I want to get into Modding.

"I'll just whip a hole out there until that cable comes, then I'll just stick a post-it over the hole. Sorted."

:p
 
So I don't need a drill/Hole saw? the dremel does it all?

Can you link me? apparently Dremel 4000 is the most powerful around at the moment.

Unless this is a wind up, i would do a lot of research beofre even attempting cutting. For your own safety more then anything else.

Seriously how would and electric hand tool ' just do it all ' to cut a hole out?
 
any votes on whether this is a wind up

happy to help if serious but I feel the tell tale tug of a leg being pulled.
 
lol I'm offended that people think this is a wind up..

So all I need is a dremel right to cut shapes in casing for cable management for in the future?


Currently I took my build apart and I am rebuilding it so I can make it abit cleaner, I bought cable ties aswell which will help.

Can someone explain to me how I can sort it out while I build it so I wont make it messy again?


it currently it at this stage:

5cab9e48.jpg
 
Yea just remenber when cutting to always mask the area and then draw the design on the masking tape (also kinda helps to get a better cut). When it comes to a dremel any dremel will do just dont buy a cheaper alt cause i made that mistake, and it didnt have enough torque and rpm to cut anything. If i remenber correctly i think anything that can do over a 1000rpm is fine that will cut through anything. Also with the dremel ull find it hard to make good smooth round edge so i've found that if u just cut lines upto the curve instead of following it u wont break the disc's and then u can slowly cut them off at another angle. Finially to give it a clean look go onto google and get urself some blowhole trim can't link cause its a competitor but ull find it easy. Other than that though only thing else i would say u should have is a drill with some metal drill bits and a holesaw for making 120mm cuts (think its like a 118mm holesaw).

With modding for performance there are two principles airflow and removing obstructions so that the whole pc supplies clean air. Also u'll note that a lot pretty much everyone is using a modular power supply as this is a good way if not the best way of starting to remove the clutter. Also be aware that a lot of ppl actually route some of the cables under the mb ( including myself) and then make a cut under the mb and route it that way. However be aware that u will need to either make some extensions or buy some if u plan to do the full job. Also be aware that if u want to get a awesome paint job ur best bet is the find a company who do it just cause of the level of finish u can get with a decent powercoat/anodised inisde case. You'll be surprised how easy it is to find one especially in london normally comes under metal finishers but googling ur area for powercoating and anodising will bring u up plenty of results as u'll be surprised how cheap some of these companies will do it (e.g i having the whole of my internal case anodised black for 20 quid only got 200 rivets to drill out before i do that :P).

Anyway hope that helps

with that pic i would say a good start would be to braid the case cables as this wil really help also cable tidying ur powersupply cables that u don't need on ur powersupply (or pushing them underneath the drive bays) and if u make a cut at the bottom so that u can route the 12v cable as this beast hidden really cleans up the whole case.
 
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Thanks I really appreciate your answer, I don't understand the bit where you explain how to do a smooth round edge? and whats the blowhole trim for? can I use any masking tape to cover the area? and is giving a paint job hard I just assumed you would just spray it with a can?

Sorry for all the questions.

Before:

photo1f.jpg



After:

bfcccabf.jpg


I am really happy with my result as its improved a lot but it still doesnt look great so how can I improve it?

(Some wires couldn't go behind the mobo and back through again because it doesn't reach so maybe I can get extension?)
 
Dremels are for cheats.

What :eek::confused:.

I won't even say what I think about that, it'd be too much harsh language & I'm not into losing the plot on forums anymore :D.

---------

Here's what I should probably respond to this thread.
Just watch other modders worklogs & understand what is being done & do plenty of research before you jump into modding, even for cutting new fan holes I watched tutorial video's that bill owen put up on youtube, that was my introduction, the rest was practice, practice, practice, now I can make anything my mind can imagine if it's realistic to fit my own skills/abilitys.

Dremel work requires great concentration & very steady hands, you also need safety glasses else you could lose an eye & get bad cuts on yourself, also consider a respirator for all the metal dust that gets everywhere, it's a messy & potentially unhealthy way of cutting if unprepared, which is part of the reason some choose to splash out & have things cut out for them with a pro cnc service, you'll also need clamps & a workbench to hold your workpiece down if going the tools route.

