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Fiberglass

D

d03boy

Limp Gawd
Joined
Feb 3, 2004
Messages
174
Not sure if this is the correct forum or not..

I was just thinking of how cool fiberglass is. I was wondering why more people didn't make custom fiberglass cases? It seems like nobody wants to leave the boring look of computer cases.
 
Most case modders aren't that skilled at stuff like that, and many lack the imagination. I can't remember how many times I've come on here and seen some schmoe post pics of his mod, and its nothing more than an antec painted bright orange with 18 different colored lights. The thing that amazes me is the amount of praise that a person that showed no real creativity can get on these forums. Many cases I see on here are down right tacky, and lack subtlety. Its the equivalent to riced out honda civics in my opinion. For the money they could do a few tasteful mods and concentrate on making it faster. Instead they all choose to bolt on a giant fart pipe and huge wing, paint it some atrocious color, and put a million idiot-lights on it. The thing is though, that they think they're making it unique, while they're just making a clone of every other car/computer they've seen in magazines/on the internet.
 
Originally posted by psxpaul
Most case modders aren't that skilled at stuff like that, and many lack the imagination. I can't remember how many times I've come on here and seen some schmoe post pics of his mod, and its nothing more than an antec painted bright orange with 18 different colored lights. The thing that amazes me is the amount of praise that a person that showed no real creativity can get on these forums. Many cases I see on here are down right tacky, and lack subtlety. Its the equivalent to riced out honda civics in my opinion. For the money they could do a few tasteful mods and concentrate on making it faster. Instead they all choose to bolt on a giant fart pipe and huge wing, paint it some atrocious color, and put a million idiot-lights on it. The thing is though, that they think they're making it unique, while they're just making a clone of every other car/computer they've seen in magazines/on the internet.
Click to expand...

This is true. I agree completely. Also, I think someone should make a carbon fiber or kevlar case. Make it nice for the coolness factor - "You think YOUR pc is bulletproof?" *pulls out revolver*
 
Originally posted by Mad_Pyro
This is true. I agree completely. Also, I think someone should make a carbon fiber or kevlar case. Make it nice for the coolness factor - "You think YOUR pc is bulletproof?" *pulls out revolver*
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the carbon fiber has been done, can't seem to remember the link
 
Carbon fibre - Mashie

Fibreglas - Lord Pheaton, Geezer (and me if you count sub enclosures and sun visors)
 
Originally posted by psxpaul
Most case modders aren't that skilled at stuff like that, and many lack the imagination. I can't remember how many times I've come on here and seen some schmoe post pics of his mod, and its nothing more than an antec painted bright orange with 18 different colored lights. The thing that amazes me is the amount of praise that a person that showed no real creativity can get on these forums. Many cases I see on here are down right tacky, and lack subtlety. Its the equivalent to riced out honda civics in my opinion. For the money they could do a few tasteful mods and concentrate on making it faster. Instead they all choose to bolt on a giant fart pipe and huge wing, paint it some atrocious color, and put a million idiot-lights on it. The thing is though, that they think they're making it unique, while they're just making a clone of every other car/computer they've seen in magazines/on the internet.
Click to expand...
OK, talking that kind of smack, you need to provide some links to your own work.


Fiberglass, carbon-fiber, 2-part polyurethane resins are all great materials for creative ideas. They also have high costs and mess factors. Most mods are low-end simply because most modders wallets and skills and available tools are low-end.
 
Originally posted by rayra
OK, talking that kind of smack, you need to provide some links to your own work.
Click to expand...

Why? So you can call my case boring? My case mods are all very simple ones- just paint and a window mod. If I modded a case today, I probably wouldn't even do a window mod at all. I did not do those mods to impress you, I did them because I thought my case would look better because of them. What I'm saying is that many people here go overboard and end up making their case look much much worse than your average beige box, all in attempt to impress other people. Does anyone actually believe that having 4 different colored LEDs on your case make it more aesthetically appealing? If you do, you're probably also the type of person to walk around in an orange suit and wear 20 pounds of gold jewelry.

I really don't understand why anyone would put some things on their case. Like fan buses- those big metal toggle switches don't match the rest of the case, and the LEDs make it look like a space ship. Why do people paint their cases all those funky colors? I've seen cases colored bright orange, yellow, and red. Honestly, they look like the type of computers a clown would use. LED fans? Its like a rave in a box, just without all the cool drugs.

