First mod ever... Project Karbon Kreation

[Karbon Killa]

Well I have been a bit of a lurker here for a little over a month now, and I must say, that every build I have seen has put me in sheer amazement. I came to this site by looking around google for cool computer pics and whatnot and saw TGS' namesake mod on an old dell. Loved it so much that it got me hooked. I have had some time to think about a mod that I can do to make a case that really sets me apart kinda like you guys. And I think I've got it. I had a visual in my head a couple of days ago, so I drew it out in MS paint. Here is what I had...

Internals...
http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/4813/computerideayq6.png

Externals...
http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/3776/computerideacaseonzd9.png

Well I wanted to get started on this ASAP. SO I looked around for some cheap cases at the local thrift store.

Found this...
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/8998/dsc01420qd5.jpg
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/2464/dsc01437qu0.jpg
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/5268/dsc01438lx5.jpg
http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/5365/dsc01439em3.jpg

Looked like a nice canvas to start with. Not much will be used from this, being it is an old AT styled case and whatnot. mainly just the PSU/5.5" bay at the top of the case.

Getting Started...

So now its time to tear it apart. For $10 I expected to get some very low scores on this computer. Lots of old parts that more than likely I will not need (or want for the matter). I knew I wasn't getting much on the innards, but I really didn't expect this 160gb Maxtor...
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/6992/dsc01429sf7.jpg
It will be put with the other 7 hard drives that will be in this thing. Making a total of 960gb of storage. This will probably be the only part out of this cmputer that I actually use other (than using parts from the case).

Once it was stripped, I had to take the dimensions of the case. About 6" wide, 15" deep, and 17"tall, it wasn't that big of a canvas. I needed something a bit bigger. I was thinking more along the lines of 17" deep, 8" wide, and 23" tall. I cut out the Box area for the PSU, took the 3.5" bay area, and tossed the rest of the case in the trash.

PSU box area...
http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/7899/dsc01524bw1.jpg
After a little bit of cutting (3.5"drive bays mounted on bottom will be removable... Somehow)...
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/1724/dsc01525ak2.jpg

So after I got that out, I needed a sizable piece that will be named my new front panel....


Good ol' plexi...
http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/5670/dsc01534ev9.jpg
The sides of the front (yes, its cardboard...)
http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/2796/dsc01535or3.jpg
Top is almost on all the way...
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/6098/dsc01536ay7.jpg
Back shot of top...
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/9869/dsc01537sa6.jpg
Side shot of top...
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/4715/dsc01538vy8.jpg
After it dried, I put another spot of bondo to hold it better...
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/1919/dsc01539my6.jpg
All done the same for bottom. Going to be filled with more bondo to make it stronger on the outside...
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/9881/dsc01540qv1.jpg

Thats all I have done for now. You guys will be updated soon. Hope you like the idea. :)

[Karbon Killa]

Small text update. Just got a new job and dog last week, so modding has been kinda put aside. So later on today, the garage will be re-opened and the mod will stop collecting dust. Pics will be posted up in next post.

[DonT-FeaR]

woo new dog !!!!!
new job yay modding money!!!

[Karbon Killa]

Yep, exactly, haha. :)

[AMD Killa]

Lovin your ideas. Hope this project turns out how you want. Looks good. Whats next on the planning list? How are you thinking of connecting all those hard drives? PCI IDE cards?

[Karbon Killa]

Yea basically that was/is the idea. Working on getting money to go towards this thing, that why there has been no big updates. Between school and work, and doing painting on bikes for some friends, I have no real time left. So soon I will be putting some money down on this project. And going to be very happy to do so as well.

[The boy 4rm oz]

I love CF. I will be keeping an eye on this.

[Karbon Killa]

Update No. 1

So I realized I didn't like the idea of having the dual fans in an oval styled look. I decided that I wanted to do a dual blow hole. So I went to Home Depot and bought a 90 degree PVC coupling.
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/4347/dsc01745gp9.jpg
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/4222/dsc01746iw9.jpg
Looks like a perfect fit if you ask me...
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/6803/dsc01747pu3.jpg
In the modding gear...
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/6347/dsc01753pw6.jpg
I only needed the ends, so I had to cut them off...
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/5953/dsc01749gy5.jpg
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/497/dsc01750vx2.jpg
http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/7752/dsc01748zl7.jpg
One off...
http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/7993/dsc01751rl2.jpg
Both off...
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/1948/dsc01752mx4.jpg
Needed some sanding to smooth them out...
http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/9477/dsc01756iw3.jpg
http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/9087/dsc01754ev9.jpg
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/7641/dsc01755gz1.jpg
And what I want the end result to look like...
http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/898/dsc01757go0.jpg

Well thats it for my little update. Should be doing more here in the near future. In the meantime, happy modding. :)

[The boy 4rm oz]

Nice work with the PVC pipe, a very versatile material.