Oldnewb is the dude in modding I currently look up to the most, jigsaw, drill press, drill, files & manages to make things that others need cnc mills for, his work is incredible, all hand work that requires heavy persistence & skill.

For dremel masters I look up to ulysses Cazuquel from brazil & tarator from siberia, those dudes have practiced their arses off to get as good as they have & it shows in their work.

Lot of research to do if new but it's worth doing, I started doing sketchy fan holes around near the end of 2007, now I make my own cases from scratch :), a drill & a dremel can go a long way if new.

Last case I bought was a lian-li & before I started making my own I analysed every bit of the case while stripping it down to learn from it & researched what tools I'd need to get making good cases & build up the tools as I've gone along.
 
^ Yeah, Bill owen is the dude who put up some nice tutorials, 1 of the sources of where I learnt what I know :).
Just seen the before & after pic, yeah it looks tidier in the after pic :).
 
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Please do not be offended, its more the mess of cables inside the PC that show you haven't taken this seriously enough with your previous efforts to justify a more desirable response.
 
with round edges u just need to cut lots of straight lines to the shape u've choose then once u have cut them down u can actually use it as a file by cutting more lines . Blowhole trim goes round the edge of where u've cut to hide the cut and make sure the cable isn't cut. Yea masking tape is just masking tape just don't use any other type as u have the problem of the tape leaving marks that are hard to get out. Just any masking tape is fine. Na myself i wont paint my case myself i find it silly as u won't get the finish as what u can with powdercoats or anodising. But there are plenty of videos for painting cases just google it.
 
The only thing you really "NEED" to begin modding is the will to do it and to take the Attitude of
"If I break this, it is my fault.. not the manufacturer (for not making it with my modding in mind)"

This and the confidence that most screw ups can be fixed with a little help from your friends, lacking friends we post on here and laugh at each other ! :D
 
Thanks for all the advice.

Where can I get the right sized holesaws to fit traditional fans?

I've decided I am going to buy: Dremel 4000 (5,000 to 35,000 RPM), Bosch PSR 18 Cordless Drill, Jigsaw, Files, Pop Rivet Gun, Sunbeam Molex Extractor, Spray paint.

Is there anything else I should consider and why and if there is something I shouldn't get which is above please explain.

Regards,
Nick.
 
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Holesaws are quite easy to find any decent hardware store will sell them (b&q, halfords, ****** etc). However u wont be able to get them the exact size normally they are a few mm under so like i think for a 120mm u would have to buy a 114mm holesaw but dont quote me on that but they are very easy to find.

I wouldn't bother with the spray paint myself just cause of it's sheer cost it will cost u about 30 quid or more to paint the case. When companies will give u a professional coat that will look 10x better for round the same price (e.g. the quote for the whole of my case which is massive (v2110b) was 20 quid so if u shop around u can get a far better deal, also good to remenber that most of these places do all the norm e.g cnc milling bending etc so they can be a helpful tool).

All the rest of the stuff covers everything u need just make sure that all ur drill bits and files etc are all designed to cut through metal thats all.
 
Holesaws are quite easy to find any decent hardware store will sell them (b&q, halfords, ****** etc). However u wont be able to get them the exact size normally they are a few mm under so like i think for a 120mm u would have to buy a 114mm holesaw but dont quote me on that but they are very easy to find.

I wouldn't bother with the spray paint myself just cause of it's sheer cost it will cost u about 30 quid or more to paint the case. When companies will give u a professional coat that will look 10x better for round the same price (e.g. the quote for the whole of my case which is massive (v2110b) was 20 quid so if u shop around u can get a far better deal, also good to remenber that most of these places do all the norm e.g cnc milling bending etc so they can be a helpful tool).

All the rest of the stuff covers everything u need just make sure that all ur drill bits and files etc are all designed to cut through metal thats all.

Thanks, I only wanted to paint the interior black so I doubt it will be that hard and My sister works in Homebase so I can get things cheap.
 
Just before u do check out the painting guides for cases on google as to get the best finish ur going to be doing a lot of sanding.
 
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