Check out my Customized 13" Ultimate MBA

[Canadiandad]

Love my new MBA even more now that I have it protected and customized. Used the 3M DI-NOC Black Carbon Fiber vinyl and applied it myself. The apple logo was a bit tricky and took some skill but it came out very nice. I am very happy with the results. Love the texture of the CF vinyl too. Bought the vinyl in bulk from a dealer in my home town and have also applied it in my car with similar success and satisfaction. Great stuff to work with and a bit forgiving especially if you use a blow dryer!

MBA top view before

MBA bottom view before

MBA top after

MBA top angle after

MBA bottom after (cutting out the rubber pad sections was not too difficult)

MBA closeup - realistic look and feel

MBA after side view

MBA after - love the feel, stands apart from others

MBA after - All done, on to the car!!

 

[ann713]

Wow, great install. Looks very very sleek.

 

[keewawa]

looks cool, but whether is it easy to be removed if necessary?

 

[Cheffy Dave]

Very nice job! Actually, its the perfect case for the MBA, you should start a business!

 

[onthecouchagain]

where did you get that keyboard cloth, and what is it for? So dust doesn't get into the keys?

And yes, nice looking Air!

 

[Canadiandad]

Answers

To answer a few of your questions, yes, it is extremely easy to remove. I had to remove a piece in my car because I messed up and it just pulled off and left no residue. I used some of the 3M adhesive liquid around the apple logo and the edges just to give it extra adhesion and to avoid lifting. That stuff leaves a residue but nothing a little Goo Gone won't take off easily.

The keyboard cloth I got from iClear cleaner solution with a special offer pack that I bought several years ago. It is the perfect size and does keep the dust out of the keyboard and also keeps the keys from rubbing against the screen which can sometimes happen.

As for starting my own business offering pre-cut versions? Not likely to happen as I do not have a laser cutter. I did this myself in about an hour with a sharp exacto knife and a blow dryer. I don't think anyone is going to want to ship me their MBA to have the same done. But close friends can bring theirs over to my house and I will do theirs! ;-)

 

[onthecouchagain]

The keyboard cloth I got from iClear cleaner solution with a special offer pack that I bought several years ago. It is the perfect size and does keep the dust out of the keyboard and also keeps the keys from rubbing against the screen which can sometimes happen.

Interesting. Thanks for the response. When the cloth is there, does it change the way the Air closes? Does the lid still close shut all the way, or is there a bit of space now?

 

[theSeb]

Very neat job. You have far more patience than I do.

 

[Beanoir]

top job! I'd like to see that in the flesh.

 

[Canadiandad]

Nope. You can't tell it is there at all. MBA closes the same as always.

Interesting. Thanks for the response. When the cloth is there, does it change the way the Air closes? Does the lid still close shut all the way, or is there a bit of space now?

 

[iksretep]

I'd gladly pay to have this done...

Great looking MBA! I think the close up pictures show the true quality of your work. Kudos! I'd really pay to have this done with the same quality. Perhaps a different selection of material (print) to allow for it to be truly unique.

 

[Beanoir]

Looks like you've cut that out really well around the Apple logo too...?

 

[Canadiandad]

Looks like you've cut that out really well around the Apple logo too...?

Yes, it did come out pretty good. This was the toughest part of the whole job. You need a very sharp knife and a very steady hand.

 

[J&JPolangin]

...great job on the mod!

Now if only would just natively make it out of real carbon fiber already the MBA would be perfect :drool (and no mods needed)!

 

[AppleScruff1]

Looks good and a nice job installing it. Where did you get the material? What was the price?

 

[halledise]

gags

 

[Jordan921]

That looks dope!!!

 

[Canadiandad]

Looks good and a nice job installing it. Where did you get the material? What was the price?

Got the 3M Di-NOC from a local distributer for 3M. bought a 60" x 36" piece of vinyl for just under $70. So far I have used 2/3 of it to cover my MBA and 10 pieces of my car dash interior. It goes a long way even if you make a few mistakes like I have.

 

[m3digi]

Very nice job. Great looking system.

 

[uwetodd]

Interesting. Thanks for the response. When the cloth is there, does it change the way the Air closes? Does the lid still close shut all the way, or is there a bit of space now?

I know you already got an answer, but wanted to recommend shaggymac if you're looking for a keyboard/screen protector. I bought the 13" protector back in October for my ultimate and love it. Great quality and highly recommend.

 

[Windows]

First of all, very nice job on that... I actually want to try it out on my MBP I'm planning on buying.

2 questions, how hard is it to make the carbon fiber align or stretch out smoothely with a blow dryer instead of an actual heat gun (I don't have a heat gun, but it seems it would take a long time to make it smooth with a blow dryer), and is there any special technique you used to cut out the Apple logo?

Thanks

 

[onthecouchagain]

I know you already got an answer, but wanted to recommend shaggymac if you're looking for a keyboard/screen protector. I bought the 13" protector back in October for my ultimate and love it. Great quality and highly recommend.

Thanks for the recommendation. And thanks OP for explaining about the keyboard cloth.

@Uwetodd, same question, when closing your laptop with the cloth, does it close normally and all the way? No space left?

And just a general question to all who use keyboard/screen clothes... how is the laptop able to close all the way with the cloth? Are the keys indented into the laptop? Is the screen indented inward from the screen's frame?

 

[uwetodd]

@Uwetodd, same question, when closing your laptop with the cloth, does it close normally and all the way? No space left?

And just a general question to all who use keyboard/screen clothes... how is the laptop able to close all the way with the cloth? Are the keys indented into the laptop? Is the screen indented inward from the screen's frame?

Let me answer your 2nd question first. There's a tiny bit of room separating the keyboard from the screen. The result of not having this space is the permanent keyboard impression on your screen.

The thin cloth not only prevents this from happening, but allows the laptop to close naturally without any lift or visible open space.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Let me answer your 2nd question first. There's a tiny bit of room separating the keyboard from the screen. The result of not having this space is the permanent keyboard impression on your screen.

The thin cloth not only prevents this from happening, but allows the laptop to close naturally without any lift or visible open space.

Thank you for the informative response. I'll save the links to those cloths for my future Air purchase. : )

 

[Christopher387A]

I love the look of this. Want to do mine?