Just wondering how you actually get it shineieiey? Do you just have to spray.. sand.. spray... sand multiples of times?

I have a case that's scratched to buggery which I could try it out on, so I will if it's that easy Is it possible to just not paint it and make the metal shiny? Like lapping a heatsink style? I like silvery looking. Can't get much silverier than plain old metal? Would it possibly just look crap if I did that though I wonder?

Any advice welcome!
Thanks!

There's a lot of how to's floating around and to say that you just need to spray and sand is just not right lol there's a lot of elbow grease to be added

So it's just spray + sand and repeat till it's shiny? I could do that I think..

LOL, its a BIT more complicated than that...

it's more like (but not exactly like) this:

sand (100 grit) down to bare metal
fill up any holes, dents, dimples etc with car body filler
sand (200, 400, 600) til metal surface is nice and smooth (ie, no big dents or scratches etc)
thin primer coat
thin primer coat
sand (600, 800)
thin primer coat
thin primer coat
sand (800)
thin colour coat
thin colour coat
sand (1200)
thin colour coat
thin colour coat
sand (1500)
thin colour coat
thin colour coat
sand (2000)
thin clear coat
thin clear coat

there are MANY guides on the net... basically, i'd do it pretty similar to above... the key is to prep the metal and PRIME it properly, add many thin coats of colour, sanding in between as necessary, and adding a clear coat at the end...

you could clear coat a bare metal case... just google for shiny shuttle cases and find many shiny toaster-like looking cases

toaster cases. thanks mr nrg.

I could only find sand paper up to 1200 grit around where I live. Still got it from the lapping thing!

I knew about the primer stuff, but I didn't know it was only primer the first couple of times then just colour

I'll probly just sand at the metal and have shiny metal oversized toaster. See how that turns out.

I don't know if this will help, but the way I did mine gloss white was I used automotive grade paint. 1st I sanded, got it all smooth, then applied 6 coats of white, 4 coats of clear coat. Bingo. It also helps if you can find a friend with a spray gun. Oh, forgot the most important step, after sanding, primer it, 2 coats at least.

If you use metal flake/metallic paint, don't sand the paint, sand the clear coat (it takes a lot).

Ok I was just reading here: http://www.englishcustompolishing.com/eneu/stainless.html

Sounds all too complex for me I have no idea if that case is stanless steel or not. I guess so. It's not aluminium, that's for sure! Is it safe to just sand away at it then?!

Pretty long odds that it's stainless. And if it's not aluminum, than it's got to be steel (unless someone makes a titanium case ). So sand away. You could probably clear coat the steel after you shine it.

titanium. mmm

Alright. I'll grab some more sand paper and have a go Maybe today if I have the energy. Trying to get motivated for Uni tomorrow *cries* Does the clear coat just stop scratches and stuff I take it?

Bare steel is going to oxidize when it makes contact with air. It probably wouldn't be very bad in a nice dry computer environment, but it seems like a good idea to me to protect the steel. Clear coat would also help you get a little depth to the gloss. I guess some kind of non-yellowing wax would be another option.

after the clear coat is well sanded i like to top things off with some finishing compound and good ol buffwork

Ditto on that one. Good ol' elbow grease works like a champ.