Slasher's First Mod (Trees Beware!)
Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 13:34
Hi guys
Yip, I finally decided to do a case mod as well...
Mine will be created from scratch, will be heavy and will be a bit more unique
Will however take me most of the year to do, due to time restrictions...
Here is a BASIC run down of what I want to do:
1. Create a case from wood (Currently Supawood that will be stained and varnished, due to finances. If this is a success I will later do a mod with high quality wood on the outside that has 'flame's in the wood.)
The whole case will be done with wood and perspex, unless I dont have any realistic alternatives... It is also a BUDGET mod, so its cheap stuff, not too many fancy lights etc. That I can add later though..
The wood will be rotored where applicable to have nice edges, and a nice spiffy BIG handle on top of the case to offset the extra weight to carry to a LAN...
I will start with creating the interior parts - such as HDD tray, optical drive bay space etc. To keep it small and light, the sides will have to be done with hardboard, with stronger wood as framework to keep it the right shape and not break.
From there, I will make a 'space' for my PSU to be fitted, with a 'wooden cover' , so when you look through the window on the side you wont see the big ugly piece of metal.
I have an idea for the window, but that you will have to wait and see... Dont want to give that away.
The mobo tray will be a sheet of plexi. I will create the front and back of the case as well. I dont know if I will 'hide' the optical drives by creating wooden fronts, but will try. I dont have tons of fancy power tools however, so it may prove too difficult on my budget.
The power and reset switched will also be wooden buttons.
I will implement ports in the front of the case for USB and earphone jacks.
For the creating of the outer shell of the case I got an idea from my dad. I will get perspex 'rods' to create a frameword - all the edges - and then I
can attach the wood to the framework. It makes it easier and sturdier. The perspex will be see-through, so no loss to 'look' on the inside. The inside will be highly varnished to shine. I will then add a few lights to the interior for nice reflections.
I know the heat dissipation of wood isnt qjuite as good as the metal, but I will make space for a few case fans to keep circulation good. Watercooling isnt an option as its budget...
I have one problem - I dont want to use a metal grill and its not really gonna work well to cut a wooden grill (Basic tools, remember ) . Should I just use a metal grill, or how can I hide this?
I had a suggestion of 'hortjies' as is used on some cupboards, but the weight is too much, as well as the space needed to implement something like this.
The potential for cable hiding is very big luckily, as I can make space where I want it. Airflow should thus be good, so I can make it a bit cooler to offset the wood. I think it would also be a bit more silent. On certain places I can physcially put the fan "into" the wood when I cut the hole, keeping away bulges as well... That would be nice...
Any and all suggestions and criteria welcome guys...
As I do some planning on paper I will scan and post... This may however only happen in a month gap even... My studies are top priority... This mod is a hobby..
Please note - it is my first mod, but I want to make it a good, lasting one... Not gonna rush it.
PS - Excuse the bad spelling, the dog is lying on my lap en her head is on my arm. Losing bloodflow tot he arm and her added OVERSIZE weight makes it EXTREMELY difficult to type...
Yip, I finally decided to do a case mod as well...
Mine will be created from scratch, will be heavy and will be a bit more unique
Will however take me most of the year to do, due to time restrictions...
Here is a BASIC run down of what I want to do:
1. Create a case from wood (Currently Supawood that will be stained and varnished, due to finances. If this is a success I will later do a mod with high quality wood on the outside that has 'flame's in the wood.)
The whole case will be done with wood and perspex, unless I dont have any realistic alternatives... It is also a BUDGET mod, so its cheap stuff, not too many fancy lights etc. That I can add later though..
The wood will be rotored where applicable to have nice edges, and a nice spiffy BIG handle on top of the case to offset the extra weight to carry to a LAN...
I will start with creating the interior parts - such as HDD tray, optical drive bay space etc. To keep it small and light, the sides will have to be done with hardboard, with stronger wood as framework to keep it the right shape and not break.
From there, I will make a 'space' for my PSU to be fitted, with a 'wooden cover' , so when you look through the window on the side you wont see the big ugly piece of metal.
I have an idea for the window, but that you will have to wait and see... Dont want to give that away.
The mobo tray will be a sheet of plexi. I will create the front and back of the case as well. I dont know if I will 'hide' the optical drives by creating wooden fronts, but will try. I dont have tons of fancy power tools however, so it may prove too difficult on my budget.
The power and reset switched will also be wooden buttons.
I will implement ports in the front of the case for USB and earphone jacks.
For the creating of the outer shell of the case I got an idea from my dad. I will get perspex 'rods' to create a frameword - all the edges - and then I
can attach the wood to the framework. It makes it easier and sturdier. The perspex will be see-through, so no loss to 'look' on the inside. The inside will be highly varnished to shine. I will then add a few lights to the interior for nice reflections.
I know the heat dissipation of wood isnt qjuite as good as the metal, but I will make space for a few case fans to keep circulation good. Watercooling isnt an option as its budget...
I have one problem - I dont want to use a metal grill and its not really gonna work well to cut a wooden grill (Basic tools, remember ) . Should I just use a metal grill, or how can I hide this?
I had a suggestion of 'hortjies' as is used on some cupboards, but the weight is too much, as well as the space needed to implement something like this.
The potential for cable hiding is very big luckily, as I can make space where I want it. Airflow should thus be good, so I can make it a bit cooler to offset the wood. I think it would also be a bit more silent. On certain places I can physcially put the fan "into" the wood when I cut the hole, keeping away bulges as well... That would be nice...
Any and all suggestions and criteria welcome guys...
As I do some planning on paper I will scan and post... This may however only happen in a month gap even... My studies are top priority... This mod is a hobby..
Please note - it is my first mod, but I want to make it a good, lasting one... Not gonna rush it.
PS - Excuse the bad spelling, the dog is lying on my lap en her head is on my arm. Losing bloodflow tot he arm and her added OVERSIZE weight makes it EXTREMELY difficult to type...