What Power Tools Do You Use?

[euimin]

I want to know what the modder's at [H]ard|forum use to cut and pierce! (brand, model, etc)

 

[skudmunky]

my fingernails, teeth, and FDA Certified Elbow-Grease.

Actually, I use my freinds dremel. and pliers.

 

[superkdogg]

I use a Dremel given to me by my father-in-law: "the most useless tool I've ever had..."-not for a case modder BTW, I took a while to find out that the cut off bit and mandrel are the only way to cut cases. There are other bits that work, but they take 4ever.


And a super-size Dremel ....errr sorry, an Angle Grinder.

Don't have model #'s or anything handy, but since my mods are basically windows and lighting I don't need anything too special.

 

[KodiakStar]

jig-saws work great for large window cuts.

hole-saws and a cordless drill... and other drill bits (drilling out rivets etc)

Power sander..

 

[Qtip42]

I rarely use a dremel anymore these days. They're worthless for the majority of my work.

 

[MikeDeuce]

Dremel for touch ups and cutting small bits of metal (my favorite tool for cutting out pre-stamped fan grills).

Budget Ryobi drill press for precision holesaw cuts and acrylic work

The craftsman 19.2v cordless combo drill set (one standard and one right angle drill, great for squeezing into tight spots)

A budget craftsman router and router table, for working with acrylic

Dewalt budget orbital sander

Cheapie black and decker jigsaw

Vector machine polisher

 

[Scorpionjwp]

Skill jigsaw
Black and Decker Mouse sander
Global Machinery Company 10" bandsaw with laser level and work lamp.

Used the bandsaw for material that can't be cut via jigsaw.
Metal cutting hacksaw for cutting my 1/16inch metal pieces for mods.
Generic Holesaws for blowholes for cases bought from Harbor Freight tools.

Dremel will drill press attachment
Bosch Power drill, Bosch power saw.
Milwaukee Deep Cut Portable Band Saw for cutting Formica.

 

[Asian Dub Foundation]

dremel, power grinder, power sander, and good ole screwdriver (i kno its not powered )

 

[AreEss]

Well, if we're not gonna restrict to what I specifically own, only what I've used...

DeVlieg 43H72 Jig Mill w/Fanuc 15 control
- For milling (shaping) various metals, especially steel and aluminum. Very high end controller.
Hitachi/Seiki HiCell 250 CNC Lathe
- One big lathe; great for turning custom parts large and small (but not too small.) Mostly round stuff, of course.
Mitsubishi Can't-Remember-Model Vertical Machining Center
- This does metal planing and drilling mostly.
Niagra 80 ton Mechanical Brake
- For creating sharp bends in flat pieces of metal!
Unknown really big grinding center (takes 4'x4'x4' parts, whew.)
- Makes things nice and shiny by grinding the ugly out. (It does polishing.)
Ryobi 8.5A Router w/Table
- You know, it's a router. You make pretty in wood, or hack channels into Lexan with it.
Ryobi 3/4HP Horiz Planer
- It's a planer. It goes back and forth and makes cuts in wood and stuff.
A whole ton of different drills from 1/4" to 1" bit accepting, including two hammer drills
- They're drills. Hammer drills go *BAMBAMBAM* and are very useful for solid steel box.
More handtools than you can shake a stick at.
- ... you know what a screwdriver is, right?
Very good drill-and-tap sets.
- Makes screw and bolt threads in Lexan, steel, aluminum, etcetera, without the Helicoil hack.
Lincoln Electric Invertec V350-PRO Adv. Process
- MIG/TIG(w/Scratch) welder for mild to moderate steel mostly.
Generico Oxy-Acetalyne torch-of-doom
- The all purpose hot jet of fire that cuts metal.
Dremel MultiPro 395
- ... I should hope we know what a Dremel is.
Weller EC2002 soldering system
- It's a soldering system. Get one cheap on eBay.
A couple different jigsaws
- Making more holes in metal and wood, but also more complex shapes!
Gods-only-know-who Bandsaw
- For cutting complex shapes in really big or really thick stuff. Very, very carefully.
Craftsman 8A tablesaw
- Right. It does up to a 45 degree angle too. Yes I have a Plexi/Lexan blade. Three actually.
... and of course, a 20lbs sledgehammer.
- AREESS SMASH BAD CASE!

