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Need Ideas for Donated Computer

C

cappyboats

Limp Gawd
Joined
Nov 23, 2004
Messages
146
Hi All.
I am the Information Officer for our local Little League and I am donating a computer to them since they are still using a Pentium 90. I won't be doing any mods on the inside. The only thing I have decided on is I am using a Chieftec case and I ordered a solid panel to replace the windowed panel the case now has. (I don't want anyone seeing what they can steal) Our league colors are yellow & green and I will be using that paint scheme as well as airbrushing our logo on one of the side panels. I also have some green LED fans I can use that would be visable from the outside. Any other ideas to dress it up some so it would be obvious if someone tried to take it? Ideas for the other panel? It also has a top blowhole that I put in from an earlier mod. Other than bolting it to the table and locking the case, any ideas for security and or mods would be appreciated
 
A large lead weight in the bottom of the case to make it too heavy to carry away? Other than a couple bolts through the bottom of the case to hold it in place, I can't think of anything else to make it more difficult to steal a computer case.
 
Mod Idea: I've seen these stickers that people have on their cars that look like a baseball had smashed into the window. This sounds like a perfect fit in this case. Use a real baseball that is cut in half with a band saw and attached to the case (maybe screwed from the inside) and airbrushed cracks in the case around the side of the ball. :D
 
blindbug said:
Mod Idea: I've seen these stickers that people have on their cars that look like a baseball had smashed into the window. This sounds like a perfect fit in this case. Use a real baseball that is cut in half with a band saw and attached to the case (maybe screwed from the inside) and airbrushed cracks in the case around the side of the ball. :D
Click to expand...
That's a GREAT Idea! That's why I asked here. Thanks for the input.
 
cappyboats said:
That's a GREAT Idea! That's why I asked here. Thanks for the input.
Click to expand...

Hey no problem... just one condition. You have to keep us updated on the progress or at least let us see the finished product! :)
 
Going with the theme:

Cut the middle out of a wooden bat and have the handle sticking out one side and the meaty end stickin out the other. This mod would take about 15 minutes with a good saw, a drill and a couple of lag bolts. Then you could even manipulate angles to make it look like the bat is going to hit the ball.
 
blindbug said:
Hey no problem... just one condition. You have to keep us updated on the progress or at least let us see the finished product! :)
Click to expand...

Will do.
 
Here's what the case was and a cheepo MS Paint rendition of the initial color scheme.
1stmod.JPG

1stmodside.JPG

grcasepaint3.JPG
 
What league are you guy's. I was with WestOahu last year. You know the guy's from Ewa Beach, Hawaii that owned everyone at the World Series. My Dad was even the coach of half the kids. Including Memea and Aglipay.
 
I would find the LAMEST beige case I could find and rough that thing up. No one would want it then.:)
 
xrdotimcr said:
What league are you guy's. I was with WestOahu last year. You know the guy's from Ewa Beach, Hawaii that owned everyone at the World Series. My Dad was even the coach of half the kids. Including Memea and Aglipay.
Click to expand...
Green Run Little League of Virginia Beach Virginia
 
SpangeMonkee said:
I would find the LAMEST beige case I could find and rough that thing up. No one would want it then.:)
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I've thought about brush painting the logo instead of airbrushing so if it was stolen and they spray painted the case with a can of Krylon the raised logo would show through. ie. they would have to sand down the case first. A lot of work for a thief don't you think?
 
cappyboats said:
I've thought about brush painting the logo instead of airbrushing so if it was stolen and they spray painted the case with a can of Krylon the raised logo would show through. ie. they would have to sand down the case first. A lot of work for a thief don't you think?
Click to expand...

anybody that steals a pc isnt going to be out and displaying it like its a trophy so the odds of someone seeing it that would know where it came from are slim. it boils down to - if they want it bad enough they are gonna take it.

B
 
cappyboats said:
I've thought about brush painting the logo instead of airbrushing so if it was stolen and they spray painted the case with a can of Krylon the raised logo would show through. ie. they would have to sand down the case first. A lot of work for a thief don't you think?
Click to expand...


yeah, but you would have to find it first. Recovering it would be much much harder than preventing it from being stolen. I would look in to a computer cable lock system as well as making it REALLY unattractive.
 
After some initial sanding and priming and sanding and pri.... well you know. I have started the painting process.
CaseMod001.jpg

CaseMod002.jpg

CaseMod003.jpg

CaseMod004.jpg

CaseMod005.jpg
 
Sorry for being away so long. Online registration tied with school wrestling and the wife being out to sea has put a serious damper on progress but I will post updated photo's this weekend. In the mean time here was a picture of the panels close to being completed from December.
CaseMod011.jpg
 
SpangeMonkee said:
nice graphic. is that vinyl or did you hand paint it?
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I started airbrushing but decided to hand paint it so if anyone used Krylon over it they would still see the raised logo. I will have more pictures soon.
 
