bottom left of the page  
> ("bluenred_newton.jpg") didn't get archived with the rest of the  
> page, but from what I can gather, Adam used vinyl film to create a  
> light blue MessagePad with a red lid.
>
> This green vinyl film (NB: the below link is not meant as an  
> endorsement of that specific vendor and is only being used to  
> furnish a example):
>
> http://preview.tinyurl.com/cay96b4
>
> ...seems to bear at least a passing resemblance to the MessagePad's  
> original color.  However, I can't claim to be any great judge of  
> color-related things (perhaps someone with a graphic artist-quality  
> monitor can take a look at the color swatch and comment?).
>
> The "simply peel it off and start again" aspect of the vinyl film  
> holds strong, um, appeal for me (I like to be able to re-do stuff  
> easily), but the Plasti Dip stuff appears easier to deal with in  
> terms of the initial application (and, perhaps, offers greater long- 
> term durability).  Of course, the vinyl film does come in a wider  
> range of colors (search for "sign vinyl film" on eBay and you'll see  
> what I mean).
>
> Decisions, decisions... ^_^
>
>
> Best,
>
> James Fraser
>
>