Ideas for a first mod

[The Amish Kid]

Ok, I have never moded a case before and im thinking about getting a case and modding it. These are some ideas I have. Please tell me what you think
I would start with this case Lian Li pc-65 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811112024) then Im probably going to get it powdercoated a metalic green. Im getting it powdercoated because I dont have the time/room to paint a case at my house. Then I want to put a blowhole (http://www.mnpctech.com/mnpctechblowhole.html) and maybe a front intake (http://www.mnpctech.com/LianLiIntake.html). I think I might want to put this (http://www.mnpctech.com/CarbonFiber.html) on those grills though just because I think the carbon fiber would look awesome with metalic green. Also I might cover my psu with the carbon fiber to. Those are the only ideas I have right now. Sorry for the long post but any input or more ideas on this would be appreciated.

[DaveW]

That wasn't a long post at all, my friend, don't be scared of elaborating. There are some things i want to point out to you. The first, is that that case it pretty expensive for a case you're going to hack to peices. Plus, it's 'pre-modded' so you're going to run into some problems. Powerdercoating charges particles and then sprays them onto a grounded metal, where the discharge makes the paint stick. In otherwords, you can't powdercoat plastic. So you'd need to completely dismantle the case, remove all the plastic, etc. etc. On the other side, i'm not sure if you've factored in the price of powdercoating either. The carbon fibre looks nice, but would be wasted if you'd had it powdercoated.

I see what you're trying to do though, and i think you've got some nice ideas-but i'd reccommend looking at an older case and seeing what you can do with that, or a cheaper case. If you post back some more ideas, i'll try and give you my best opinion.

-Dave

[The Amish Kid]

Well I already contacted a powder coater and he said it woul cost around $150. I know somebody who owns a powdercoating business though so I should be able to get it done for cheaper. I have kind of changed my mind on the case though. I realised that case has 2 80mm fans for intake. And no I wouldnt have the carbon fiber powdercoated. What case would you suggest. Maybe this one?
Lian Li PC-7 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811112212)
Or this one too
AMS CF-2029S (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811180032) I like the simple look of the Lian Li's which is why I am going more towards them.

[DaveW]

Those cases look ok, but the main problem still stands that you can't powercoat plastic. The cases will probably have plastic fronts. You could powdercoat the side and the top, but you might find that you'll have to spray the front or something either way.

Another idea would be making your own front end for the case. I know a guy who said that he's cut and fold the mtel for a measly £8, which is what, about £12? Then you could powder coat the lot, along with moving everything around where you want it to be. You'll have to design a way to fix the front panel though. Good ideas though.

I wasn't suggesting you powdercoated the CF, i meant it would cover up your lovely finish :)

You could, on the other side, just Carbon Fibre the plastic at the front, and have the metal PC'ed. That would look pretty sweet.

You'll need to prepare your metal-you'll probably want to completely removed the old paint to get the best finish. When powder coat goes on, it goes on like a sort of skin-i'd reccommend you get all your holes cut before sending it away for the coat. Tell me what else you're thinking about.

-Dave

[The Amish Kid]

Im not really a creative person so I am having trouble of thinking about ideas. Im not really a "crafty" person or whatever you want to call it either so I am trying to keep this mod pretty simple:( . I think I can handle cutting two holes for fans though. But anyways I dont think that there are many plastic parts on the lian li except for maybe the drive covers. I think I will actually need the case stting near me beofre I can start making any good ideas. Maybe making like a cover that goes over all of the drives with real carbon fiber. That might be kinda cool. Then just having my drives stealthed. Hmmm:?

[DaveW]

I agree, you're progably going to want the case there to know what you're going to do with it. I like the stealth drives, as long as you don't have a swinging door on them-i have one on a case and not only looks terrible but just annoys the hell out of me. Granted, it might work if done properly, but i've had bad experiences with them.

Lets us know what you plan to do.

-Dave

[DaveW]

Oh, and you might think you're not creative, but no-one will know if you don't tell them ;)

And dwell on this:
Today, feast like kings, for tommorow, we die!

Don't hold back!
-Dave

[tybrenis]

Im not really a creative person so I am having trouble of thinking about ideas. Im not really a "crafty" person

Then modding isn't for you.


There's creativity in all of us, so don't shoot yourself down. Takr your time and don't rush into anything you do. Also, as Dave said, you can only powder coat aluminum. Not plastic, not steel, not titanium. Nothing but Aluminum (correct me if I'm wrong). I recomend starting with a cheap, plastic case that will be easy to spray paint, because aluminum is tricky to paint for a beginner (you have to etch the metal and strip the finish blah blah blah). If I were you, I'd buy a very inexpensive case and just have fun with it.

[The Amish Kid]

Well if the people who Im having powdercoat the case screw up its not like it was my fault. I think I can handle cutting holes in the case so I would rather just get a case I really want and modding that instead of getting a case I dont really want and spending a lot of time on it. I just need to get the money now and I will start it

[tybrenis]

Well if the people who Im having powdercoat the case screw up its not like it was my fault. I think I can handle cutting holes in the case so I would rather just get a case I really want and modding that instead of getting a case I dont really want and spending a lot of time on it. I just need to get the money now and I will start it

If that's what you want, go for it. Modding is about what YOU want.