Hey, not my fault most car stuff is dual use.

 

[Dillusion]

Black and Decker Drill
Cordless Dremel
Assorted Bits
Metal Files
Aluminum Shears
Rivet Gun

 

[bob]

dremmel to cut, home made AC arc welder to weld, 18V cheapo maiden of china drill, 1/4hp 1960s drill to do wire-brushing, my hand and a hunk of foam for wetsanding, and.. Lots of rattlecans!

Big wads of cash also... Also, if I need to flatten out junked out "donor" cases, I lay them down on the road and run them over with my diesel volkswagen.

 

[hignaki]

I mainly work with smaller stuff, so my $30 K-Mart Dremel knockoff (works wonders, doesn't overheat, high RPM adjustment <3 ), a jigsaw, and the good ol-non-powered screwdriver.

 

[Sobek]

Dremel w/ flexshaft
Black and Decker 12V Cordless drill/sander/jigsaw

I want to get a Miter saw and the router attachement for my Dremel soon.

 

[Bookmage]

What no pics?
I'm sure people want to see the workshops of the [H]ard modders.
And pics would help new modders identify tools and parts.
Not everyone knows what a "Lincoln Electric Invertec V350-PRO Adv. Process" can be used for
And remember to list what the tools are used for.

 

[AreEss]

What no pics?
I'm sure people want to see the workshops of the [H]ard modders.
And pics would help new modders identify tools and parts.
Not everyone knows what a "Lincoln Electric Invertec V350-PRO Adv. Process" can be used for
And remember to list what the tools are used for.

It'd take me eight pages plus just for the various places that I do work or have work done.
And good point, I'mma go back and edit my post to explain what the good stuff does.

 

[Susquehannock]

What no pics?

- - Just wait, they're coming.

The Dremel are nice toys, but woefully inadequate for all but the smaller jobs.

Much better to use pneumatics (air tools). Multitudes more torque.
Don't get me wrong. The Dremel are OK if you are the occasional modder. If you plan to do
a lot of modding it's well worth getting some real tools.

1] - High volume compressor. Looks kind of top heavy with that big twin cyl. pump on the 20gal tank.
But that's the key, no need to wait for pressure to build within the tank to use the tools.

============================================================

2] - Die grinder with 'double cut" carbide rotary file, reinforced Dremel cut-off disks with the center hole
hogged out to fit a 1/4" shaft, hand files, and some sandpaper. The resulting edges are
smooth enough for a baby's hands.

The above window took roughly about half an hour & 7 disks. Only a small fraction the time it would
with a Dremel. Works on acrylic too - see below ...

============================================================

3] - die grinder & "double cut" carbide rotary file again.

============================================================

4] - End result :

 

[AreEss]

- - Just wait, they're coming.

The Dremel are nice toys, but woefully inadequate for all but the smaller jobs.

Much better to use pneumatics (air tools). Multitudes more torque.
Don't get me wrong. The Dremel are OK if you are the occasional modder. If you plan to do
a lot of modding it's well worth getting some real tools.

Oh come on you fibber.
I know you used a nibbler, not a grinder.
I'd list mine but I lack compressor these days. Besides, I'm mostly from scratch anymore.

 

[Susquehannock]

Damn!!! You caught me AreEss.

Must also mention the safety glasses and dust mask.

See that pile of metal filings next to the airhose in the second image? Don't want that in your lungs & eyes do you?

ALWAYS protect yourself ........ if you don't have your health you don't have anything.

