[worklog] ReaktorMod rusty project

[Piotrek_PL]

Hi there! It’s my first post here so I thought it would be nice to write a few words about myself before I proceed to the project log. I’m not a native English – I live in Warsaw in Poland – but I will do my best to use proper English I’ve completed several small mods that are not even worth posting here but I think I’ve learnt a lot while building them. Oh how much metal sheets I have trashed before I’ve caught how to do stuff.
Now thanks to my older brother who’s set up a small workshop in the basement I have a chance to make something better.
Ok but lets get back to the project. I’ve stared it in July 2012 and I kept a log only on my local forum. Now the build is quite close to an end so I decided to share it with you.

I was thinking about a way to write this log for a while and because there’s a lot of stuff to show I’ve decided that the best way would be to divide it by particular parts of the case. I don’t want to spoil the fun and end this log too quickly And I must admit that writing this log takes more time than I expected.

Hardware. It's not really anything to be proud of, just my computer for every day usage.
CPU: Athlon II x4 640
MB: MSI 870-C45
RAM: 2x2GB Kingston HyperX
GPU: GeForce GTS450 512GDDR5
HDD: 120GB Kingston SSDNow oraz 250GB Seagate
PSU: Chieftec 450W


I’m proud to say that all water cooling parts used in this build were sponsored by EK Water Blocks.

I want to make a case that will look like old, a little seedy like it was used for many years in bad conditions, in a factory or something. You know – rust, cracks and so on. I was inspired by some old control and measurement instruments and stuff that I’ve found on the nearest scrap yard

I’ve started looking for some case in the online shops and I decided to buy second hand Chieftec BX-03. It was cheap and looked like easy to mod.

I’ve started from modding the front panel. Striped parts removed and mesh put instead. Luckily everything was mounted only with some latches so there was no need to cut.

Then I cut the mesh and bent it. It’s all screwed with nice rusty screws that I kept for a special occasion.

Overall view of the front panel.

The right side of the case also needed some change. There were two air-holes, I decided to get rid of them and put some mesh instead.

Again: cutting and bending and finally it's a perfect fit.

In this photo you can see the screws but then I decided to use pop-rivets, but the mesh must rust before riveting it.

I left all the mesh outside on the rain to rust and started work on the left side panel. There will be a lot to do with it

More to come soon...

and sorry for my bad English

 

[rarifiedbovine]

Excellent work so far! I really like the feel of it...

 

[Piotrek_PL]

Thanks!

Sponsored by EKWB

Afterwards I began the work on the left side panel of the case. I remembered having old switch that I've found on the scrap yard.

The switch is mounted, it was a quick job, only three holes were needed. I've decided to make a series connection between those black buttons so they will work as reset switch only when pressed together. The red button will be power switch of course.

And a quick look on the insides

Now it was the high time for bigger changes in this case. After some quick welding the radiator mount is made. Photo was made before drilling holes for screws.

The radiator is mounted.

As you can see in the photo above the radiator is sticking out a mile from the case, so I had to cut the left side panel.

A day ago I saw a perforated metal sheet and I couldn't resist to buy it. It turned out a great solution for building the radiator cover.

Cutting...

..bending...

Finally I made a nice box

and welded it onto the side panel. In this snapshot you can also see the lines for cutting the window.

It was quite dark already but it didn't put mi off. I prefer to use grinder outside because my workshop is very small

Once I cut it I could get back to the basement

How do you call this kind of gasket?

The window will be made from parts of an old laptop broken screen.

Hope I didn't overdo with this cracks.

Let me know if you like it, expect the next update in next few days

 

[FrEaKy]

Very neat idea, I like it, battle born case

 

[waderunner]

piękne dzieło !

Very cool.

A perfect looking build to match Half-Life 2, and HL 2, parts 1 and 2 (never understood that naming scheme).

 

[Bad Fenny]

Excellent build . . . I am a big fan of the worn/aged and industrialized look. I am currently working on an aged build myself although, I have not got as creative as you in the use of mods . . . Well done.

Cheers

Fen

 

[onevoicewild]

I love your tools! they have more age than the effects you have done on your computer. You have great talent my friend.

 

[Piotrek_PL]

Sponsored by EK Water Blocks:

Thanks for your kinds words guys! That's gonna be a bigger update. This time I'll show you the building process of the reservoir.

The mesh that I put into the side and front panel rusted nicely.

Let's get around to the res.
Started with aluminium pipe (60mm diameter)

A while of milling. In this photo there are three separate 'bean' shapes cut but then I thought that a one longer will look better.

Now it's time for the res window. First time I've made it from epoxy resin

it went out pretty good

but sadly there was a small leak between the window and the pipe (don't know how that's possible, I think it's because of different thermal expansion of the epoxy and the pipe), so I came up with a new idea. Drilled and rifled 8 holes that will hold a plexiglass. It's now sealed with silicon. No more problems

Then I proceeded to the 70 diameter 20 mm thick aluminium rod slices.

After a while of turning they changed a bit. They will be the reservoir caps.

This one will be the bottom one. Two G1/4" threads.

And this will be to upper one.

The plug for connecting the UV diodes that will sit inside the res and the plug for filling the reservoir.

That plug needed some turning to allow it to screw in completely.

Once the res itself is made it's time to make it's mount. It wasn't hard, just a 2 flat bars with 4 holes in them and a 2 rifled 5mm diameter aluminium bar.

I also made a pass inside the case for the hose.

And the final look on the front.

Hope you enjoyed, sorry for the mistakes and stay tuned! Next update soon

 

[wra18th]

Great build! Sub'd!

 

[Bad Fenny]

Keep up the great work . . . Love the concept and your use of the old and worn.

Cheers

Fen

 

[sbudbud]

I like where this case is going for sure

 

[Stevennoland]

Reminds me of Hlaf-Life! Gordon is going to come looking for his missing rig. Say hello to the gravity gun! LOL

 

[CMadki4]

Sweet. I love mods with machining and multi media usage (difference materials). And like I've said in other worklogs, I love the rusty distressed look. I just can't bring myself to do one myself. I've got to have all my stuff with clean lines. But I'm going to be keeping an eye on this mod. It is excellent!

 

[DraginDime]

That res is very cool, awesome job so far. Can't wait to see this project progress along.

I envy people who have access to all the awesome machining tools/shops. I would buy a small CNC machine if the old lady wouldn't kill me.