So, I got tired of my plain old iPhone case. Slick, boring, always felt like it was gonna slip right out of my hand, you know? Looked online, saw some fancy textured ones, but the prices? Forget about it. Plus, none of them felt quite right. I figured, how hard could it be to make my own? Give it some real grip, something unique.
First thing, I needed a base. Just grabbed a cheap, clear plastic case online. Didn’t want to ruin my good one if this went sideways. Then, I thought about texture. What feels good but isn’t too bulky? I rummaged around my workshop shed. Found some leftover coarse-grit sandpaper – too scratchy. Found some fabric scraps – maybe too soft, might get dirty quick. Then I spotted it: a can of that textured spray paint for outdoor furniture. The stuff that gives a slightly rough, stony feel. Perfect.
Getting Down to It
Alright, prep time. Cleaned the clear case really well with some alcohol wipes. Didn’t want any grease messing up the paint job. Took it outside – you definitely want good ventilation with this spray paint stuff, trust me. Laid down some old newspaper. Gave the can a good shake, like the instructions said. Held the case steady (propped it up on a small block of wood) and started spraying. Light coats, that’s the key. Did one pass, let it sit for maybe 15-20 minutes. Looked okay, but not textured enough. So, I went for another coat. Then another. Built it up slowly until it had that nice, grippy feel I was after.
The trickiest part was getting the edges coated evenly without building up too much paint inside the case or clogging the button holes. Had to be careful with the spray angle. Also, patience. Waiting between coats felt like forever, especially when I just wanted to see the finished thing. I almost rushed it, glad I didn’t. It definitely smelled strong for a while, even doing it outside.
How It Turned Out
Let it dry completely overnight, just to be safe. Snapped it onto my phone the next morning. You know what? It actually worked out pretty great. The texture is exactly what I wanted – not too rough, just enough to feel secure in my hand. Doesn’t add much bulk either. It looks pretty cool too, kind of a matte, stone finish.
- Grip: Way better than before. No more near-drops.
- Looks: Unique, definitely doesn’t look like every other case out there.
- Durability: Seems okay so far? Time will tell how the paint holds up to being shoved in pockets.
Was it worth the effort? Yeah, I think so. Took maybe an hour total, not counting drying time. Plus, I got exactly the case I wanted instead of settling. Might even try a different texture next time, maybe something with fabric embedded, who knows. It was a fun little project.