There are some interesting case mods though. Using fiberglass though requires some artistic ability and creativity, something most case modders lack. Case modding now is just all about cutting holes in a box and sticking a bunch of lights in it.
 
it takes a lot of time, and its cheaper to buy an acrylic case. a 60"x40" sheet of 1/4" plexiglass at my home depot is $70
 
I have designed several fiberglass cases I am awaiting time to finish. Good fiberglass work comes from years of doing it, or in my case its in my blood. Grandfather was one of the first fiberglass boat builders, uncle is a body man, and I do bodywork/build fiberglass dashes and sub boxes.
 
Originally posted by psxpaul
Why? So you can call my case boring? My case mods are all very simple ones- just paint and a window mod. If I modded a case today, I probably wouldn't even do a window mod at all. I did not do those mods to impress you, I did them because I thought my case would look better because of them. What I'm saying is that many people here go overboard and end up making their case look much much worse than your average beige box, all in attempt to impress other people. Does anyone actually believe that having 4 different colored LEDs on your case make it more aesthetically appealing? If you do, you're probably also the type of person to walk around in an orange suit and wear 20 pounds of gold jewelry.

I really don't understand why anyone would put some things on their case. Like fan buses- those big metal toggle switches don't match the rest of the case, and the LEDs make it look like a space ship. Why do people paint their cases all those funky colors? I've seen cases colored bright orange, yellow, and red. Honestly, they look like the type of computers a clown would use. LED fans? Its like a rave in a box, just without all the cool drugs.

There are some interesting case mods though. Using fiberglass though requires some artistic ability and creativity, something most case modders lack. Case modding now is just all about cutting holes in a box and sticking a bunch of lights in it.
Click to expand...


Most people don't mod to impress the crowd.
Many do it because its fun and it helps create and home skills for doing more complex things.

I know my first csae looks great to me since I did it by had (the mods) but others don't think its that great. Some sya its tacky.

But from what I learned doing it will help me on my next one that I am planning now. I am just awaiting a drawing from a friend before I start.

A lot of cases have themes and most of what is posted are begging mods for many people. Most will go back when they get the time and the money to finish it.

Most people (like me) can't afford to do everything they want at one time and have to piece it.

But the main ting is, if you like it, its fine.
Comments and compliments are nice to the ego, but are not needed for someone that has fun doing it.
 
I agree that lots of people make their mods to impress others... but that makes no grounds for generalization...

If someone post saying how cool their new paintjob is and how great they are because of it, well i agree. This people are not modders, they are just plainly sad attention seekers. (If either their case looks good or like something you'd find on a circus...)

But if someone comes asking for suggestions or for appraisal on their job. Thats different, we modders (i'm a newbie on this type of modding though....) consider ourselves artists. We do our job to please ourselves, and generally expect (but not wish...) to please other people on the way.

So if either my case looks like crap or like something you'd seen on the Smithsonian doesn't really matter.
What really matters is why i've done all that work...
 
Originally posted by psxpaul
Why? So you can call my case boring? My case mods are all very simple ones- just paint and a window mod. If I modded a case today, I probably wouldn't even do a window mod at all. I did not do those mods to impress you, I did them because I thought my case would look better because of them. What I'm saying is that many people here go overboard and end up making their case look much much worse than your average beige box, all in attempt to impress other people. Does anyone actually believe that having 4 different colored LEDs on your case make it more aesthetically appealing? If you do, you're probably also the type of person to walk around in an orange suit and wear 20 pounds of gold jewelry.

I really don't understand why anyone would put some things on their case. Like fan buses- those big metal toggle switches don't match the rest of the case, and the LEDs make it look like a space ship. Why do people paint their cases all those funky colors? I've seen cases colored bright orange, yellow, and red. Honestly, they look like the type of computers a clown would use. LED fans? Its like a rave in a box, just without all the cool drugs.

There are some interesting case mods though. Using fiberglass though requires some artistic ability and creativity, something most case modders lack. Case modding now is just all about cutting holes in a box and sticking a bunch of lights in it.
Click to expand...

Have you considered that they just might have adifferent opinion as to what looks good than you do? SOme mods like fan buses could be purely functional. Some people love having all the extra lights on their case.