 

[Nobi125]

Cordless drill for screws.

Wired drill for high powered drilling.

Jigsaw.

Pnumatic grinder.

 

[zoom314]

- - Just wait, they're coming.

The Dremel are nice toys, but woefully inadequate for all but the smaller jobs.

Much better to use pneumatics (air tools). Multitudes more torque.
Don't get me wrong. The Dremel are OK if you are the occasional modder. If you plan to do
a lot of modding it's well worth getting some real tools.

1] - High volume compressor. Looks kind of top heavy with that big twin cyl. pump on the 20gal tank.
But that's the key, no need to wait for pressure to build within the tank to use the tools.

============================================================

2] - Die grinder with 'double cut" carbide rotary file, reinforced Dremel cut-off disks with the center hole
hogged out to fit a 1/4" shaft, hand files, and some sandpaper. The resulting edges are
smooth enough for a baby's hands.

The above window took roughly about half an hour & 7 disks. Only a small fraction the time it would
with a Dremel. Works on acrylic too - see below ...

============================================================

3] - die grinder & "double cut" carbide rotary file again.

============================================================

4] - End result :

Geewhiz, Keep the kids away from that case, Looks nice, I'm going to modify My case the rest of the way with a Dremel, a flex shaft and a 30,000rpm cutting wheel(Which is Carbide I think, It's not steel or something like that), I even started a work log too.
Here's the link to It: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=944845

 

[Susquehannock]

yeah - LOL - the side fan doubles as a wood chipper

At 5.8V it's almost silent. And at full blast it will hover a CD over the top 120mm fanless "blowhole".

More images here if you care to see them : http://home.comcast.net/~susquehannock_md/mypage1.html

Haven't updated the pix since I got the 6800nu card. Should probably get around to that.

 

[drakken]

I found the fastest way to cut apart PC cases and other things is my weilding torch, but plastic is a bit of a problem you end up with this nasty black crap... though table saws and grinders work nice... I may dig out my old dremel for the plastic front of current case.

 

[Susquehannock]

I have a cutting torch here and would never use it to cut thin gauge metal as in a PC case
because it leaves rough edges & there is a chance of warpage.
But to each their own.

 

[AreEss]

I have a cutting torch here and would never use it to cut thin gauge metal as in a PC case
because it leaves rough edges & there is a chance of warpage.
But to each their own.

You're gonna get rough edges with a torch period. And whatchoo talking about, thin gauge? Most of my cases are 2mm minimum. 'Sides, I always clamp things down to prevent excessive warp. Just gotta watch that metal like a hawk.

 

[GhengisKhan]

Let's just say that I don't have enough tools... (is there a such thing as enough tools?)

Short list of some of the essentials:
1/2HP Craftsman rotary tool ( + snake arm attachment )
tablesaws ( 2 )
drill presses ( 2 working, 1 not )
hand drills ( cordless & corded, too many to count ) (oh yea, drawers full of bits all shapes/sizes)
saws, screwdrivers, hammers, wrenches, pliars (again, too many to count)
2 lathes (1 wood, 1 metal)
2 milling machines (1 industrial size, 1 micro-mill)
2 routers (1 hand, 1 mounted in a table)
2 compound mitre saws (10" & 12")
cutting torch
MIG welder
ARC welder
(planing to buy a good TIG sometime soon)


that's just the stuff I can think of without actually going to look (I'm at work right now)

 

[Susquehannock]

You're gonna get rough edges with a torch period. And whatchoo talking about, thin gauge? Most of my cases are 2mm minimum. 'Sides, I always clamp things down to prevent excessive warp. Just gotta watch that metal like a hawk.

Sorry but I think you are mistaken. 1mm maybe, but I seriously doubt 2mm. That is equal to
14gauge. Most cases are made with 20gauge or 1mm from what I've seen. Some cheaper ones 22gauge.

