I got tired of my 7100i being silver, so I went to Rite Aid and got some black RIT clothing dye.

The phone turned a copper color which was not bad but it also wasn't black .


I pulled out the hobby shop spray can and spayed it flat black. I made too thick a coat used some NON ACETONE nail polish remover to clean it up some.
The grey pieces that are now black still look terrible . Unless you are a good painter, don't try to paint it.

MY TIPS:
If you can find plastic dye which I couldn't find use it. (A 2 hour redip turned the copper color to black though, so be patient.)
Remove all the grey pieces from the phone. (They are a different type of plastic from the rest of the housing. Remove the front cover piece that says
Blackberry.

Check out my pictures below.

I have added a new picture of my almost final Black 7100i

For those interested in having a black or colorful 7100i or almost any phone or PDA:

http://www.mytego.com/Tegobuilder/SelectFace.aspx

hmm, doesn't look that bad after all, but the back looks a bit weird, maybe its just the picture...but nice try =)

Picture a new jar of vaseline and then take paper clip and draw random lines in it. All the pieces that were grey, look more or less like that.

I know that you feel it looks like a bad job, but I think it was a good try. In the future, see if you can come up on the dummy models to test out anything else. I've also found that model paint works well. Lots of models are made up of the same plastic housing that our 7100i's use. Hope this helps.

I liked the copper

I agree, the copper rules, it is sharp and definitely unique. I am considering doing the same for mine. The only think I am wondering is how well will it stay on. I mean it is a water soluble dye is it not?

How long was it in the first time for it to turn Copper. To me that is really nice and unique, I am thinking of trying it.

30-40 mins of stirring.
Rinse in cold water to lock dye in.
Remove ALL grey pieces or they will look dirty ,remove the silver front piece that says Blackberry, side buttons can remain. Front window is clear and painted silver.
You might need multiple sessions to get desired color.

This may help:
http://www.pinstack.com/blackberryfa...light=painting

lifestar53 ... bold move! you're kewl!
I wished that 7100i was black too

looks sweet i hate silver phones. everything is silver, digi cams, phones dvd players, stereos.. i hate it.


u shoulda left the bezel silver though.

People are paying up to $152 USD for dummy phones on Ebay. That's crazy.

lol i thought this was funny...

but yeah, i agree, you should have stuck with that copper color

I actually got one for $35 Sunday.

Man dummy phone just takes on a whole new meaning when it comes in at about 50 less than the real thing.. Geez...

-G2D

loved the copper as well...very unique! Maybe they will eventually come out with a color change for our 7100!

kinda looks like an i830 as a blackberry

yea u right

Well for anyone planning on buying a 7100i dummy phone from Ebay take note:
The only usable parts are:

Front screen covering that says Blackberry
Possibly the Nextel escutcheons (labels)
Keypad
Grey trim on the bottom of the phone (needs modification to fit)
Possibly the side buttons and wheel

The rest of it is garbage. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY

man that copper actually looked pretty professional well the job that is not the color