Custom Wood Case IV- Antique Zenith Radio Build

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11-29-2009, 07:45 AM
voigts

Quote:

Originally Posted by Movieman

Magnificient work.
You can see the love that went into this and that says it all.:up:
I used to do custom casework and people said I was too picky and would never make money at it but when you send out a piece a little bit of yourself goes with it and you want it perfect.
You attained that.:clap:

Thanks. You are right about the TLC that went into this. It is both a blessing and a curse to be a perfectionist. While everyone else sees the nice stuff, you see the flaws. But all in all this case turned out very well.

I wouldn't mind building stuff for people, but it wouldn't be a money making venture to be sure given the time and money involved to make something like this. I've easily got $350 if not more in just materials. I spent about $120 just on the eschutcheon, dial, dial glass, knobs, and grille fabric. It would be the well-to-do person indeed who would be willing to pay what you would have to charge to make something like this. This kind of thing to me is just something i enjoy doing. It sure is cheaper however than old cars, boats, jet skis, gun collections, etc., none of which I have.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyclepath

Looks amazing voigts, very impressed.

Have you found the Aquastream XT pump to be quiet enough for your liking?

This pump really is more to my liking. My wife and daughter even noticed the difference right away. Sound wise, it is definitely even quieter than one MCP350. I like the sound quality better in that the pitch is gives out is not nearly as high pitched as the MCP350. As far as flow goes, I would say judging from the flow in the res that there isn't quite as much flow as one MCP350, but I don't have a flow meter to give exact numbers, and on this loop I was previously using dual MCP350s undervolted on a rheostat.

I also did a before and after to see if the Aquastream effects my temps or not. I took ambient room temps with an infrared thermometer. The ambient temps before and after the XT were about .4c from each other (22.8c and 22.4c). With both MCP350 pumps undervolted a bit, at idle I got 36c, and with Intel Test Burn running on high running 4.25ghz @ 1.3625v (500fsb) on an E8500, load temps didn't go past 56c. With the XT, I am getting the exact same temps both at idle and under load with the same OC. So even though I am sure the XT has less flow than the 2 MCP350 pumps, and probably less flow than one MCP350 would, the net result on my setup is no measurable effect on temps and no effect on OC. This is with the XT running itself at 74.4hz.

I also ordered some Petras gel stuff to put under the pump since I think it will do an even better job at isolating vibrations than the somewhat thin foam that I currently have under it. But all in all I am very pleased with it and think I will be sticking with this pump. I would have had a hard time paying the $170 or so for the Ultra with adapters, soggy sandwich thing, and shipping new, but since I got it all for $105 new shipped, I'm very pleased. If I hadn't of found that deal, i wouldn't have worried about getting the Ultra as the standard would be good enough for me since I don't really care about the internal temp sensor and the fan control.
11-30-2009, 05:31 PM
nipper575

Epic
12-01-2009, 05:57 AM
Vinas

Nice rig man, you should be very proud of what you have there. I could imagine seeing this in real life, it must be awe inspiring!
12-01-2009, 06:25 AM
Kanzy

That is one powerful old radio, nice look and with so many rad must be cool inside and out
12-01-2009, 07:30 AM
voigts

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinas

Nice rig man, you should be very proud of what you have there. I could imagine seeing this in real life, it must be awe inspiring!

Thanks. When I got the stain on it and the first coat of urethane, I was really floored at how the case looked. It really surpassed my expectations as to how the finish turned out, and how the trim and cuts all turned out.