• * 14ga = 2.03mm
  
  * 20ga = 0.91mm
  
  * 22ga = 0.71mm

I just don't think a regular cutting torch is well suited for thin metal. Now, a plasma cutter is a different story.

Let's just say that I don't have enough tools... (is there a such thing as enough tools?)

Short list of some of the essentials:
1/2HP Craftsman rotary tool ( + snake arm attachment )
tablesaws ( 2 )
drill presses ( 2 working, 1 not )
hand drills ( cordless & corded, too many to count ) (oh yea, drawers full of bits all shapes/sizes)
saws, screwdrivers, hammers, wrenches, pliars (again, too many to count)
2 lathes (1 wood, 1 metal)
2 milling machines (1 industrial size, 1 micro-mill)
2 routers (1 hand, 1 mounted in a table)
2 compound mitre saws (10" & 12")
cutting torch
MIG welder
ARC welder
(planing to buy a good TIG sometime soon)


that's just the stuff I can think of without actually going to look (I'm at work right now)

No way!!! ... you can never have too many tools.

Is that the list of tool/equip. you have at home? If so I am envious as I would love to have
a lathe & end mill here. Was a real shock when I had to retire from CATerpillar and didn't have
access to all those cool big machines anymore.

 

[GhengisKhan]

Is that the list of tool/equip. you have at home? If so I am envious as I would love to have
a lathe & end mill here. Was a real shock when I had to retire from CATerpillar and didn't have
access to all those cool big machines anymore.

Yes, that is just a miniscule part of the list of tools I have at home. I live in a 5 bedroom house with a full basement + 2 car garage. We just got a new bandsaw from Grisley shipped in yesterday too (Me + Father-In-Law = We)
As for work... let's put it this way, I'm an Electro-Mechanical Maintenance & Repair Technician at a prepared foods factory, which means everything from conveyor belts to robotics systems.

 

[Susquehannock]

Nice
Assembling tools & equip has been my major past time lately it seems. I am lucky in that a
friend has a complete machine shop in his barn not too far away where I can work some
old harley parts in exchange for machine time.

Been spending much of my up^ time working on the GTO actually - http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1028159859&postcount=36

 

[AreEss]

Sorry but I think you are mistaken. 1mm maybe, but I seriously doubt 2mm. That is equal to
14gauge. Most cases are made with 20gauge or 1mm from what I've seen. Some cheaper ones 22gauge.
I just don't think a regular cutting torch is well suited for thin metal. Now, a plasma cutter is a different story.

Absolutely not disagreed. I don't mind paying a bit more for a quality case though.

In my case, mostly Enermax 910's and 911's. The 910 and 911's sides and rear are 14ga and the internal structure is a mix of 12ga channel and 14ga, with the mo'board tray and drive cage made from 20ga stamped. Just wish the front panel wasn't plastic. You can swap 910/911/981 parts 100%, but Enermax apparently just discontinued the 981's. Damn shame, because they're great cases for modding. Huge amount of space and very, very sturdy.

Lemme put it this way; they stand up to a Sawzall.

 

[Susquehannock]

Oh, well if you are talking heavy duty server cases that a whole different ball game.

Haven't seen one of the Enermax 910 or 911 personally. Are they Aluminum construction? If made
form 14ga & 12ga steel that's just crazy.

 

[AreEss]

Oh, well if you are talking heavy duty server cases that a whole different ball game.
Haven't seen one of the Enermax 910 or 911 personally. Are they Aluminum construction? If made
form 14ga & 12ga steel that's just crazy.

Nope, they're steel. The 981's are partially aluminum, but the 910's and 911's are 100% cold rolled 2mm thick SECC. Very, very tough stuff. Last time I kicked mine, I broke my toe.

 

[Susquehannock]

Good thing they have wheels because I'd hate lug one of those around.
2mm thick galvanized seems a bit of an overkill for a PC case to me. But hey, that is
better than it being too flimsy.