Project: shut up and be quiet!
- Thread starter davido_labido
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haha, I work in stoke, so can pop up to OcUK when i need to 
Soldato
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That motherboard shroud looks excellent, it's inspiring me to do a similar job on my system when I get some spare time. Is it really as simple as sand, primer and paint or is there more in the method than I'm realising
As always great work and I'm certainly looking forward to the rest of this project
As always great work and I'm certainly looking forward to the rest of this project
Is it really as simple as sand, primer and paint or is there more in the method than I'm realising
In this specific case the lettering on the shroud is actually molded up, so that would've needed sanded down. And with that many scuff marks it'll need priming before painting to smooth everything out.
However, if you have a featureless shroud - or at least molded relief that you want to keep - then I reckon you can vinyl dye instead. Much better than paint because it physically changes the colour of the plastic, rather than adding external layers.
Motherboard looks excellent! That Corsair memory thoughGorgeous!!
And it's such a shame that this project won't have it
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Sorry guys, been away from home for a day already...only 2 more days after today though and I will be home ready to carry on with the mod !
As LePhuronn mentions, yeah there are raised letters, I used a needle file to take these down though before I sprayed it, then a quick rub over with some fine sandpaper, can't remember which grit it was, but as long as it is fine and doesn't make deep scratches you will be fine. A couple of layers of primer and a layer or two of black paint and you will be golden. One thing I will say is make sure that if you use rattle cans you don't go too crazy, more layers of thin costs are better than a few layers of thick coats.
I am not too worried about not having the Corsair memory tbh, I really don't want too much orange on the board,I want the loop to stand out and everything else to be pretty subtle. I have a few different sets of memory to use, but i'm not sure which I will be using yet.
As LePhuronn mentions, yeah there are raised letters, I used a needle file to take these down though before I sprayed it, then a quick rub over with some fine sandpaper, can't remember which grit it was, but as long as it is fine and doesn't make deep scratches you will be fine. A couple of layers of primer and a layer or two of black paint and you will be golden. One thing I will say is make sure that if you use rattle cans you don't go too crazy, more layers of thin costs are better than a few layers of thick coats.
I am not too worried about not having the Corsair memory tbh, I really don't want too much orange on the board,I want the loop to stand out and everything else to be pretty subtle. I have a few different sets of memory to use, but i'm not sure which I will be using yet.
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Nice to have you along dude
right, another very quick update and a huge thankyou to EKWB. I emailed them just to let them know I was re using some of the gear they sent me from their last sponsorship and they told me I could have some other stuff if I needed it, I did need fittings and tubing so took that straight away, but then I realised they may have something else I have been interested in...
So, I opened the parcel and received the following, all the HDC fittings that I will need (14) and plenty of tubing (10 metres) and also the other toy
I have these fittings in white also, and I loved them, the computer I had the white ones in got destroyed by a courier coming back from an event, however not 1 drop of fluid was leaked. I know with some other fittings I would not have been so lucky!
This time I have gone for the EK PETG tubing for a change
and finally the Monoblock, I have been interested with these for some time so thought i would have a look at one...
Inside we have the block, screws, thermal pads, thermal paste some plastic washers and some destructions.
The block is rather nice <3
The only downside for me is that the ASUS logo will be upside down for my build now as I have inverted the case... so that will have to be solved somehow, I think if I put some orange onto the block i might be able to distract the eyes.
The bottom of the block is rather shiney... this is the reflection fo the box on the CPU bit
http://s11.postimg.org/fuchs9a77/IMG_0672.jpg
Oh, I have just noticed, I will have to spin the EK sticker around also!
So, I thought i would pop a few fittings in to see what they were like, look fine to me
and then I finally fit the block
Well, now this block is on there is far too much black and not enough orange. I will be using Orange coolant, but still, I want to add a little more to the motherboard. I also want to try and figure a way to hide the ASUS logo so i can add orange branding instead... anyone got any ideas?
