-Torx 10
-Torx 20
-Flat screwdriver
-Drill w/2-1/8" hole saw
-Hairdryer (Mines a Vidal Sassoon 1600watt 2 heat. Picture shows below $7.99 at Wal-Mart)
-320, 600, 1200 grit sandpaper (Can go finer as well but isn't completely necessary)
-Spray paint (Color of your choice)
-Packing tape. I used brown paper tape. Sticky but leaves no residue. Works great!
-Drink of your choice -Recommend mask to help with the fumes of the paint!
1. This is the hairdryer I have. I do not use it for what it was meant to due except produce heat. Works great for heashrink tubing ;) I'd recommend for all modders and hobbyists to get a small inexpensive hairdryer for their modding needs.
2. Dismantle your Xbox using the Torx 20 bit. Screw locations are marked with red dots.
3. Gently remove the cables from the back of the DVD and HDD drives. Remove the screws, marked with red dots, using a Torx 10 bit.
4. Remove both drives and set aside for now.
5. Unplug this little cable that goes to your power switch board. Be gentle with it!
6. Remove the front panel with the flat screwdriver. Three tabs on each side and three in the box will release the panel.
7. Remove the front panel power switch board. Gently now gently! haha.
8. Use a flat screwdriver and I cannot stress GENTLY enough here. Lift the plastic assembly for the power and eject button bit by bit. The plastic LED lens thing can come out too!
9. Using the hairdryer on high, direct its heat at the top of the jewel. Do not touch the jewel but keep the hairdryer close. Keep the heat on for a good 2 minutes solid. Wiggle the jewel around, if it looks like its starting to give and needs a bit more persuasion, apply more hairdryer heat! You should be able to slip your finger underneath the jewel and left it up. No need for tools in this case. This leaves our Xbox scar free.
10. Here's where we fast forward a bit. Knowing you have the top off, with the metal backing out as well, and don't forget the jewel Take the drill with the 2-1/8" hole saw and drill a hole as center as you can. May use a larger hole saw to remove more material but be sure to leave a lip for the jewel to sit on. Be delicate with the bit and be sure to not let the material fray. As all drills are different and bits are different I cannot tell you exactly how to not make it fray.
11. Now grab some low grit sandpaper, 120 being the lowest and start sanding the hole. Progessively step to higher grits as you sand. Don't get too carried away! Sand until it feels smooth and appears to not be any lumps in the plastic. Don't worry if it looks green in color.
12. To get rid of that greenish powder, take your Xbox top and give it a bath. Hot water and dishsoap work great to clean off the Xbox and the leftovers from your sanding!
13. Using the brown paper tape, tape off the glossy black parts of the xbox. Taping well will produce great lines of contrast after the paint is on. Get the edges of the tape, and when I say edges I mean the factory cut edges, not your tear lines, as close to the paint surface as you can. Let the edge butt up against but not stick to the X!
14. Here's a picture of the top and the drill and hole saw used. Took this to show off my drill :) and to have a drink.
15. Also before we paint, we'll want to do surface preparation. This is the utmost important part of the whole painting process for sure. A good clean nicely sanded xbox top is going to be perfect for paint! Sand, sand, sand. Progressively move to a finer grit, maybe even wetsand. Clean the surface with a washrag every now and then to get rid of the dust from the sanding.
16. Ready to paint? Get in a WELL ventilated room with your mask on! Now I tell you this and you laugh but I STRONGLY encourage it! Making sure both the front of my Xbox panel and the top are sanded and prepared, and up on styrofoam blocks, I apply the first coat.
17. Waiting for the first coat to dry, I took some pics. The color here looks pinkish, but it is still wet and the flash messes with the color quite a bit. Wee the waiting game is fun isn't it?
16. Here's the front panel. Note I have marked a piece of tape that covers a small section of the front panel that is glossy black. Be sure to cover this section up with tape or the paintjob will be a bit off.
17. After the first coat is done drying, take a fine grit sandpaper and lightly sand the first layer of paint. Don't worry if you make a few spots a little thin. This sandind will get rid of imperfections, bumps, drips, you name it. Also roughs up the surface for the next coat and makes it stick a bit better! Apply the second coat, third if needed. I did a third ;)
18. Here is the front panel witha horrid flash! You get the idea though.
19. Here is the top panel with the flash. Allows you to see the detail a bit better but again the flash kills the color.
20. Here is the top without a flash. Gives the true color a ton better. That's it. That's all she wrote. This Xbox was done for a good buddy of mine and I mailed it off to him. Looked good. One of the nicest reds I've seen on an Xbox. Time to marvel in your work!
Tutorial/Pictures by taintedhand