Is it difficult to start your case from scratch?

[computergeek19]

I was just wondering since I would like to do that maybe as an option but I am not sure where to get the material such as aluminum and all the necessary trays such as the hard drive tray and cd trays. also what kind of a welder would I need, maybe just a small welder like a 115v?

thank you

[calumc]

for aluminium just google around for a supplier near you and if your new to it im pretty sure you wont want to try welding it, use pop rivets or bolts instead.
and for the trays: you can cut a mobo tray from an old case and the drive cages can be taken from an old case too

[haha49]

i would do steel.. much easyer to weld.. aluminium is hard if you learning..

brazeing is easy to do though you basicly need a torch and a rod and you melt it on and thats about it... get an acetline torch you need a mig welder if you want to do aluminium

http://www.muggyweld.com/aluminum.html

thats basicly some info.. easy ha.. still a pain to do..

id just goto a hardwere store and ask them if they sell sheet metal.. or even some automtive stores have them use a mig its easyer to learn and just pratic welding migs you can get cheap if you only need to do small things read some guildes on the web on how to weld and get a desent mask to wear nothing worse then useing the cheap ones makes it alot harder to do with 1 hand ect..

[.Maleficus.]

I was just wondering since I would like to do that maybe as an option but I am not sure where to get the material such as aluminum and all the necessary trays such as the hard drive tray and cd trays. also what kind of a welder would I need, maybe just a small welder like a 115v?

thank you
Short answer: Yes, it is hard. It takes a lot of time, skill, and perseverance.

Long answer: With the right material, tools, and skills, it can be ok to do. A lot of people have done it and have had good results (a good example is Evolutionary). You can make some amazing things but you'll need to dedicate LOADS of time to it. I mean LOADS. You'll want to take a very good look at some other cases, and learn the layout. Learn what works and what doesn't, and only once you feel 200% ready should you start.

[electro143]

Hi,im new here and I can says that welding aluminium is easy (if you got the skill and a MIG machine).But for steel you can use a TIG gun at a low voltage and wire speed.If you are too hot you will pass thru your case!

[Spawn-Inc]

brazeing is easy to do though you basicly need a torch and a rod and you melt it on and thats about it... get an acetline torch you need a mig welder if you want to do aluminium

mig welding aluminium is harder than tig from what i understand.


Hi,im new here and I can says that welding aluminium is easy (if you got the skill and a MIG machine).But for steel you can use a TIG gun at a low voltage and wire speed.If you are too hot you will pass thru your case!

last time i checked tigs don't have a wire feed only MIG.

[Quakken]

I wouldn't reccommend trying to build an all metal case if you don't have the correct tools. I had to work some steel for my case, and i didn't have the right tools, and it was a serious whore to work on. Luckily, i had an angle grinder and a grinding wheel, so i was at least able to cut it. But i never want to do it again without the right tools.

[elbarto241]

im my experiences i found steel very hard to cut with anything other than a angle grinder. its alot easier to just get aluminum along with the right tools to work with. off the top of my head: jigsaw, files, Tsquare, sandpaper, riveter, dremel, a good work bench, a vice, and drill.

extras which make the job alot easier are things like scroll saw, orbital belt sander, band saw and other somewhat expensive machine tools.

hope that helps bro. if you ever need advice dont think twice about askin questions, that how we all learn :D

[Quakken]

***STOP THE PRESSES!***

is aluminum seriously saw-able (with the right blade)?

because steel just sucks. It just sucks. Even with the angle grinder, it's still really hard to cut a good straight line, and it's... um... it sparks a lot (and i don't have a leather apron).

But aluminum works? maybe i should do something with it...

[elbarto241]

aluminum is saw-able [depending on the thickness]. the only reason i would use steel in a case is for strength or support. i would never build a case entirely with steel.

aluminum is EASY to cut if you have a jigsaw w/ a metal blade. but again the thicker you go, the tough it is to cut it.

[computergeek19]

thanks for all the replies, I may not end up doing the case from scratch after all, but does anyone know where I can get aluminium cube cases besides the ones in mountain mods and xoxide?

[elbarto241]

HERE (http://www.frozencpu.com/products/6064/cst-568/APEVIA_X-QPACK2_Aluminum_Case_w_3_Window-Black_-_X-QPACK2-BK500.html?tl=g1) is the first one that comes to mind, anything specific your looking for?

[computergeek19]

Well I was looking for something that had more 5.25 drives like 5 and it was somewhat big. I called Mountain Mods for a costum made cube but they won't have production until october