Of course I do - easier to do crazy ideas for your build rather than get on with mine
For me, the new stealthed I/O cover is very smooth and silky, and the monoblock detracts from that with the visible screws. So perhaps smooth out the monoblock by vinyl wrapping the acetal with some matte black. Perhaps even use a bit of milliput to fill in the Asus logo and the screw heads, wee sanding so it all becomes flush and then wrap.
So you'll have a nice flat canvas to match the I/O cover, no inverted Asus logo and use the same orange wrap on the EK badge - with some heat on it to maintain the engraved logo - to give that wee touch of orange accent breaking up the black.
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i have actually ordered some matt black vinyl as I had a very similar idea to you! I need it more silky than matt though, but I used prime so it should be with me tomorrow so i can check it out. hmm, i have never used miliput, but I will look into that bit!
Cheers buddy!
Cheers buddy!
I was going to suggest an orange flash of vinyl to cover the "ASUS" ending in a diagonal edge so that you don't cover the EK logo. Then on top of that you can have ASUS in black but the right way round. LePhuronn's already taken that to the next level....but if you're short on time!
Milliput is a sculpting clay I used in my old Warhammer days - mix some up, work it into the joints between molded parts, sculpt as necessary (was "fun" recreating scales and fur) and let it dry and harden. Then prime and paint as necessary.
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I was going to suggest an orange flash of vinyl to cover the "ASUS" ending in a diagonal edge so that you don't cover the EK logo. Then on top of that you can have ASUS in black but the right way round. LePhuronn's already taken that to the next level....but if you're short on time!
I am a little short on time as always, I have to work 2 extra nights next week meaning I will be away from home for 9 days =( then the week after i think it is I57!! Same old Dave, looks like it will be a last minute job again!
Milliput is a sculpting clay I used in my old Warhammer days - mix some up, work it into the joints between molded parts, sculpt as necessary (was "fun" recreating scales and fur) and let it dry and harden. Then prime and paint as necessary.
Out of interest, can you reinstate the missing heatsink underneath the I/O shroud? Detach it from the heat pipe or something? Now that the monoblock is on I don't like that empty hole in the I/O shroud
aaah, right that miliput sounds pretty decent, I might not use it for this purpose, but I have just ordered some for another job that it might be able to do! Thank you for that idea dude! And yes, I already have haha, it looked strange when I uploaded the pictures and the heatsink is back on
I have also done a small decal for the south bridge but I want to see what this black vinyl is like before I do too much to the block.
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Just another small update (I am actually liking these little bitesized updates, rather than showing loads of things I have done in one go!)
Last night I thought I would figure out how I was going to mount radiators in the case, flipping the mobo tray has meant that I lose the standard mounting holes, but we are still left with all this space.
Obviously the front is screaming for a 360 rad, and there is space at the bottom for a 240 or at the top for a 120mm, but I can't find my 120mm EK rad, so until I find that I fo not want to put the 240 at the bottom as that will hide the mobo somewhat.
So, time to drill some holes (and also actually set my camera so that it uses a bloody flash!!!)
The holes were done and with a few little fans from the stockpile be quiet! sent me...
the 360 rad is mounted!
I also had a play with the vinyl that arrived... I was hoping I would get away with doing it without messing with the screws, but unfortunately it just doesn't look great.
The problem I am gooing to have is that the screws don't quite sit flush on one or two of them, which is perfectly fine usually, the difference is minimal. and can only be seen when you have vinyl over them. It also means that the putty I ordered (thanks for the suggestion again LePhuronnm, I can see me using this a lot!) won't work as it will actually add mass. My only 3 ideas are... 1, use some thin acrylic, cut it to the same size as the block, attach it to the block then wrap the lot, or use some thicker vinyl under the silky vinyl. I do not want to tighten the screws any more than I already have as they are rather tight already.
My last idea though is to actually take the screws out, wrap the vinyl then put them all back in so they are seen, even though the screws will be on show, at least we have lost everything else.
Any one else have any ideas?