[DonT-FeaR]

nice you gave me a killer idea with the 90 degree thing

have a fan on each end and cut the middle out flat with the ends... i get it lol...

[Karbon Killa]

Small text update. I have just been donated 2 mid sized atx gateway cases for this build. Completely identical. Thats what I call awesome. I might be able to get a third if I need it. :)

[Karbon Killa]

Update No. 3
So I've gotten started on making the mounts for the HDDs.
http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/9633/dsc01773dd0.jpg
I am using tops to old mid sized atx cases for these.
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/6341/dsc01772dn4.jpg
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/859/dsc01774ax0.jpg
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/3023/dsc01775np3.jpg
http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/6597/dsc01797ij9.jpg
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/9876/dsc01798cp0.jpg
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/9263/dsc01799ks0.jpg
The basic idea of what I want.
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/1282/dsc01802hv7.jpg
http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/2650/dsc01801rs4.jpg
http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/6931/dsc01800ox5.jpg
I need to make these holes.
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/1002/dsc01803ho6.jpg
So I grabbed some paper.
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/9531/dsc01804xj7.jpg
And made a template.
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/7243/dsc01805ag6.jpg
Now to copy onto plate number 1.
http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/517/dsc01806md7.jpg
Vents added. And so you know where I am bending at.
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/9605/dsc01808gq8.jpg

Right now I have one of them about half finished. But I have to run off to school. GAH SKOOLZ!!! But I believe that an update might be up tonight of the finished pieces. :)

[DonT-FeaR]

cool i like

bloody school gets in the way of modding...

[Karbon Killa]

Yes it does... lol. I ended up not being able to finish the hdd mounts, because I was called into work. Sucked, but a little more money next paycheck. Off to school again. *sigh*. :P

[Karbon Killa]

Text update.

Those HDD mounts I was making weren't going to do it for me, i ended up messing both sides up a hell of a lot. So I took both the HDD mounts out of the Donor cases I got. Also I chopped one of the cases in half, so I could use the half to make the case have a bottom mounted power supply, sorry, I didn't get pictures on doing that. Will take pictures soon for those.

Also, looky at what came in today!!!
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/1604/dsc019405580397hf2.jpg
Swiftech MCR320. I was so thrilled that this came in today. Next I have to order all the fans, the rad grill, and the rest of the water cooling loop.

[DonT-FeaR]

kool ... thats pretty....

[The boy 4rm oz]

That's a big rad, and a good one. You wont regret it.

[Karbon Killa]

So, after a long while of cold over here in Oregon, I have an update on this mod. One from about a month ago that I forgot to post. And one from about 3 days ago.
About a month ago, I did some measuring, I found out that my front bezel wasn't tall enough. About 1" not tall enough.
Bezel
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/1594/dsc01963pw6.jpg
Case
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/5078/dsc01964ay7.jpg
So that needed some modding to fix it. So I took some of the plastic material I used to make the sides for the bezel, and I measured, cut, measured, cut, and then finally came out with these pieces.
http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/7075/dsc01966bs2.jpg
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/3340/dsc01967ay7.jpg
Can you guess what I did next? Lets let the pictures do the talking.
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/7148/dsc01969ik2.jpg
http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/1487/dsc01979ov0.jpg
http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/4818/dsc01980pl3.jpg
So now, the top is going to be rounded. It is still in some need of sanding, and more bondo work. But once I get a warm sunny day, that will be done. Then the front bezel will be near completion.

Now for the next update as of a couple of days ago.
I felt like the MCR320 was just kinda sitting around the garage doing nothing. So I decided it was time to cut out the mounting spot for that beast. So I placed it on the top did some measuring, and got to drawing and cutting.
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/2808/dsc02131sh4.jpg
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/6499/dsc02132cq1.jpg
And the finished product.
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/5336/dsc02135fz2.jpg
And.
http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/7055/dsc02134wp8.jpg
I swear that damned dremel hates me sometimes.
There was only one problem with the top that still needs fixing, there is 2 layers to the top of this case.
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/411/dsc02136nz1.jpg
So on that warm day I was speaking of earlier, this will get finished too.
Hope you all are still following. This project is NOT dead. Just working on the funds for both this and Fish Tank Media Center. Which that one has more priority over this one. So, until next time. Happy modding.
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/2702/dsc02137ti8.jpg

-Jeremey

[DonT-FeaR]

looking good man.. like tghe res cuts.

