a modding question

[wayne]

how do i find out what kind of material my computer case is made out of?

 

[hi tech hate]

lift it

if the case is heavy - steel

if the case is light - aluminum

 

[AR]

Originally posted by wayne
how do i find out what kind of material my computer case is made out of?

Chances are there are only 2 or 3 options for you. Steel, aluminum or acryllic/plastic. Does it "ting" when you throw a quarter at it? That rules out the plastic. When you punch it, does it bend in or hurt your hand? That should be the final decider.

If it's hard and thick, chances are it's steel.

Metal but flexible and thing = aluminum.

Clear or plastic = plastic durrrr.

Post a link or a picture of your case and we can tell you for sure.

 

[wayne]

what if i test with a magnet?

i think magnets attract steel but not aluminum

so assuming if the magnet attracts to the case, does that mean its steel?

and if it doesnt, does that mean its aluminum?

thanks

 

[LyL18]

How hard is it to cut steel?

 

[hi tech hate]

a dremel with decent cutting disks can get through it

 

[cgrant26]

Originally posted by LyL18
How hard is it to cut steel?

A lot harder than cutting aluminum. I burned up about a dozen of th reinforced disks getting through the 1/16" steel of my old Gateway case.

 

[AR]

Originally posted by hi tech hate
a dremel with decent cutting disks can get through it

I don't completely agree with this -- of course, depending on how thick the steel is. . . I've seen diamond cutting disks shatter repeatedly without even getting all the way through. Steel is tough stuff.

 

[wayne]

I don't completely agree with this -- of course, depending on how thick the steel is. . . I've seen diamond cutting disks shatter repeatedly without even getting all the way through. Steel is tough stuff.

i m using a nibbler its supposed to cut up to 18gauge of sheet metal (forgot what type) but it isnt supposed to be easy i heard you have to squeeze the handle really hard to cut

 

[hi tech hate]

i went through 1 pack of cutting disks with a dremel to cut through 1 side pannel of a case, it wasnt that bad at all

 

[greeny2022]

i used a jigsaw and my case turned out pretty good, just gotta take it nice and easy

 

[Drunkinsquirl]

what if i test with a magnet?

Make sure you get some nice industrial magnets and that you put them as close to the HD cage as possible, or for best results put them straight on the HD

 

[MGDMN]

I wouldnt reccomend punching a dent in ur case but it shouldnt be hard to tell which material it is made out of.

 

[Shinare]

Originally posted by greeny2022
i used a jigsaw and my case turned out pretty good, just gotta take it nice and easy

Me too. cept for the curvy parts... dremil worked well there.

 

[jpmkm]

Nibblers SUCK for doing anything more than cutting holes for switches and knobs and stuff. If you try to cut a window or a blowhole or something large with a nibbler, you will be doing it all day and you will end up with blisters all over your hand. Do yourself a favour and get a jigsaw. The time you saved with the jigsaw should more than make up for the money you spent on it.

 

[wayne]

Nibblers SUCK for doing anything more than cutting holes for switches and knobs and stuff. If you try to cut a window or a blowhole or something large with a nibbler, you will be doing it all day and you will end up with blisters all over your hand. Do yourself a favour and get a jigsaw. The time you saved with the jigsaw should more than make up for the money you spent on it.

i only bought a nibbler to test it out

by the way, approximately how much are decent jigsaws?

 

[jpmkm]

Originally posted by wayne
i only bought a nibbler to test it out

by the way, approximately how much are decent jigsaws?

I think I've seen jigsaws at walmart for around $20. I can't comment on the quality of them, but you should be able to get a decent jigsaw at a hardware store for under $50.

I just nibbled out a small rectangle out of my motherboard tray the other day and it probably took more than half an hour for about a 1.5"x2.5" rectangle. I would have just used the dremel but I didn't want to take everything out of my case and I didn't want to get dust all over everything.

 

[Shinare]

Originally posted by wayne
i only bought a nibbler to test it out

by the way, approximately how much are decent jigsaws?

I bought a Black & Decker veriable speed jigsaw at Home Depot for $29.99. Its a good one too. Takes both U and T style blades and is tooless (like a keyless chuck on a drill). It has good speed and good power. I have modded two cases now with it both with a 32 teeth/in metal blade. You'll still need a dremel for the curvy places but nothin beats it for cutting a clean straight line.

You can get the almost exact B&D jigsaw but with orbital action as well as regular cutting action (dunno why you would want that) for $10 more.

 

[BLsibub666]

jigsaw will cut threw anything, it may take time and patence and many blades but it will do it, as will a dremil but it will take longer and you'll have to be causious... Ive done most of my cutting with a dremil, and my window is a jigsaw.

the dremil disks will shatter if you apply too much pressure, or like snaping a saw blade you try to change the angle of the cut once your into the metal (not the direction the angle)

good luck

 

[wayne]

I think I've seen jigsaws at walmart for around $20. I can't comment on the quality of them, but you should be able to get a decent jigsaw at a hardware store for under $50.

I just nibbled out a small rectangle out of my motherboard tray the other day and it probably took more than half an hour for about a 1.5"x2.5" rectangle. I would have just used the dremel but I didn't want to take everything out of my case and I didn't want to get dust all over everything.

any comments about using the nibbler?
like is it really hard to squeeze the handle and anything else?