My Sansa View 16gb - Paint Mod

[DaHarder]

Almost every DAP/PMP unit I own... I paint.

Here's my latest creation: The Sansa View 16gb (Metal-Flake)

1. I coated the front and back surfaces with a clear/pearl/metal-flake mixture

2. I coated the scroll-wheel with a clear/blue/metal-flake mixture

3. I masked off a stripe (centered on the scroll-wheel) on both the front and the back and painted with the blue mixture.

Note: I left the rubberized coating on the sides/top alone... I love the slip-resistance it provides.

[LINkin0827]

ehh

you did a great job, i just prefer the sleek black

[advcomp2019]

It looks nice. I think the blue wheel might be a little over powering if it was by itself, but the blue strip does not make it over powering.

[DaHarder]

Originally Posted by LINkin0827

ehh

you did a great job, i just prefer the sleek black

The piano black is certainly nice looking, until you touch/scratch it... LOL!

I have a serious aversion to finger-prints, as they require constant wiping/polishing, and once a shiny black surfaced is scratched/marred, that's the end of the beauty.

I find that by painting my DAP/PMP units, it affords them much greater surface durability (I use Imron coatings), and (unlike bulky cases/skins) allows them to easily fit inside accessories that require access to the dock-connector.

Note: I did leave the chamfered portion of the front surface piano/gloss black for a nice contrast though...

[uansari1]

So now you can't see the backlit menu and play/pause?

[DaHarder]

Originally Posted by uansari1

So now you can't see the backlit menu and play/pause?

I used a Clear-Coat mixture... Clear as in 'semi-transparent'

All back-lighting is visible/in-tact, in both portrait and landscape modes.

edited by Cptnodegard

[EnzoTen]

well done, do you have pics of the others you painted?

[DaHarder]

Yes, about 100, but this is currently the only Sansa, as I left my E280 original (save a 'crystal' case for protection) and my Clip is perfect just the way it is.

[thornow]

ohhhh...so pretty... :O

[phil121]

I don't suppose you would care to put the steps you used to paint and the kind of paint you used would you? And possibly where to get the paint? I personally think it looks awesome.....

[DaHarder]

Phil,

That's what I (basically) did with my initial post... No?

It's really no different than painting a model car/plane/boat etc.

I, myself, use an air-brush, as it affords very accurate control over paint fan and fluid flow.

Any hobby shop should have everything you need, except maybe the Imron paint, which is pretty expensive, and somewhat hard to come by these days.

[bradavon]

That looks nice but aren't you worried you've invalidated the warranty?

[s@ns@ rocks]

looks nice! i like the stone like look

[Cruleworld]

I don't really like it, but if it works for you that's great. after all it's your player not mine.

[DaHarder]

Originally Posted by bradavon

That looks nice but aren't you worried you've invalidated the warranty?

Not at all, if something fails on the player it won't be as a direct result of 'coating' the player.

I've painted literally hundreds of DAP units over the years, and never had one issue with warranties.

But then again, I've only sent 3 players in for warranty work, and I own (at last count) 161 different DAP/PMP units.

[pienose]

I think that it's a good idea to give it good protection, but I personally don't like the 'flakes' would love to try this on my e200, but I wouldn't have the guts. If you did it but didn't like it could you remove the paint easily?

[timmyjoe42]

that is bad to the bone

[DaHarder]

Originally Posted by pienose

I think that it's a good idea to give it good protection, but I personally don't like the 'flakes' would love to try this on my e200, but I wouldn't have the guts. If you did it but didn't like it could you remove the paint easily?

I often change the look of my DAP units, but one must be careful when sanding the surface not to remove anything but the finish.

I certainly wouldn't call it an 'easy' process...

BTW... Thanks Tim!

[s@ns@ rocks]

Just love it. Very smart idea, them you don't need cases. Keep goin DaHarder

[Andreas]

Originally Posted by s@ns@ rocks

Just love it. Very smart idea, them you don't need cases. Keep goin DaHarder

Yeah, if the screen gets scratchy, you just paint a new one