DeWalt PC

[DeMaxx]

My father-in-law saved several cordless drill cases from the slow demise they would have met in a landfill. As far as cases go, these are quite nice. They have a good size and shape, made of a good sturdy plastic and not molded to shape as some are that I've seen. Such a nice case can surely do me good, I thought as I placed one in my trunk -- where it stayed for several weeks.

Time passed and things that shouldn't have been left in the trunk were...

Then I saw a news story about a wooden ipod and, link by link, I was introduced to the world of PC Modding, and here I am.

So, those familiar with the wooden ipod (and I'm sure there are a few), you can attest to just how new to this I am, never the less... you have to start somewhere. I have chosen to start with building a computer and housing it in an abondoned, but not forgotten, cordless DeWalt drill case.

I have started by cleaning the case of all the plastic partitioning walls, which took a few hours, and will post pictures of my progress tomorrow.

[DeMaxx]

Here is the case before I started cutting (well almost).
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/5991/casestart2af.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Sadly enough.. the tools you see pictured are what I stared using, but soon graduated to razor blades and razor knives. I actually have a dremel, but live in an apartment, lack some much needed attachments and have a 5 month old daughter who sleeps while I work on this... so I had to go a little more manual for now.

And after a little effort
http://img282.imageshack.us/img282/4246/case39vq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The ugly scratches are really fairly minor.. I will trim and sand smooth so that I have a level surface to work with, but probably won't worry much about the look of the inside of the case.. especially when I was able to start mocking up some parts... I don't expect to see much of the plastic when this thing is done.

[DeathCrush]

Greetings! hey that is going to be pretty cool. did you actually cut out that plastic with just manual hand tools? excellent job. very unique and original idea. looking forward to seeing the progress on this! 8)

[iljkaer suoasgr]

rather off topic, but is that a leatherman charge in the background? i have a ti and its a sweet tool

[DeMaxx]

rather off topic, but is that a leatherman charge in the background? i have a ti and its a sweet tool

Yes.. It's a leatherman.. very nice little tool.

[DeMaxx]

Here is a picture of the outside of the case. I really like the solid construction and the metal closures (not pictured very well).

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/1341/dscf1666small1oe.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[UK-Blade]

Interesting idea you got there.

This is gonna make a nice little Lan case, if ur into that.

Veering off topic for a sec, i FOUND my leatherman in a carpark :D (guess the previous owner should have invested in a belt case ;) ). But i'm happy he didn't.

Keep us posted on ur mod.

PS (Congrats on the little one. Is this ur first? My boy Max is 11 months :D )

[DeMaxx]

My little helper... don't worry the only thing she'll be cutting anytime soon are some teeth!

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/521/dscf1669small4dg.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[DeMaxx]

Interesting idea you got there.

This is gonna make a nice little Lan case, if ur into that.

Veering off topic for a sec, i FOUND my leatherman in a carpark :D (guess the previous owner should have invested in a belt case ;) ). But i'm happy he didn't.

Keep us posted on ur mod.

PS (Congrats on the little one. Is this ur first? My boy Max is 11 months :D )

Annabelle is our first. It's a lot harder than I imagined but a lot of fun as well.

I also have a funny story about my leatherman... I was working with a guy and just said 'I like your leatherman.. those are pretty nice' and he gave it to me. I refused at first, but he insisted. when I finally gave in he said.. "If I didn't give it to you you were just gonna take it anyways" :?

I was very stunned, but was happy for the new tool none the less!

[sXenoG]

seems that these days theres lots of babies getting into modding :P

[DeMaxx]

I ordered the motherboard yesterday from newegg... an everything-on-board cheapy, and will probably decide on a powersupply next.
I'm looking at a few options...
::normal size micro-ATX
::half size micro-atx (not sure if that is the official term)
::1U size
Suggestions or comments about anything are welcomed.. especially about how to decide the wattage of the psu.

[UK-Blade]

Annabelle is our first. It's a lot harder than I imagined but a lot of fun as well.