Now that I've got the front dial lighting fixed, I am very pleased with how it turned out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kanzy

That is one powerful old radio, nice look and with so many rad must be cool inside and out

Thanks also! I'm pleased with my temps. I am really one for having rad overkill so that I can undervolt the fans and still have decent temps. Dual triple rads is way more than what I need for the heatload of what I have in it, and it should be plenty sufficient whenever I get around to upgrading again.
12-05-2009, 01:22 AM
voigts

I got in some of that Petras gel stuff, and replaced the foam that I had under the pump with it. I have to say I am really impressed. With the foam which was about 1/4" thick, I could feel a little pump vibration around the pump area. With the gel stuff, there is not one tiny bit of vibration to be felt at all. Very impressive for some stuff that is only about 1/4" thick. Now I know why everyone raves about it.
12-05-2009, 06:18 AM
QuietIce

Agreed - the gel stuff from Petra's is awesome ... :up:
12-05-2009, 03:17 PM
Movieman

Quote:

Originally Posted by voigts

Thanks. You are right about the TLC that went into this. It is both a blessing and a curse to be a perfectionist. While everyone else sees the nice stuff, you see the flaws. But all in all this case turned out very well.

I wouldn't mind building stuff for people, but it wouldn't be a money making venture to be sure given the time and money involved to make something like this. I've easily got $350 if not more in just materials. I spent about $120 just on the eschutcheon, dial, dial glass, knobs, and grille fabric. It would be the well-to-do person indeed who would be willing to pay what you would have to charge to make something like this. This kind of thing to me is just something i enjoy doing. It sure is cheaper however than old cars, boats, jet skis, gun collections, etc., none of which I have.

Years ago a friend approached me on building a plaque for a guy that was retiring from the navy as a CPO. He was the 'Chief of the boat" on the Kennedy.
I told him you pay for materials and I'll toss the labor as my thanks for his service to us all..( Cost was $26.00 so I tossed that in, just couldn't ask for $$ if you know what I mean.)
I'd never done a plaque and they wanted one in the shape of the flight deck as seen from above. Started with a rough piece of Brazilian mahogany with three 1/2" wide strips of hard maple inlaid on the angle deck..Beautiful contrast to the mahogany but one is like butter and the other like brick.
I hate to tell you how much time was spent sanding to bring that maple down flush without touching the maghogony..:rofl:
Came out nice and that is what mattered.
Not sure if I still have a pic of it..
12-22-2009, 12:03 PM
voigts

I got some new tools for Christmas from me for me. Could be useful sometime in the future...

I got this from a friend at work for $100. It is an older cast iron Craftsman contractor scroll saw in mint condition. They don't make scroll saws like this anymore. It must weight 70lbs table and all. This thing is like a cadillac compared to my little previous scroll saw I used on this an previous projects.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...scrollSaw1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...scrollSaw2.jpg

This bending brake is going to come in handy also.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...ndingBrake.jpg

I've also got a new Dremel variable speed rotary tool waiting for me to unwrap it. I've worn out my 3 speed Black and Decker, and I am so looking forward to having variable speeds.

Now I just need to find an older router in good shape to buy. I hate my Craftsman plastic router. It won't hold a depth I set no matter what, and only takes 1/4" bits.
12-22-2009, 05:04 PM
kgtiger

Nice scroll saw voigts that looks excellent.
I am glad you are happy with the new pump, sounds, or should I say no sound good.
I also totally agree with having more rad than some people say you need, the less noise the better.

Have a Marry Christmas voigts playing with your new toys and even more fun in the new year.
12-23-2009, 06:17 AM
voigts

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgtiger

Nice scroll saw voigts that looks excellent.
I am glad you are happy with the new pump, sounds, or should I say no sound good.
I also totally agree with having more rad than some people say you need, the less noise the better.

Have a Marry Christmas voigts playing with your new toys and even more fun in the new year.

thank you. After having this setup sitting about 2 feet away from my head, I have to say I am very pleased with the XT. It is very quiet. The one thing I have left to do if I ever get around to it is to break down and get some Gentle typhoon 1450rpm fans.

I am trying to get more solid tools to work with than what I have currently, and the scroll saw is definitely a right step in this direction.
12-23-2009, 09:13 AM
shazza

Nice find on the scroll saw!

