Home made case

David230 · 26 Feb 2006 at 15:51

Started to build a fully aluminium large midi case. Limited tools for the job but so far things are going ok.

I'm gonna put a pic up so you can all have a good laugh later.

If it all starts going wrong, can anyone suggest a good aluminium case which would be suitable for watercooling. I had the thermaltake armour in mind as I like the styling atleast.

cheers

David230 · 26 Feb 2006 at 18:20

So far I have spent £30 on aluminium. I am keeping an eye on price which is why my working methods are not exactly ideal. So far the tools used consist of, stanley knife, jigsaw, workmate, spanner and 2 x thick metal rulers.lol

As for a new case, about £150-200 is my max limit.

David230 · 26 Feb 2006 at 19:00

Thanks

Stacker is nice. Is it Aluminium chassis?

Here is a pic, it took time getting these bits shaped with the tools I have. Trying to keep cost down as much as poss though otherwise I am just aswell getting a new case.

Thats the top, bottom, front or back part of the chassis and the primed piece is the front panel.

David230 · 26 Feb 2006 at 20:28

ok, so if I get fed up with my diy job. I have myself a shortlist. What d'ya think?

SS TJ07 if I get brave.lol
lianli v1000plus
cm stacker
TT armour

I love the styling of the armour but how is it rated by you guys?

David230 · 27 Feb 2006 at 13:47

Pimprig looks like an interesting site. I will try and look at cases next time I go on there

lol

thanks

David230 · 27 Feb 2006 at 18:30

ok, so I have come to the conclusion after watching a video review of the tj07 that it is way overpriced. The video does'nt do the case any justice whatsoever. Poorly aligned side doors and the tacky front usb/jack socket flappy thing which I cant stand..

Sticking with the custom job and save myself some money.

David230 · 27 Feb 2006 at 20:16

Aluminium has protective layer on it until I have finished cutting/drilling.

I will probably put a window side on, but not just a square window, something different.

Only prob I have recognised so far is the fact that I wont be able to roll the edges. I could probably smooth them but dont know how successful that will be, guess will have to wait and see.

David230 · 27 Feb 2006 at 22:16

To give some idea what the actual finish will look like, here is a sample pic.

It all needs finishing off on every edge but gives a rough idea of the construction aswell.

David230 · 28 Feb 2006 at 18:37

nightwish said:
Looks cool! Keep us all updated - I'm thinking of building an aluminium case soon myself because I can't seem to find any case that has everything I want, exactly how I want it!

Two questions: How are you bending the aluminium and how are you going to stick all the pieces together?

Thats why I'm doing it. Everything will be held together using countersunk screws and nyloc nuts on the chassis frame. Thats the idea I have for now anyhoo(new ideas as I go). I'm using steel metal plates aswell for bracing the case tightly together and also something to screw the little chrome feet into that I plan on using.

My method of bending is pretty naff If I'm honest. It involves a large metal ruler, stanley blade and a workmate with 2 x strong metal bars.lol

Not the best way I know and I have to be careful not to score to deep into the aluminium as to avoid the thing breaking as soon as you bend. Where I have got it right with the scoring its extremely strong and can only really be bent again in a vice..

The problem now Is just getting time to carry on with it.

David230 · 3 Mar 2006 at 18:56

Quick question, what is the best way to polish the alluminium? I have made a few light scores into one of the sheets. Are the felt polishing drill bits what I need? I have the polishing cloth disc but that just sheens obviously.

I have cheated a little with my m/board tray, its gonna be a bit like a tj07 as far as being all aluminium except for the tray.lol

David230 · 3 Mar 2006 at 23:18

Using the W'n'Dry seems to kill the finish. Atleast the way I am doing it. I've managed to get a aluminium polish kit from an auction site this-evening for a couple'a'quid. Consists of polishing soaps and felt/cloth polishers. Will let you know how I get on.

I also have some mesh aluminium for the front panel which I'll get round to making soon.

David230 · 5 Mar 2006 at 14:20

Thanks Mark.

Thats a nice finish he's got!!

no asking for competitor info please

David230 · 5 Mar 2006 at 16:15

.....this stuff

David230 · 5 Mar 2006 at 20:06

Smurfy said:
lol, i dont recon they will catch on to you guys doing that.

sorry, dunno what your talking about.

David230 · 7 Mar 2006 at 19:03

I received my fan guards and rubber moulding strips this-morning.

The rubber moulding fits perfectly to the gauge of aluminium I am using for the chassis.

The only problem is finding the best way to keep the rubber snug in the corners without making it look messy and at the same time making a solid fit.

Any solutions?

David230 · 7 Mar 2006 at 20:22

Did'nt explain my task properly. I'm actually trying to get the rubber to stay in 90deg corners without pushing out. Superglues about the only thing i can think of at the moment.

David230 · 8 Mar 2006 at 21:11

rear chassis panel with psu cut-out while 120mm blow hole and mobo tray (i/o /expansion etc) still to cut.

The protective film did'nt want to stay in place properly so took it off of fear I might go a bit too wayward cutting out.

What do you think to the layout so far with that, before I cut.lol

David230 · 9 Mar 2006 at 18:39

I have swiped a motherboard tray with I/o panel attatched So its just a case of me cutting a straightforward hole into the rear of the above sheet. It will be steel mind and not Aluminium but I think if I was to try and make my own piece for all the cards and i/o I would mess it up. Easier this way.

Auction site for the materials. Just bought a rivet gun off there for £2.50 plus 100 rivets. lol

Should have the mobo tray and fan holes sorted tomorrow. Slow project cos I have very little time to actually do it..

David230 · 10 Mar 2006 at 12:24

Got the blowhole and I/O cutouts done in about 15min's thanks to the jigsaw.
Next move is to clean up the edges then move onto the rest of the chassis panels. It looks rough at the moment I know, but until I know for sure I have all my holes cut I wont be doing any finishing to any of the panels.

Heres a couple of pics,

Need to modify the i/o panel as you can see from pic below.

Mobo tray is fixed. I was debating on making it so it slid out the back as it would'nt be too difficult to do, I'd just have to drill out the rivets on the runner used on the old case then fix in place. I decided against the idea because I remember this was something that use to vibrate in the old case where the tray had slight movement in the runner. I would personally much prefer to have the whole thing solid and theres gonna be plenty of space to actually fit the motherboard so not a problem imo..

David230 · 10 Mar 2006 at 14:14

Test fitting of the rubber strip, well pleased with the look.

I even managed to almost make a proper circle with the Jigsaw!!!