Yeah, I gave up work to look after Max fulltime (I worked in a PC store, building and fixing PC's ;) but the wife earns much more). I had no illusions that it was gonna be easy, but DAMN, i didn't realise it would be THIS hard. :eek: But I love every minute.
I had hoped that I'd have lots of time for modding, but that hasn't happened. Maybe soon i'll be able to unleash all my ideas soon.....

Till then everybody say hello to Max, testing some ideas for watercooling ;)

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/3210/e7e28xj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Aero]

seems that these days theres lots of babies getting into modding :P


Can the automated changeing table with UV lights and ELwire be too far off?

[weirdguy]

Can the automated changeing table with UV lights and ELwire be too far of?

and water-cooled bathtubs?

[iljkaer suoasgr]

my questione was more "is that the most expensive leatherman money can buy in the background" since i cant think of many people who would spend 100$ on a "glorified swiss army knife"

[DeMaxx]

my questione was more "is that the most expensive leatherman money can buy in the background" since i cant think of many people who would spend 100$ on a "glorified swiss army knife"

I don't think it's the really nice one.. I think it's the KIA Rio of leathermans.

[lorddarkwolf]

I prefer Gerber multi-tool. Used by most EMS workers. very fine quality tool.

[Malatory]

seems that these days theres lots of babies getting into modding :P

Or a lot of proud Dad's

Nice work on the case. Keep the pics coming.

[DeMaxx]

When I got home yesterday evening I had two suprises waiting for me. My little girl suddenly had two teeth and I had my new motherboard. I was very excited about both, but I have to say the teeth were the best. :D
This is the first time I've ordered anything from newegg and they were awesome. I ordered the part on monday morning and it was here wednesday afternoon... plus shipping was only $2.99!!!
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/6002/dscf1678small6wh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
I mocked up the part and am happy with the footprint. This also is a good shot of the metal fasteners I mentioned previously... good construction.

[shmoopey]

Is that a Target dishtowel in the background?!?! Seriously, cool case.
Habinadaa

[DeMaxx]

I lined up the template on the outside and on the inside trying to get the best placement, then taped the trimmed down template on the inside.
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1049/dscf1688small9qf.jpg


I decided to have the connecitons come out of the side so that I can use the computer laying down flat or stood up on it's bottom. I used the motherboad plate to make a cardboard template.
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8300/dscf1684small2ia.jpg
I broke out the dremel and made some holes.
http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/1819/dscf1690small7ch.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[DeMaxx]

Is that a Target dishtowel in the background?!?! Seriously, cool case.
Habinadaa

Why yes, shmoopey, it is.

[DeMaxx]

Shield your eyes from the carnage!
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/2482/dscf1693small0jy.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This was as far as I got last night... just a rough up. I need to move the operations over to my father-in-laws garage for finishing up these holes.
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/167/dscf1694small6xr.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
You can see the lip i was talking about... there are six holes drilled for the parallel port, but you can only see three b/c of the lip. I think I will try to make a smooth curve cutout for the lip, instead of chunking out a square. And yes, I will take the sticker off before you ask ;)

[colossusx]

I had a couple of those cases lying around and planned on a mod based on them, basically for the same reasons as you. Sturdy, well constructed and portable. I ended giving those cases away. Now that you're doing one, there's not much point in me doing one (picking up some cases in a couple of days). Good luck and can't wait to see how it turns out. [jealous]

[BobbyMParr]

this idea has already been done i did this EXACT mod 1 year ago
im thinking about selling it its fully finished it just needs the internal parts it was build for a lan case like this and then my parts gave out on me i made everything extensions so anytype of mobo and such will work ill look for pics and post if i find them

[DeMaxx]

this idea has already been done i did this EXACT mod 1 year ago
im thinking about selling it its fully finished it just needs the internal parts it was build for a lan case like this and then my parts gave out on me i made everything extensions so anytype of mobo and such will work ill look for pics and post if i find them

Wow.. great minds think alike ;) I'd love to see pictures.

[amberella]

Shield your eyes from the carnage!
after seeing so many "here's my box from the left, here's my box from the front" shots floating around, your dark, low-angle "carnage" picture actually made me laugh out loud. keep 'em coming. :D

[DeMaxx]

haha.. i'm glad you liked :) no reason to not have some fun while your posting your work.