The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Faux Leather Contact Paper skin

    Discussion in 'Notebook Cosmetic Modifications and Custom Builds' started by Thisisme, Aug 19, 2008.

  1. Thisisme

    Thisisme Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    90
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    The left side of my palmrest has undergone a severe discolouration merely 2 months after purchase. So I called up Toshiba support, and they gave me the number of this subcontractor who told me that it would take them at least a week to start the repair process and then another week or more depending on the availability of parts from Toshiba. So I gave up that idea.

    After weeks of trying to find an alternate remedy, I found this on ebay:

    http://cgi.ebay.ca/BLACK-FAUX-LEATH...QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262

    Apparently, this contact paper feels and looks like leather on one side and has a sticker on the other. It is also, "tough, durable, and washable". Curious, I started doing research on Contact paper, since I'd never heard of it before. And lo and behold, it seems to be quite a popular way to cover almost anything! Check out these wooden laptops:

    http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache...ops&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=ca&client=firefox-a

    http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=67612

    And other uses for Faux Leather Contact Paper:

    http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache...NG&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=10&gl=ca&client=firefox-a

    http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/...thwest-6-jaclyns-granny-smiths-kitchen-041271

    So I bought one roll from this guy. It's also much cheaper than any ready-made "skin" you can find on the market.

    Has anyone else here tried using faux leather contact paper on their laptop or heard someone do something similar?
     
    Thisisme, Aug 19, 2008
    #1
  2. D3X

    D3X the robo know it all

    Reputations:
    688
    Messages:
    1,666
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Interesting!! Wow, this also gives me ideas :D
     
    D3X, Aug 19, 2008
    #2
  3. Yotsuba

    Yotsuba Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    1,593
    Messages:
    671
    Likes Received:
    703
    Trophy Points:
    106
    I may have to obtain some of this contact paper and use my old Presario 1244 as a guinea pig for it.
     
    Yotsuba, Aug 19, 2008
    #3
  4. Thisisme

    Thisisme Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    90
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Will it cause any overheating problems? I read somewhere that the brushed aluminium palmrest acted as a heatsink.....
     
    Thisisme, Aug 19, 2008
    #4
  5. Funkymoe

    Funkymoe Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    5
    Messages:
    82
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    The link is a life-saver. Literally. I was tempted to shoot myself before I was directed to that link. I just destroyed my precious thinkpad's palm rest trying to use Goof Off to remove a sticker like an idiot.

    So yeah, I just bought a roll too. Yours must have arrived by now. How is it?
     
    Funkymoe, Aug 30, 2008
    #5
  6. stewie

    stewie What the deuce?

    Reputations:
    3,666
    Messages:
    2,174
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I bought some custom cut ones from this seller, I think it's the same material like the one you posted. The material is very thin and durable.

    The same seller for yours also has solid black, solid white, frosted glass, and clear that are good for laptops:

    Solid black:
    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350091588439

    Solid white:
    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370080236095

    Frosted glass:
    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350091685794

    Clear:
    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370080236066

    :)
     
    stewie, Aug 30, 2008
    #6
  7. stewie

    stewie What the deuce?

    Reputations:
    3,666
    Messages:
    2,174
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    By the way, what brand is the one you bought?

    I looked at the back of the ones I bought, it's written made by Kittrich.
     
    stewie, Aug 30, 2008
    #7
  8. Han Bao Quan

    Han Bao Quan The Assassin

    Reputations:
    4,071
    Messages:
    4,208
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    I did something similar to the one in the OP's post.
    Check my sig.
     
    Han Bao Quan, Aug 31, 2008
    #8
  9. Thisisme

    Thisisme Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    90
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Yeah......about that.....it hasn't arrived yet. They told me that the first item they shipped was returned to them because of a "damaged shipping label", so they reshipped it. :rolleyes:

    I should be getting it on Tuesday (tomorrow is Labour Day in Canada).
     
    Thisisme, Aug 31, 2008
    #9
  10. Thisisme

    Thisisme Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    90
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Yea, I saw most of those, but I wanted something that would not just look like a sticker. It had to be different and enhance the look and feel of the laptop....not just sit there and remind me that it's covering the discolouration underneath! :p

    The same guy also sells Suede Contact Paper, and I thought of getting that, but he has only one colour (tan), and it doesn't match my black/silver laptop.

    I called them up, and they told me all they have is Kittrich. Btw, check out this Kittrich site:

    http://www.peelstickremove.com/

    Nice job! Although I wonder, why does everyone only use woodgrain contact paper? There are so many other good ones, like Suede, Faux Leather etc....but no one seems to use those!
     
    Thisisme, Aug 31, 2008
    #10
  11. stewie

    stewie What the deuce?

    Reputations:
    3,666
    Messages:
    2,174
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Yeah I wanted suede too, but I couldn't find some in black, yet. :D

    Nice find! So Kittrich does make them for computers, it wasn't on their other site. :cool:
     
    stewie, Aug 31, 2008
    #11
  12. Sgt. Hollywood

    Sgt. Hollywood Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    149
    Messages:
    387
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Almost any decent hardware store should have some contact paper in stock although varieties will be limited. And yes, it can affect temperatures depending on the material and thickness etc etc. Also keep in mind that many contact papers might have adhesives that do not remain stable with heat, so you might find one that slips/peels, and another that seriously glues it self to the surface, really making removal painful.

    I threw some burlwood on one of my 360 guitars a while back because I was tired of the plastic look. Total cost 1.25$

    [​IMG]

    And that Atari lappy is absolutely awesome
     
    Sgt. Hollywood, Aug 31, 2008
    #12
  13. Thisisme

    Thisisme Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    90
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Yea, the Home Hardware store near my house did have Contact Paper, but it only had the regular marble, tile and other designs, not specialist, 'textured' designs like faux leather etc. I need something that is semi-permanent, meaning that once I put it on, I won't be messing with it for a year or two.....and so a durable, textured paper like would probably be the best choice.

    Woah! That looks really nice! I would've never guessed that it was just woodgrain paper...looks like real wood from the photo.
     
    Thisisme, Aug 31, 2008
    #13
  14. stewie

    stewie What the deuce?

    Reputations:
    3,666
    Messages:
    2,174
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Very nicely done! :cool:
     
    stewie, Sep 1, 2008
    #14
  15. Thisisme

    Thisisme Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    90
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Thisisme, Sep 3, 2008
    #15