[The boy 4rm oz]

Looking great mate.

[masbuskado]

Hope to see more soon...!!! ;)

[Karbon Killa]

Very small update tonight. So I cut out that hole that needed to be cut on the inside of the case that I showed you guys in my last post, and now I need to file it down a bit.
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/5776/dsc02160kh1.jpg
I now need to drill the holes for the fans and radiator to mount on the top, does anyone have a suggestion for a dremel bit to do this well with. Dremel drill bits suck and don't work. I've tried 2 of em.

[masbuskado]

Very small update tonight. So I cut out that hole that needed to be cut on the inside of the case that I showed you guys in my last post, and now I need to file it down a bit.
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/5776/dsc02160kh1.jpg
I now need to drill the holes for the fans and radiator to mount on the top, does anyone have a suggestion for a dremel bit to do this well with. Dremel drill bits suck and don't work. I've tried 2 of em.

I saw a regular drill on the pic so why you don't use it...
cuz dremels are not powerful enough to make holes, is vertical force vs horizontal force... the best tool to do this is the Drill itself...

[Karbon Killa]

That Is a heat gun in the background. I personally do not own a drill. I'll have to go find a fairly inexpensive one at home depot on Wednesday.

[rendermandan]

Drills are not really that expensive. Do you have a harbor Freight near you?

[nevermind1534]

I use my dremel with a regular drill bit sometimes to drill small holes. Anything that's too big to fit, I use the big drill for.

I wouldn't be surprised if somebody sigquotes part of this.

[Karbon Killa]

@rendermandan
I do have a harbor freight near me, but I decided to goto Home Depot because it was closer.

@nevermind
I had tried to use my dremel, and it wasn't going through the metal. It was just starting to make me mad. And also, lol at the sigquote.

So I went into Home Depot today, and got my new Ryobi drill. It was only about $40 so that was good. Its really well built, nice and sturdy.
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/3480/dsc02184gb4.jpg
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/6672/dsc02185ut8.jpg
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/3768/dsc02186iz6.jpg
So since I got that today, along with some small bits, I decided to drill those holes.
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/5329/dsc02182jw1.jpg
http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/1796/dsc02183ia1.jpg
This thing works great. I love it, gonna use it lots in the future for sure. :)

[nevermind1534]

I just put my 400XPR on the max setting and let it do its magic. maybe not the best, but it's good for small things. You have to push down somewhat hard before it actually starts to drill a hole. You got a nice drill. I just have the cheapo generic farmington forge drill from ACO Hardware.

[DonT-FeaR]

lol my drill cost 12 bucks from the aussie version or wallmart!!!

and i put a 120mm holesaw on it.... thought it was going to die!!

[Karbon Killa]

YEa, thats one of the next things on the list, the 120mm hole saw bit/blade. Believe it of not, the was like the second cheapest drill they had at the store. The cheapest one was a no name (or at least name I hadn't heard of) brand, and it was like $29.99. So I figured I'd spend the extra 10 bucks and get a brand I at least know works well.

[msmrx57]

There is always an exception to the rule, but for the most part power tools you get what you pay for. Best advice for power tools is buy the best you can afford and don't abuse 'em and even cheaper stuff will last a long time. 'Nuff lecturing from me. Keep up the good work, this is off the a great start. +rep/sub

[DonT-FeaR]

/\ yeah ur right with cheaper drills.... under like 50 bucks aus u gotta take it slow

[The boy 4rm oz]

I got a $300 Li-Ion 12v HITACHI :D lol, well it's dads haha.

msmrx57 is right though, with tools you get what you pay for but with the right care they will last a life time. My Grandpa died last year and I inherited some of his tools (plane, shifter set etc), this stuff is 40+ years old and works fantastically.

[nevermind1534]

msmrx57 is right though, with tools you get what you pay for but with the right care they will last a life time. My Grandpa died last year and I inherited some of his tools (plane, shifter set etc), this stuff is 40+ years old and works fantastically.

The old tools are great.

[XcOM]

old tools were built to last forever, my grandads tools that are from the late 40's still work to this day!