My first ever mod attempt

[jsb666]

well im about to start on my first ever mod, im only 16 and have no knowlage of metal working at all, however i have worked making hand made wooden furniture so decided to make a scratch built case out of MDF as i read its ok for it as i can withstand high temperatures. all i really would like to know is there anything that i need to know about making a wooden pc case before i start. i realy hope i dont get the answer its imposible :)

Thanks Joe

[jdbnsn]

I'm building a wooden media center in the project worklogs, it's not completely wooden but kind of a mix. I am not aware of any special concerns using wood other than common sense stuff like the fact that it's flammable and makes a decent insulator so you may need to beef up cooling. Besides that you shouldn't have any trouble. Others may disagree though, I am not all that experienced.

[Aero]

hmm, I never really though about wood that much. You might want to use a spacer of some sort to keep the mobo about 1/2 inch above the wood and place a 40 or 80 mm fan to keep the air moving, but I doubt even without that it would catch fire. Might burn alittle, but I doub't fire ;).

[Cevinzol]

I found a mod log where a guy scratch built a silver gray art deco style computer case out of wood and plexiglass. I just tried to look for it and didn't find it, sorry.

He made the front and top of the case using alternating vertical pieces of wood and plexi, stealthed everything and lit it from inside so it kind of looked like a glowing car grill.

Anyway, because of the alternating material they reacted to the heat differently and devolped some cracks where the top and front met. If I recall he fixed it easily. I've seen Wood veneers placed over metal cases to match office furniture and it looked great.

MDF is a good idea it should be more stable and resist expansion but expect it to be kind of heavy. Also you might want to check that the resin used is formaldehyde free you don't want your case to start outgassing it from the heat. Are you planning on laminating it?

[jsb666]

Thanks guys.

I doubt even without that it would catch fire. Might burn alittle, but I doub't fire
No it wont catch fire MDF can withstand high temperatures your PC would be fried well before the wood caught fire. :)

Are you planning on laminating it?
No i was just going to spray it.

well im gunna start the build this weekend gunna have to try find a cam so i can make a work log will let you know how i get on.

Joe

[crazybillybob]

No i was just going to spray it.
Joe

Joe,

If your going for a mirror or high shine finish you may want to put a thin coat of bondo over the whole case before primering it. The downside to wood is that it absorbs the paint and the diffrent bits expand diffrently then each other (gives it that fuzzy look), the bondo keeps it from absorbing the paint. If you were using real wood this would be more of an issue as the "Grain Pops" ( the darker growth ring actualy raise up ever so slightly), as MDF has no grain you don't have to worry about it poping but it does fuzz more.

Good Luck,
Crazybillybob

[jsb666]

Thanks crazybillybob i will do that :)

[nil8]

You might also consider a real deep stain. I prefer not to mask the look of wood, but to make it stand out more.

Heat isn't even close to a problem. Wood takes some kind of tinder to really start going and even if you had that we're talking 500+ degrees. Your harddrive could sear steak at that temp.

[Cevinzol]

Isn't that Fahrenheit 451?
Oh wait thats liturature :)

[jsb666]

You might also consider a real deep stain.
I would but the case is being made out of MDF which just looks awful stained.