For anyone with painted toughbooks

How many of you actually had heat related problems?

From what i under stand the silver parts are how the heat is dispersed as there is no fan correct?

it seems to me that painting the silver parts as they are only around the screen for the most part wouldn't cause problems to the main components in the body as nothing is really changing or are the problems people mention heat related problems in the screen? or am i missing something in how toughbooks are put to together and the panels around the screen disperse heat for the main components as well?

 

I have repainted several lids silver with no issues. I have also painted a couple bottom housings black, with no issues

 

On the fully rugged models CF-19 and CF-30 and older fully rugged models they use the main body as a heat sink. I have heard of a few failures due to heat, but I think there were extreme cases like work in the open on a boat or desert. They were painted black all the way on those models and Panasonic changed the standard color starting on the CF-28. Though you can still get a black model special order from 28 on up.

On the Mk2 I use as my personal one the thermal pads were starting to show there age so I replaced them and have had no problems. Just check your unit 19 out first.

 

Well you kinda got the right idea but think the other way around...attracts heat. We always said if we painted the lid black (dark colors) that it would atttract the heat and heat is deadly when it comes to the touchscreens. This is a quote from Rick (Toughbook) he made a few years ago.

 

You can paint your Toughbook any color you want. However... Panasonic has them silver for a reason. Yes they have a few for the US Govt. that are painted black for Seal Teams and the like... Seal Team 6 actually used a Toughbook to bludgeon... Um... Never mind.

But if you paint a Toughbook black* and use it in the sun... You WILL experience touchscreen failure relatively quickly.... Your LCD will then follow behind that.

If you use your Toughbook indoors all the time then who cares... It is, after all, YOUR Toughbook. The main reason you see so many painted on eBay is that they try to cover up all the wear that is on them... Scratches on the top, etc. Not sure I would want to buy one already painted as you never know what it USED to look like and how much damage it had. The ONLY time I have ever painted them was by special request from the customer to match their business colors.

I'd rather have a dinged up Toughbook and wear the scratches like a badge than cover it up to look pretty or, god forbid, put one of those pukey tire treads on it that the DB on eBay was selling a while back.

But then I am picky!

EDIT - BTW... Welcome to the forum and subsequent madness that follows as you collect so many Toughbooks you have to start stacking them on the floor and.... Wait... Sorry... That is my shop....


*Not sure about pink, green and the other rainbow colors!

 

The touch screen is the highest failed component of any Toughbook regardless of color.

 

That is FO SHO! Certain models more than others...

 

I kinda like the look of these decals but no to the tire "matt" that that ebay seller had on his... http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tread-Sticker-Decals-Truck-Rover/dp/B005C98NB2

 

Well I will know how purple holds up here soon on the lid. The youngest two boys have minecraft stickers all over there CF-74 Mk3's and the daughter has picked out purple for her lid. Should be done this weekend.

 

That depends on the tire......Maybe an ice racing tire........The spikes would be interesting....

View attachment 94083


I bet that model would be useful to SEAL team 6

 

C'mon Blair! Just put it under your rear tire and hit the gas! No need for a decal! LOL

 

I've had about a dozen cf-18s and a few cf-29 lids painted or cerakoted, mainly bright colors from hot pink to volkswagon green, and theyre being used in locations without ac without problems. Now theyre not out in the field or anything, but at schools and orphanages were ac is not an option.

They were painted purely for the fun of it, and had worked as anticipated, but I agree with what has been posted, if used as designed in the bad lands, dark colors would be a no go.

Sam

 

Sam... You are the only person that I think SHOULD paint Toughbooks!

You do awesome work and do not get enough credit!

Rick

 

Sweet Jesus... I just saw that tire! Yeah... Seal Team 6 could have used that one!

 

Watch how you gun it. With those tires you might flip over backwards.