I have been wanting to make my framework 13 black and was wondering if an aluminum black metal finish would work for this. It looks easy to apply, but does anyone know if this would turn out looking terrible or if it would just end up flaking off quickly? If this might work, I would love any recommendations; if not, and you have an alternative, I’m also curious.
Tlrd: Can I use aluminum black metal finish to make the framework black?
Another recommendation I would have would just be purchasing a skin rather than trying to coat your Framework 13 black. I’m not sure if there are full computer skins, but it should be a simpler process than coating your Framework with spray paint as it will be time consuming and likely won’t stick well. I know dbrand sells skins which are somewhat expensive, but I do not know of any other company selling Framework skins.
Also if possible please change the section your post is in. The community market is for selling used Framework parts. Your topic should be in general topics or Framework 13.
Just putting this tag in for a moderator to change it if you are unable. @2disbetter
Sorry bout that should be fixed
I was thinking about something like this Amazon.com : Birchwood Casey Aluminum Black Touch-Up 3 Oz : Hunting Cleaning And Maintenance Products : Sports & Outdoors
Rather than a spray paint
I think most anything that’s not anodizing will have the potential to chip off. Normally, black or colored aluminum is done with anodizing, which creates a layer of altered aluminum that is harder than the base aluminum. And during the process there is a time when the layer has microscopic pores where dye can get in, then the pores are closed after.
You can do anodizing at home, you’ll find lots of guide & videos on youtube. I would love to see someone do it to a Framework.
And welcome to the forum.
I didn’t know they had a kind of gun black that worked on aluminum. Very interesting. I see it does need raw aluminum to work. So you’ll have to strip the laptop’s anodizing first. Perhaps lightly sanding or you could go with chemical stripping.
Anodizing doesn’t seem too bad, but if you are, I would recommend maybe not adding stickers to it. I can’t say for certain, but when I added stickers to a Macbook and left them on there for some time, the sticker eventually tattooed itself onto the Macbook (you could clearly see the sticker’s borders).
Any update?
uhh I think that would be that the sticker causes the anodized metal under it to wear less than the anodized metal around it that doesnt have a sticker. The framework laptop is anodized as well and from what ive seen it doesnt have any issues with this
No i have looked and there does not seem to be any realist way to do it and dbrand stickers just don’t look good 
Consider powder coating?
This guy did it to his FL16:
Powder coating is potentially good, but it is extremely hard to powder coat in such a way that tolerances on parts are messed up and so that the magnets don’t become demagnetized. Anodization after using a chemical agent to remove the existing anodization is the way to go IMHO.
You can have it hydro-dipped or buy a kit and do it your self. You of course would have to disassemble and reassemble. But should work well.
And some opinion: I really wish they would offer these in more colors, or at least black. I did see a post about how framework wants to avoid dye in the anodizing process since it’s unnecessary, but they could charge extra for optional colors and put the funds towards a cause that makes it an environmental net-positive. And getting a more sustainable laptop into more hands would surely help with that objective.
Its not just the dye, it is the chemicals involved in anodizing itself, they are very caustic.
A black Framework 13 looks great! Like you I wish they would offer it. I get their reasoning on why they do not but evidences like your laptop just show how great it would look. Would you be able to show a picture of your laptop with the lid closed?
They’re still anodized, they talk about it more here Awesome concept, strange execution - #6 by Poyu_Chen
Sure, I can get one this weekend!
im very much happy with silver colur, its amazing
Of course there’s some dust that I only noticed after taking it, looks worse in the photo though. The paint turned out glossier than I would have preferred btw but I’m still happy.
Also a random note for anyone who might paint theirs: the feet on the laptop remained, the paint didn’t stick to them and was peeled off. The gray looks so so against the black but the factory feet are riveted on-I think that’s preferable to using adhesive ones after the paint process. Sanding all the way up to them without hurting them was time consuming. I used a small rotary tool.
