View Full Version : What do you guys think of having somebody else cut the sheet metal?
I plan to make my case out of steel. Well, there's this nearby guy that's done professionally sheet metal for like all his life. If I draw up how I want each piece cut and the dimensions and all of that, he can professionally cut each piece to exactly what I need. I originally planned to cut this all by hand with a Dremel. Do you guys think havin someone else cut it would take anything away from it? Like, do you think it would take away from the experience, and make it less of a modded case or anything?
Airbozo
03-26-2007, 01:50 PM
It may take away a few nicks and cuts on your hands and some screaming of curse words, but unless you want the experience, have someone else do it. If it is only a few pieces you have to weigh the cost vs frustration, cutting it with the dremel. Large cuts on metal with the dremel in my experience are tedious at best (depending on the thickness too).
intergalacticman
03-26-2007, 01:54 PM
CAN you cut STEEL with a dremel?
anyways if he did it all his life it would have a professional look(not that you aren't professional)
Airbozo
03-26-2007, 01:58 PM
CAN you cut STEEL with a dremel
anyways if he did it all his life it would have a professional look(not that you aren't professional)
...and he probably has a metal brake that he can also easily bend the metal for you (or add folded lips for sturdiness, etc).
Not just a few parts, but every part. I wonder how much it'll cost me to have him do it for me, plus the cost of the steel.
ReverendBob
03-26-2007, 02:20 PM
It doesn't cost you anything to draw up the plans.
Take your estimate to him, and get his estimate, then make your decision.
Guardian
03-26-2007, 02:23 PM
Look yoo're at a computer modding forum, all our answers are going to tell you no, but if the guys professional, let him do it.
intergalacticman
03-26-2007, 02:28 PM
...and he probably has a metal brake that he can also easily bend the metal for you (or add folded lips for sturdiness, etc).
dude i need one of those...
I suppose if I'm the one that came up with the design, payed for the metal, put it together, and then decorated it, then it doesn't really take anything away to have someone else cut it. I mean, it's not like I mined the ore, smelted it, and then pressed and rolled it either.
public_eyesore
03-26-2007, 03:07 PM
just get it done by him
Aye, pay the man.
I bet he cuts properly straight too (the bit I find hardest).
I can't even draw a straight line.
Take your idea to him & get an estimate.
If he's been doing metal work for this long, he can do a better, faster and more efficient job. He can get material cheaper and do cleaner work.
Like stated before, do this only if you want the experience.
FYI, a vice and some knowledge is a cheap version of a press brake, within limits.
It's not like you're having this guy do all the work, just the stuff that you can't or don't want to do. Nothing wrong with that. Gives you more time to focus on other aspects of your mod.
I just realised, I don't have a lot of concepts of this case design down yet. I haven't even designed part of it yet, and don't even know where everything will be placed yet. I'm thinking I may want to just cut it myself now. So I can just have the metal laying around, and start putting my ideas together. It would probably be easier for me to just do it like that. I need to go sketch something and get my mind clear.
Ichbin
03-26-2007, 05:35 PM
Well....even b4 you cut though...make a super rough idea...ccause you dont wanna cut the metal, then find out that its unusable.
Even if your super rough is the BASIC shape of the box.
It's no box. Well, at least not box shaped, in any way at all. What I may look for is someone who can make some things out of wood. That way i can easily make molds for some of the detailing parts. I already have a bunch of cardboard models of all my computer parts. i think I just need to try to relax and think it through one step at a time before I get too far ahead of myself. First I should just decide on how I'm going to position everything within the case. One thing I'm not sure of where I'm going to place it, is the power supply.
Bucko
03-26-2007, 07:23 PM
I have considered getting some parts cut by a professional before to make sure the job was done properly.
For one or two bits it may be worth it. But check the price for the lot, as you may be able to buy more suitable tools for the same money and have them there for future projects.
CAN you cut STEEL with a dremel?
Yes you can. Have a read of this site (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/index.php) and you'll see many examples of steel cut with a Dremel.
Well I don't even have a Dreml yet, and do plan on having one not onl for this project, but for future uses as well. And it's not a big steel beam or anything, just a thin sheet of it. I'm also going to get some diamond cutting wheels for it as well.
Omega
03-26-2007, 07:36 PM
Heh.
Yeah, Intergalacticman, sheetmetal (what cases are made of, SECC is another name) is Steel.
Get it done by the pro. The only thing it's taking away from you is lots of frustration and some in-progress worklog pics, of course ;)
Anywho, I don't think it'd take too much away from the "Hey look, I built this with my own hands" thing that appeals to me (and probably most modders, but unlike Guardian, I won't speak on your behalf).
In fact, I've been wanting to get a normal sidepanel for the CM Cavalier then get one of my freshman buddies who has a CNC Mill to do some work for me. I think that would ****ing own.
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