Help on case modding tools

Ducky Spud

Ducky Spud

Ducky Spud

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Hey guys, ordered a Lian-Li PC-A07 which should be with me on Tuesday fingers crossed :)

Anyhow, Im definately going to be cutting some holes in the mobo tray for better cable management and probably going to try to fit a 240mm rad in the roof, or failing that, at the bottom of the case (will be removing the HDD cage all together).

And now to the point, Im also looking at getting a Dremel to do these mods with which I know should be fine for cutting the main sections out that I need. However, will I be able to drill through the aluminium with it using a drill attachment? I currently have no power tools at all and figured a multi tool like a Dremel would be the most cost efficient way of going about this, but only really if it can drill as well.

Thanks for any info, and I'll keep you guys updated :)
 
Yeah a Dremel will be fine, however i would advise that you use the dremel cutting wheels as opposed to the cheaper ones that are available.

I used about 10-15 ordinary disks to cut out 4 120mm holes, however i used only 2 dremel ones to do 3 holes of the same size on another case.
 
If the lines are all striaght just use a good hacksaw (with an adjustable angle blade grips) you will still need a drill to get started - ask your dad/friend or a neighbour, but always buy your own HSS drill bits.

If it's more complex - for the price/hassel of a dremel and disks (and paint touch up) you might as well pay for a local CNC shop to do it. (~£30) Wish I did, would have been quicker and a better finish.
 
Im gonna get a Dremel then, most people seem to be saying its fine.

The ones Ive been looking at come with a few cutting disks so doesnt really matter if I break a few. Not a fan of using a hacksaw, never really been good at getting the cuts straight really :( Not too bad with a Dremel though, used one when I was back in school and found it quite easy :)
 
Ducky Spud said:
never really been good at getting the cuts straight really :( Not too bad with a Dremel though, used one when I was back in school and found it quite easy :)
Click to expand...
Regardless of cutting tool get also marker pen... that makes making clean/straight cut lot easier when you have them outlined there.
 
I would get a cheap drill as well, should be able to get one for about £10 from Homebase/B&Q.

Be better for drilling out rivets and can use it round the house. :)

Have a look at the diamond edged cutting wheels for the dremel, costs about £8 but will last for ages and doesn't shatter like the normal ones.
 
Yea, I'd seen the diamond edged ones and wondered how good they were.

Just waiting on delivery, should be here today, then its a job of measuring everything up to see if it'll fit! (still not 100% about if I can fit my rad in the roof yet)
 
The Dremel cutting wheels shouldn't shatter if you are careful with them. Most people have a tendency to put too much pressure on when cutting and that's why the cutting wheels wear out so fast - let the speed of the wheel and the weight of the tool do the work and the cutting disks last much longer.

On one cutting wheel I put these two holes into the mobo tray of an Antec 300 (one up by the top fan, and the other bottom right) - and the wheel ended up only a couple of mm less diameter than when i started.
p4020037.jpg


Just take it steady and let the tool do the work.
 
to be fair FaceplantSi i would expect a lot more out of a Dremel then the holes you have cut. My step dad has been plying with em for years, and i would say a lot of it is how you use it and so on, but then buying cheap crap cutting disks isn't a good start imo and you should be prepared for shattering and not lasting too long, specially if your a noob with a Dremel :P
 
I agree with you completely - the holes I cut aren't meant to be an exhaustive demonstration of everything that the Dremel is capable of... where did you get that impression from? If you want I can show you the glass engravings I do with my Dremel, perhaps the perspex modelling too?

Those two little holes are fine for their purpose, are internal so don't need to be neat, and only took about 5mins total - the post was intended to reassure the OP that a correctly used Dremel wouldn't result in shattered cutting disks, nor would it go through them at a huge speed as others have suggested.
 
The holes I'd be making are similar to the ones you've made FaceplantSi. Got my case today and its worse than I thought for cable management. Theres a plate thats solid accross the top/back of the case so cant put cables behind the mobo tray, got to bring them down a bit first which looks pretty darn awful!

Thanks for the info again :)
 
ah fair enough faceplantsi, some reason just took it it was a demonstration. out of interest i would definitely be interested in what you have produced with a Dremel, post up some pics for us all to have a look at =D
 
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