I read this thread the last time I was on these forums.

It made me laugh then, and it did just now.

Keep up the good work.
 
As promised.
I will post one last picture after I have mounted (bolted) it to the desk with the monitor & keyboard.
CaseMod012.jpg

CaseMod013.jpg
 
I just have to ask, is this computer located in a really low security area or something? Seems like keeping it secure is a real concern. You could make it so exotic that it'd be stupid for someone to take it ("Hey, nice computer Joe....wait, isn't that the Little League computer?"). Then again, if you have a geek thief, they'll leave the case and steal the processor or RAM or something :p
 
GREAT JOB!

that case came out looking pretty nice, how about a close up on that baseball on the side of case
 
Yeah some more pictures of that baseball would be nice. From the angle you took that picture from, it looks like the baseball is whole.
 
What cpu are you going to use?

And the baseball kind of ruins that cool case, no offence
 
movax said:
I just have to ask, is this computer located in a really low security area or something? ..........:p
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Actually we had to add dead bolts to the building last year when it had been broken into several times including a kid who wanted to live in it. They would drag a bench from a dugout lean it against the storage shed and climb up on the 2nd story deck. They kicked out all of the spindles around the entire deck one week after it was built onto the building. Since the addition of the deadbolts, now they spray graffiti on the siding. As far as a geek, I think a geek would appreciate the computer and not pilfer it. During games, the building is unlocked.
 
amd ati FO SHO said:
GREAT JOB!
how about a close up on that baseball on the side of case
Click to expand...
I used the baseball idea of "Blindbug" from the first page. I couldn't find any examples of cracks to airbrush and I'm not good enough to just freehand it, I need an example. It was cool how the picture looked, it must have been the high gloss finish that made it look 3D.
 
Thanks for ALL of the compliments [H]er's. It took me a long time to complete doing a little here and a little there. Our season is getting ready to start and I needed to wrap it up even though I keep getting more ideas for it. My next mod will probably be for me.
 
The case is looking great. Once it's done maybe you should put some kind of locking cable on it and try to make it to much of a pain to steal.

http://www.sunsetent.com/Categories/computerlockdown.html

That's just an idea of what I was thinking I havnt actually used that company before. Generally if you can use a steel cable and a pad lock to secure the PC and monitor to the table it will be to much of a hassle for anyone to steal.
 
ethos747474nikon8989 said:
The case is looking great. Once it's done maybe you should put some kind of locking cable on it and try to make it to much of a pain to steal.

http://www.sunsetent.com/Categories/computerlockdown.html
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I like the screw idea at the bottom of the page. That would help keep the "geeks" from wanting to take a peek inside but I wouldn't want to glue anything to the case. Thanks for the link.
 
This came out looking pretty nice. I really like the graphic on the side, very clean and professional looking, and I really do like the baseball on the side (since this is a little league computer, I think the kids will like it alot too).

As for security, you could cut a 2"x 1" slit in the bottom of the case. Take a U-Bracket (like they use to hold up mufflers), attach the u bracket to the floor, arch up. Then, place the case over the U bracket and slide a padlock on. This way, they cannot get to where the case is attached to the floor unless they move the case, and they can't move the case unless they can open it and take off the padlock. I think this would also look the best. If the culprit gets into the shack, and tries to pick up the case he will be stopped and since he was stupid enough to break in, they are probably too stupid to figure out how it is attached to the floor...

You could get a local welder to make a custom bracket for you (check the vocational schools, teachers love little projects like that, I should know, my dad is a welding teacher). What you would want is a single flat piece of metal and another single metal rod that has been bent (most welding shops can do this easily). Once you have you're U shape and your flat metal, weld the U shape to the plate and then drill 4 holes, one in each corner of the plate, so you can screw the plate into the floor.

Something like this:

diagram.jpg
 
I don't know if I'd put in on the floor, As so much work has been put into it, why would you put it on the floor? I'd say lock it to the desk (Also less damage done to the building)
Oh, and use those special screws that no one has a screw driver to, like the ones that are a six-pointed star thing
 
I am actually bolting it to the desk with 2-1" X 10" steel straps. I will take pictures of it when completed. Thanks for all of the recommendations.
 
Here it is in all its glory.
CaseMod034.jpg


This is how I secured it to the desk. I used the nylocks (nylon inserts in the nuts) to keep someone from loosening the bolts from below, the nuts on top will just spin and not loosen.
CaseMod031.jpg


I set it up for early hybernation so It shuts down when not in use. That way the P4 won't overheat in the summertime when the A/C in the building is off and everyone must log-in.
CaseMod037.jpg


Lastly, you can see the system on the right that it is replacing. Thanks for all of your input. I used several forum members idea's here including the baseball on the side, the security screws on the panels & power supply screws. Maybe my next mod will be for me and I'll actually use my very own worklog. I am building a server case for the house but I am looking for inspiration at the moment.
CaseMod036.jpg
 
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