Last night I thought I would figure out how I was going to mount radiators in the case, flipping the mobo tray has meant that I lose the standard mounting holes, but we are still left with all this space.
Obviously the front is screaming for a 360 rad, and there is space at the bottom for a 240 or at the top for a 120mm, but I can't find my 120mm EK rad, so until I find that I fo not want to put the 240 at the bottom as that will hide the mobo somewhat.
So, time to drill some holes (and also actually set my camera so that it uses a bloody flash!!!)
The holes were done and with a few little fans from the stockpile be quiet! sent me...
the 360 rad is mounted!
I also had a play with the vinyl that arrived... I was hoping I would get away with doing it without messing with the screws, but unfortunately it just doesn't look great.
The problem I am gooing to have is that the screws don't quite sit flush on one or two of them, which is perfectly fine usually, the difference is minimal. and can only be seen when you have vinyl over them. It also means that the putty I ordered (thanks for the suggestion again LePhuronnm, I can see me using this a lot!) won't work as it will actually add mass. My only 3 ideas are... 1, use some thin acrylic, cut it to the same size as the block, attach it to the block then wrap the lot, or use some thicker vinyl under the silky vinyl. I do not want to tighten the screws any more than I already have as they are rather tight already.
My last idea though is to actually take the screws out, wrap the vinyl then put them all back in so they are seen, even though the screws will be on show, at least we have lost everything else.
Any one else have any ideas?
The screws through the vinyl would probably be easiest. They may also add some detail to the top of the block as it looks quite featureless as a large flat area - especially in contrast to the very detailed motherboard surrounding it.
I've always wondered why inverted cases aren't more popular. It would mean the expensive block on the expensive graphics card is actually displayed rather than hidden. I'd probably have the PSU at the bottom though - partly for ballast and partly so the rads can be at the top where they're going to get access to more air. That would make the back panel and the motherboard tray somewhat tricky though!
I've always wondered why inverted cases aren't more popular. It would mean the expensive block on the expensive graphics card is actually displayed rather than hidden. I'd probably have the PSU at the bottom though - partly for ballast and partly so the rads can be at the top where they're going to get access to more air. That would make the back panel and the motherboard tray somewhat tricky though!
Funnily enough, I thought about a thin sliver of acrylic on my ride into work this morning (why I'm thinking about you while on my bike I'll save for another discussion ) but if you don't have a flat base because of the screws then the acrylic top skin will be off slightly on one side.
Now I know you don't have much time to spare on this one, so take this suggestion as you wish: grind the screws down to fit. In theory, shaving half mm off the ends of the offending screws means they'll have a touch more leeway to get them flush with the block's surface. In practice, filing/grinding stainless steel DIN screws ain't too quick, and you're not wanting to chop enough off for the screw to sit stably in a screw chopper.
So I'd probably settle for screwing through the vinyl wrap - the exposed screws were my personal issue comparing the monoblock to the I/O shroud, but it's a minor thing compared to an upside-down Asus logo.
) but if you don't have a flat base because of the screws then the acrylic top skin will be off slightly on one side.Now I know you don't have much time to spare on this one, so take this suggestion as you wish: grind the screws down to fit. In theory, shaving half mm off the ends of the offending screws means they'll have a touch more leeway to get them flush with the block's surface. In practice, filing/grinding stainless steel DIN screws ain't too quick, and you're not wanting to chop enough off for the screw to sit stably in a screw chopper.
So I'd probably settle for screwing through the vinyl wrap - the exposed screws were my personal issue comparing the monoblock to the I/O shroud, but it's a minor thing compared to an upside-down Asus logo.
Soldato
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would say if your going to have screws on show when you really didnt want to, make as well make them stand out by a mile ! Powder coat/Spray to match the colour theme?
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thanks for the suggestions guys, tbh, having the screws on show didn't bother me at all, it was the ASUS logo being upside down that was annoying me the most. and i have solved that issue, I Will try it agian now with the screws showing and see what that looks like, if it doesnt look great, then other options will have to happen