I have forever loved to see the handy craftsmanship of custom computer cases. all of the creativity that goes into the building of a computer case, the way the craftsman found most desirable and rational. The additional modifications and personal gems of utilities that should be on all computer cases, and other modifications that you just can’t get unless you build the whole thing yourself. That stuff has me dazzled. To know that a real person with their own two hands built something that will last and be useful for many years. i have been telling myself for the past i don’t know how many years. but it was back when I first saw the custom jewelry case computer. and that was quite a while back. The person built a computer case to be in the same design as any typical jewelry case, but was one of the first people to use clear plastic for the sides and top, and to then punch holes for air flow, the motherboard was positioned just right so the air flowing in will cross the cpu, hit the video card and shoot straight out, while more air blew in over the hard drive and i think the north bridge and straight out. The computer was a work of art. but I can no longer find it in Google. He must have dropped his website.
But it’s that design that motivated me and gave me ideas. but I couldn’t ever follow through with them. I never had anywhere to build custom computer cases.Couldn’t see myself standing on the balcony of my second story apartment out in a little town known as a very bad side of town, just drilling and gluing and sawing away, like there isn’t some druggy around the corner mad at you because ” you have things” like a hand saw and a Black and Decker AAA battery screw driver you call a drill, and don’t think he wont shoot you for it and not feel bad about killing you over a worthless item so much as feeling bad that he walked all the way up to the pawnshop with a screw driver you paid $4 at the dollar general for. I do have a knack for making worthless items look a little better than they are worth so, I can see it happening.
Now that I have my own house now, I have my own garage and I have my own tools. I have about 6 spare computer cases, (getting paint) and like 8 spare motherboards.
Motherboards
It is time for me to start my dream of custom computer cases.
Not my biggest dream just a flash in the pan wish that won’t go away.
What i am Starting With
Yes, the picture is that way for a reason. So you don’t get to much of my idea. and the boxes are hiding my Big rabbit in the hat part of my magic act ;)
I do not have a table to work on just yet. I am thinking of watching Craig’s list for a scratched up raggity dinner table for cheap. To start with. I mostly want a dinner table because that means a low chair (preferably a computer chair) can sit at the table as I build the custom computer cases and I will have a large area to work with.
Please stick by as I go into this hobby and watch for pictures to be posted as I work through building these custom cases.
So far I have gathered quite a bit of supplies for this. Some was given to me, others purchased with a goal.
The cases will of course have bondo and or fiberglass in their build. Everything I can mod will be modded. I will be using what I know of computer cooling and automotive cooling, and ALL knowledge I have about design for anything. Not to look cheesy, but to look cool, while actually cooling the computer and deadening sound. Count on Retro fitting lots of stuff. Two of my cases are at least ten years old with rust on them and probably weigh about 15 lbs each. These will be fun to work with. Backs will be punched out, screw holes will be obsoleted and new holes will be drilled.
I may even slip a bit of lumber and lots of plastic into the mix. (I already have a design so go ahead and count on it).
I might even do a retro budget gaming computer, and try and do a bit of overclocking to make it that much more brag worthy.
As always, everything will come from ads in the paper, Craig’s List, Fry’s or Compusa. Any place I can get a good deal or at least the part I need.
Come back once a month, and look for the Custom Cases tab to appear at the top of the page.
Not quite sure how i want the “Custom Computer Cases” page to work out, I may just make it a page to link the different cases and their progress and process. So I can show others how I did the designs and to help motivate people to try the same thing. Or I could just plop all of the computer cases in the same page. That could get messy though. Ehh i will wing it like I do everything else. Wild a slight idea of what I want to do.
If you have any tips or suggestions or requests on custom computer cases, please post below, These ideas or questions may come in handy.
See you all in this adventure.