Uni-Sleeved my 24-pin ATX!

[dr4gon]

I wanted a cleaner look and a way to better route that monstrous 24-pin ATX motherboard cable, so I decided to uni-sleeve the computer one step closer towards a million dollars (http://www.million-dollar-pc.com/).

First you need a few things:



Cable you intend to sleeve
1/8" Sleeving of the color of your choice
1/8" Heatshrink of the color of your choice (2:1 or 3:1 will work)
Staples (lots of them!)
Small flat head screwdriver
Dremel to make a custom tool
Pliers
Lighter or some other strong heat source
Black spray paint to make the cables black (or a sharpie and lots of time)
PATIENCE!


Custom tool I made to remove the male pins. If you are sleeving your PSU directly, you will not need this


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2474/3609829338_5224e99b08_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr4gon/3609829338/)

Before


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3393/3609016309_dccd6b772b_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr4gon/3609016309/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3593/3609016031_de7dd79489_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr4gon/3609016031/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3417/3609017289_ca056710b8_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr4gon/3609017289/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3657/3609017041_9e1642f412_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr4gon/3609017041/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3644/3609016781_7e56f3770e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr4gon/3609016781/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3642/3609017511_1801f00d1a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr4gon/3609017511/)



Too bad that heatshrink and sleeve is about to be torn off! :up:

And replaced with this:


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3303/3609017783_37b7e5478a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr4gon/3609017783/)


Making Progress....


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3585/3609016543_552c6a7021_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr4gon/3609016543/)

To remove the male pins, insert the tool all the way until the pin begins to slide out, be sure to press it all the way in, (optional) remove the tool, pull firmly straight out on the corresponding wire till it comes out.

To remove the female pins, insert two opened staples into each end (right and left) to depress the barbs. Leave the staples in, and pull straight out on the cable. It should EASILY come out. I used pliers to get the staples in because I couldn't get a good grip on them.

See this for easy staple pin removal! YouTube - ATX removal (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOK_KNsWRtI)


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3336/3609015573_8614824c9d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr4gon/3609015573/)
Wiggle everything on. Getting the heatshrink the first few times is slow, but you'll get faster in time.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2464/3609828936_5f3612a8ba_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr4gon/3609828936/)

After


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3605/3609828574_b6e1a8cb33_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr4gon/3609828574/)


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3648/3609014519_181f126797_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr4gon/3609014519/)



Grand finale, Money Shot!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3610/3609828390_bd333c5c9b_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr4gon/3609828390/)

If you still have trouble, there's a great reference here at XS (http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=202639).

[dr4gon]

reserved for future sata and other cables....

[MomijiTMO]

God damn it, that youtube video makes it look so god damn easy lol.

[ward0]

The most problems i have with sleeving is that when you pull to hard is that you brake the gold plated pin.. Then you have to buy a complete new connector and gold plated pin.

[dualbrain]

You spraypaint your cables - just grab sleeving where you don't see through and step 9 is gone? :)

[MomijiTMO]

You spraypaint your cables - just grab sleeving where you don't see through and step 9 is gone? :)

Now gee whiz I wonder where I could get such sleeving. .. . oh wait.

:p:

[Darth_Penguin]

Now gee whiz I wonder where I could get such sleeving. .. . oh wait.

:p:

:ROTF:

[dr4gon]

You spraypaint your cables - just grab sleeving where you don't see through and step 9 is gone? :)

I had about 40' of sleeving left over from my previous sleeving of only a few fans so I just used what I had.... but obviously mdpc-x sleeving is bar none! It's also, btw, sold out. :eek:

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

I must say you did a great job of making it look the part of MDPC-X sleeve, way to be resourceful :up:

[JaccoW]

Looks very good, at first I thought it would see through with single sleeving, but you have made it look really nice. :D
How does the paint hold up? doesn't it peel of or something? Or did you use a special type of paint?

[jdmR]

nice job ryan!

[Cpl Ledanek]

God damn it, that youtube video makes it look so god damn easy lol.
THAT'S DAVID BLAINE!!! The Street Magician:rofl:

[dr4gon]

Looks very good, at first I thought it would see through with single sleeving, but you have made it look really nice. :D
How does the paint hold up? doesn't it peel of or something? Or did you use a special type of paint?

Thanks, Just regular cheapo color-something (Walmart brand, not Krylon) black matte spray paint. The paint stays on just fine, make sure you don't over coat it, then it becomes sticky and not evenly smooth.


I must say you did a great job of making it look the part of MDPC-X sleeve, way to be resourceful :up:


nice job ryan!

It was very low budget, thank you!


THAT'S DAVID BLAINE!!! The Street Magician:rofl:

I did the same thing with 2 staples, but used pliers to jam them in. It comes out nearly that easily. :)

[K404]

Kudos for going to all that work. You are a much more patient man than I :D