Customizing a laptop on a budget

[Lady Branwen Bastrop]

So I'm getting a brand new laptop (hurray!) on the 25th. I was thinking of some ways to customize it since my twin is getting one that looks exactly like mine. I'm in the process of finding a laptop bag for it, but I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to do some customizing on a budget- I'm looking at spending about $40 tops. Preferably nothing that's going to damage the laptop. I have already looked at vinyl decals and it seemed a little pricey (even for Etsy). Any input would be appreciated!

[steampunk22]

Depending on the material of the laptop casing, you could etch or carve, but that unless you have a lot of those resources it may be outside of your price range. Your best option given your budget, is a build up or uhhhh....surface additions. Fastening to a laptop can be tricky of the casing is metal and you are not comfortably with epoxies and scoring the surface of your computer and such. If its plastic that may be a little easier. Local hardware stores carry lots of nice little steampunky sort of accents, but given your budget the thrift store and garage sale option will most likely be your best source for parts. Hit the pavement and seek out odds and ends, maybe you will see something that will trigger an idea about what you want it to look like? Buying vinyl decals can be expensive but it is pretty straightforward to make your own. Also paint is relatively cheap, and you could probably get a pretty decent and durable finish if you make sure you use the right kinds of paint/finish for your laptops casing material.

[Captain Quinlin Hopkins]

A roll of brass shim stock is about $22 for a 6" x100"x.005" roll.  That combined with a few of the etching techniques around here and you can do almost anything you want.  There's ever smaller pieces at hobby stores for less. 

Have fun with it.  Look around and get a few ideas, we'll try to let you know the cheapest ways to accomplish it. 

[pixlaw]

It also depends on how comfortable you are working with various materials.  Van Dykes Restorers sells  1 ft. x 2 ft. hunks of pressure sensitive veneer for $20 or so, but that requires you to 1) cut it, 2) adhere it to the laptop, and 3) finish it so it looks nice.   Also, now that I think of it, Van Dykes sells a sample kit of various aged copper sheets (around 6" x 6")  which you could use.

Check out craft stores for thin sheets of copper and brass, and wires of the same.  Also clock parts.  Will Rockwell has done some nice work using clock hands on the outside of his jump drive cases (a couple of threads below)

[Wisconsin Platt]

The Kowal Portable Typewriter and Adding Machine seemed to have hit a nice budget point.

There is a lot of detail there and it looks like there is a discount code for schtickers.com where she had the skins printed.

[CapnHarlock]

think "Paint"

edging the keycaps with brass modeling paint actually helps, if you are not a touch-typist

[WillRockwell]

Brass corners are cheap and very effective