Isn't how the case looks and how they mod it a personal choice? And what right do you have to pass judgement.

If they are getting praise on here doesn't that also mean that someone else must like it?

I think any mod you do as long as you like it is well worth your time.

Oh and to sort of make this on topic. I don't really know why other people wouldn't use fiberglass. As for myself I wouldn't even know where to start.
 
So what is a good guide on making something using fiberglass?
 
Basically I've read a lot of sub-enclosure guides for cars. I'm sure I could incorporate 99% of what I learned into making a fiberglass case (although I havn't ever tried using fiberglass yet.)

After I graduate from highschool this year I want to try to make a fiberglass case. I want it to be a unique shape and design though, which is why I chose fiberglass. I'm getting bored with the rectangular boxes, and if I'm going to do something, I'm going to make it worthwhile.
 
Yeah, fibreglas is a breeze to work with. If/when I ever build a custom case, that is the medium I will go with as well.

Here are my 'glass creations so far:

visar3.jpg


subdone5.jpg
 
Originally posted by PS-RagE
Yeah, fibreglas is a breeze to work with. If/when I ever build a custom case, that is the medium I will go with as well.

Here are my 'glass creations so far:

[]http://www.houseofrage.com/nissan/visar3.jpg[/]

[]http://www.houseofrage.com/nissan/subdone5.jpg[/]
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The first picture looks great. What is it exactly? :)


No one has a recommendation for a guide on using fiberglass?
 
Originally posted by Elledan
The first picture looks great. What is it exactly? :)


No one has a recommendation for a guide on using fiberglass?
Click to expand...

Its the driver's side sun visor in my truck
 
No one has a recommendation for a guide on using fiberglass?
Click to expand...

Nah. The way I was told was to go buy the mixing materials. Then get some good A/B Foam, you get the shape out of the A/B foam, then layer by layer add fiberglass to the new foam-mold. After that you use some good filler to smooth it out.

But my memory maybe wrong, which I'm sure it is :)
 
Here are some great guides for using fiberglass. They are for car audio applications, but as someone mentioned, the techniques will transfer to case building.

Making a plaster mold to lay fiberglass over. Using this technique, the fiberglass is VERY smooth and you never have to use bondo. It also shows you how to use a gel coat.
http://www.jlaudio.com/tutorials/mera/MERA_2002.pdf

Using foam and MDF as a base for laying fiberglass onto. This is great for building up complex surface designs.
http://www.jlaudio.com/tutorials/mera/MERA_2003.pdf
 
Those tutorials are pretty extreme. Usually you can get what you need done with a lot less work. Kind of depends on what shape you're looking for I guess.
 
Ps-RaGe

I think I've seen some of your stuff on caraudioforum.com

Looks really nice. Gimme some info on how your computer is hooked up in the car. Specifically how its powered, and if it shuts off when your car does or what.
 
try www.fibreglast.com they sell materials and suppliesfor fibreglass, kevlar, and carbon fibre. they also have a set of manuals that explain the howto's of composite building.

It is easy and fun to see your work turn out like you wanted it to.

It does take some time to get real good but even mistakes can be good sometimes,
 
My .02 on why fiberglass isn't used more is that it's just not the best substance for computer cases... this is just my opinion, but here is what I'll support the opinion with:

1. computer components lend themselves to squarish shapes (flat back for PSU, I/O panel, cards)... fiberglass is great cos you can easily do curved/rounded shapes

2. cost is high... and there would be a good chance if you've never used fiberglass you'd end up with something unsuitable and have to do it again, doubling costs

3. not sure how much metal cases dissipate heat, but fiberglass would not do this


Now I'm sure that the most creative modders have and will find ways to use fiberglass as well as other materials...

Now that I'm thinking about it... maybe a case using some fiberglass... as well as other materials... would be cool

- I wanna see some fiberglass case pics!!!! Some of you guys (gals?) here on the forum never cease to amaze me!

-Hex..
 
These guys, Tap Plastics have alot of interesting stuff. Plus they have some "how to" books and videos.

I have had my eye on fiberglass as a way to make some designs I have in mind take shape, but its a commintment of time and money and as someone has said, sometimes it takes years of experience to get it right.

Another interesting idea is "Do It Yourself" vacum forming of plastic. I haven't checked into it but it seems it might be a way to do some new things with cases....

Ken
 
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