Cutting the case

[pc1972]

I have my cut out for the case door ready and I was wondering about the application of this for the door. In Paul and John's book Maximum PC Extreme PC
Mods, he used some adhesive spray on the Far Cry tower. While that is an option, I was thinking about applying some blue painters tape (low tack) and then laying some carbon paper on top of that and tracing the pattern on to that. While there is no problem there, I am wondering if when I start to cut it out with a jigsaw will the jigsaw "lift up" the tape.

Another question is that he used a jigsaw blade that had 24 TPI and the case was aluminum. I have a steel case (Thermaltake Xaser II) and am going to use a bit with 18 TPI. This should be appropriate right?

[crazybillybob]

The tape method Should work out ok (Tribal uses it with his Res work).
Now for the tpi on the saw blade, your working with sheet metal (steel) you can use the 24tpi with no problems just remember to go slow and let the saw do the work don't force it into the metal (this will cause rough cuts and can warp the metal). The more teeth will give you a smoother cut and The smoother the cut you make the less grinding,filing and sanding you'll have to do.


Good luck,
Crazybillybob

as allways, make some test /practice cuts on some scrap case / metal before starting your first case cuts.

[pc1972]

Sounds good. What about heat build-up? Should I have some type of oil or take "frequent, frequent, frequent" breaks?

[crazybillybob]

Heat shouldn't be an issue, unless your cutting in a very hot enviornment (Desert). Putting oil on it is just going to cause the tape to lift from the case and or the ink you drew the pattern with to run. If you cut for 15 mins take a 5min break and you'll be fine.

Good luck,
Crazybillybob

[pc1972]

Cool. Thanks BillyBob

[Malatory]

as stated before in other threads here. Make sure you get good quality blades (Not the B&D 5.oo for 20). Also make sure your blades are for metal and not wood. or you will be replacing the blade quickly because it doesnt have any teeth left.

I used masking tap for a few of my projects and only extra work I had to do is clean the glue off the edge. I didnt use the low tack blue tape.

[Rankenphile]

Also - eye protection.

[pc1972]

Yeah I read on some other thread about someone else's experience with no eye protection. I believe that I will pass on that. Especially with no medical insurance. Imagine the hardware that you can get for getting an eye fixed!!!!!!!!

[crazybillybob]

Eye was very happy eye had Medical Insureance when eye injured my eye.
As it was not cheap (plus eye was in collage at the time so flat broke was an under statement!)

Protect your ears, now cause once your married your wife will not!

Crazybillybob

[Xato]

Thats the reason i dont protect my ears, so by the time i'm married, i'll be deaf.