I would rather just get a case I really want and modding that instead of getting a case I dont really want and spending a lot of time on it.

That's not really the spirit of modding, especially not on these forums. Modding is about taking something average or not so great and making it your own. Modding is not about buying everything pre-done and then spend a lot of money to have someone else make it look nice for you.

[snickells]

Why not just purchase a realy nice case and leave it as it is? Antec make some ripper quiet cases that look realy sleek and stylish. Perhaps modding is not quite for you, but you can still trick your computer out by having the best.
Just my 2c worth.

[DaveW]

Then modding isn't for you.


There's creativity in all of us, so don't shoot yourself down. Takr your time and don't rush into anything you do. Also, as Dave said, you can only powder coat aluminum. Not plastic, not steel, not titanium. Nothing but Aluminum (correct me if I'm wrong). I recomend starting with a cheap, plastic case that will be easy to spray paint, because aluminum is tricky to paint for a beginner (you have to etch the metal and strip the finish blah blah blah). If I were you, I'd buy a very inexpensive case and just have fun with it.


I think you can powder coat any metal that conducts electricity. The guys who offered to do it for me were doing it for 1.2mm mild steel. But i turned them down in favour of a more personal paintjob. They actually offered to match the price off spray painting it-man, living in a city has it's pros. Competitive commerce, anyone?

-Dave

[The Amish Kid]

Then modding isn't for you.
Well I dont think crazy modding that some people do is for me, but the not so complex mods im thinking about I think I can handle

Ok well I said I wanted to get more carbon fiber on it and this is what I kinda came up with. I was thinking maybe make a cover or somthing over the 5.25" bays out of carbon fiber.

I was looking at a lian li gallery and some guy had his 5.25" bays farther inside the case and I think thats what I would do so that way the carbon fiber would look more flush with the rest of the case. Like this
http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1027745197&postcount=468
I would do that then put a piece of carbon fiber over that and just have my drives stealthed with the carbon fiber. How does that sound?

[DaveW]

That sounds like a plan, but here's another idea, why not sand your drive bezels smooth, stick them flush with your case's front face, then use a single sheet of CF to cover the drive bezels and the front? Just cut holes for the buttons, which you can paint green, and then have holes for the tray to come out, which you can also paint green. A nice, smooth, flush stealth drive :)

I think we might be onto the same idea? I couldn't quite get what you meant, if you draw a sketch, it might help.

-Dave

[The Amish Kid]

Ok here is a littlw paint drawing I made so you can kinda figure out what im thinknig
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b271/shmuck914/lainlibezel.gif
I had to save it as a gif or the words wouldnt show up for some reason so its kinda crapy looking

[DaveW]

Here's a sketch of what i was thinking about...imagine the hatched part is your carbon fibre, then your drive trays come out with Carbon fibre on the ends and the dashed lines reprisent where the edges of the drives would normally be. I like your design but this is pretty cool i think, so feel free to use this if you like it. I'm just chucking ideas around in order to hopefully spark some inspiration :)
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f39/DivW/scan0002.jpg
-Dave

[The Amish Kid]

Thats a really good idea too. That would probably be easier too. Do you know of any place where I can buy carbon fiber online?

[DaveW]

Found this. (http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXN342&P=FR) Post some pics when you get it so we can see how it goes. :D

-Dave

[The Amish Kid]

Well im saving up for all the parts im gonna need so in a few weeks I will be getting started on this. I will be sure to post pics

[tybrenis]

MNPCTech sells carbon fiber vinyl. I have some of theres right now, by purchasing from them you are supporting modders and they have great service anyways. I highly recomend them.

[The Amish Kid]

MNPCTech sells carbon fiber vinyl. I have some of theres right now, by purchasing from them you are supporting modders and they have great service anyways. I highly recomend them.

How realy does their vinyl look? I was telling my brother about what I want to do and he said I should just have some fan grills made out of real carbon fiber(his friend works with carbon fiber a lot) but that would be a lot more expensive.

[Nawl]

It looks exactly like this:

http://www.mnpctech.com/CFcloseupwb2.jpg

http://www.mnpctech.com/CFsheetclose.jpg

[montmorency]

that is sweet.

[The Amish Kid]

Well now I cant really think of a design for my window because I really want a window. I kinda like just the plain square ones you can buy ( here (http://www.frozencpu.com/cpa-19.html)). Not really sure on this yet. Or maybe a cool window etching on it. Hmm....
Maybe etch somthing like this on the window
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b271/shmuck914/amdetch.gif

[tybrenis]

I wouldn't recomend paying 40 bucks for that, that is an entire new panel. It's easy to just cut a window and put some acrylic behind it, as long as you have a dremel, or a friend who is willing to lend you one. Just take your time and plan it out, it's pretty easy.

[The Amish Kid]

I wouldn't recomend paying 40 bucks for that, that is an entire new panel. It's easy to just cut a window and put some acrylic behind it, as long as you have a dremel, or a friend who is willing to lend you one. Just take your time and plan it out, it's pretty easy.

No I wouldnt actually spend $40 on that I was just showing it as an example. Do you think the etch sounds like a good idea though?