EggXpert

The vinyls and plastics used in PC cases [and other parts] are typically coated with a wax.

If you don't get the wax off then you won't have good adhesion and you may have problems with orange peel [and later on with chipping].

Strong soap, hot water, and a scrub brush works moderately well all by itself, but if you want to be sure to get all the wax off then scrub [brush] it down with some isoprphyl alcohol before the soap and water.

Please do that step outdoors or with windows open and fans going. [Seeing double is not a good way to get more cases,,, particularly when you are floating on the ceiling.]

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PCBONEZ:

The vinyls and plastics used in PC cases [and other parts] are typically coated with a wax.

If you don't get the wax off then you won't have good adhesion and you may have problems with orange peel [and later on with chipping].

Strong soap, hot water, and a scrub brush works moderately well all by itself, but if you want to be sure to get all the wax off then scrub [brush] it down with some isoprphyl alcohol before the soap and water.

Please do that step outdoors or with windows open and fans going. [Seeing double is not a good way to get more cases,,, particularly when you are floating on the ceiling.]

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Quote "I use Lysol Cleaning wipes. Soap and water is good too, just put some on a cloth and wipe down the case, inside and out." Quote

I was unaware of any wax coating on these items and I've been modding for a good while now and have had no issues. I just wipe everyhitng down with Lysol cleaning wipes (see quote from original post) and I guess that must do the trick since I have yet to have any problems. 

Thanks for the heads up about the coating and as i said before, cleaning everything before hand will be to your benefit.  

Yes, by what you say your Lysol wipes seem to work.

I just wanted the issue of the wax to be known.

I've been detailing PC's [including laptops] when it comes up for over ten years. It's not my favorite thing, I just know how. I used to paint cars, detail engines, and I've been involved with electroplating professionally.

The wax is to prevent oxidation on the surface [so it still looks 'purdy' when you take it out of the box] and it makes pre-sales clean-ups easy. It's similar to the hot-wax that's mixed in the water they use for the last rinse at car washes. - Not like a heavy wax but it's enough to screw up paint jobs.

Paint-prep solutions used as the final wipe just before painting cars are generally alcohol based. Alcohol has the advantages of removing traces of light oil [finger prints], it drys out and carries away any minute amounts of water that are stick in pits in the surface left over from soap/water [or Lysol wipe] cleaning, and the alcohol itself dries fast.

I've used it with cue-tips to prep tiny things that have trouble holding a paint job [like power buttons, buttons from floppy or CD drives, floppy or zip drive doors] and I've had no paint failures [chips or not sticking] even with itty bitty things.

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Thanks for all this infromation! you clearly know what your talking about. 

Quote  tiny things that have trouble holding a paint job [like power buttons, buttons from floppy or CD drives, floppy or zip drive doors] and I've had no paint failures [chips or not sticking] even with itty bitty things. Quote

For small things like these I use Scotch Brite Pad which gives the surfaces some "tooth" and helps paint adhere very good. 

toddtaco85:

Nice tutorial! Thanks.

thanks