This is still one of my favorite builds - love how it turned out.
12-23-2009, 09:41 AM
Waterlogged

Yep, that's a really nice find on the scroll saw voigts :up:
12-24-2009, 10:55 AM
charles_h

Nice score with those new additions to your workshop voigts!

I'm looking forward to seeing you put them in action. :)
12-24-2009, 03:26 PM
voigts

Quote:

Originally Posted by shazza

Nice find on the scroll saw!

This is still one of my favorite builds - love how it turned out.

I really appreciate that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waterlogged

Yep, that's a really nice find on the scroll saw voigts :up:

I'm really pleased with this saw. I haven't even cranked it up yet but plan on doing so this weekend. So far I have just enjoyed looking at it because it is so puuurrrty.

Quote:

Originally Posted by charles_h

Nice score with those new additions to your workshop voigts!

I'm looking forward to seeing you put them in action. :)

I appreciate that Charles. My builds don't come anywhere near the kind of stuff you've put out, but I enjoy tinkering nonetheless. I'm playing around in Sketchup with ideas already.
12-27-2009, 08:02 PM
voigts

Wow did I score another hit via Craigslist. I've been looking for a good table saw for quite some time. The table saws I look at new are all in the $700+ range, so I've been trying to find a good used one for some time. I tripped across a table saw a few days ago on Craigslist, and couldn't pass on the deal. One guy owned this saw for about 4 years and barely used it, and they ran about $700 new then. It had a bit of surface rust on the top, but nothing serious, and the table extension needs a bit of aligning as it has sagged a bit, but this saw is in excellent condition. It even comes with the router extension. I landed it for only $150. Sweet!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...Table-Saw2.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...Table-Saw1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...Table-Saw3.jpg
12-27-2009, 09:43 PM
QuietIce

You lucky dog - what a deal ...! :)
12-28-2009, 12:31 PM
Vinas

That is a really good deal. Two shop components I'd like to have for sure! Last year I was lucky enough to get a mitre saw and a pressure washer this year. Anyway, nice find on the table saw!!! That's a steal!~!
12-28-2009, 12:32 PM
voigts

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuietIce

You lucky dog - what a deal ...! :)

Woof woof...

Tell me about it. I got a great deal.

After some searching, I found out today that there is a place nearby that I didn't even know existed that carries every kind of hardwood imaginable. They've got cherry, mohagony, walnut, basswood, etc. along with matching plywood. This really gets my creative juices flowing.

The main problem that I have at the moment with doing another build is that I really don't see the need to upgrade right now. My E8500 is at 4.2ghz 24x7, I really can't afford an I7 build, and I don't think it is worth the money to upgrade to an I5 setup as I think there would be no real difference in it and what I am running now. That and I am planning on getting another laptop here come tax refund time so that will probably eat all of my funds for a while.

Another issue is that whenever I do finally upgrade, I can't nail down what size of MB to plan for. I am considering a micro ATX or maybe even the new DFI Lanparty MI P55-T36 (with a full sized PSU and GPU) just to make for a more compact case, but the options are limited, especially in micro ATX. I really just don't need SLI or Crossfire as I plan on sticking with one GPU.
02-14-2010, 06:39 PM
voigts

Front Page at Bit-tech!

I was PM'd by a mod at Bit-tech, and they were nice enough to feature my build in a front page article. Sweet!

http://www.bit-tech.net/modding/case-mod/
02-14-2010, 06:46 PM
shazza

Hey - that's great, voigts. And well deserved. It's nice to see a guy who does excellent and creative work, but doesn't shout it from the roof tops (as in, you seem like a low key guy who is not out to promote yourself), get some recognition.
02-14-2010, 07:06 PM
CptDreadFlint

+1 Agreed.

There's something to be said about folks who are gifted in their craft and reserve a good amount of humility.

You seem to fit that description, voigts. Love your work and congratulations :up:
02-14-2010, 08:06 PM
QuietIce

Well deserved recognition for your great work ...! :up:
02-16-2010, 07:12 PM
voigts

Quote:

Originally Posted by shazza

Hey - that's great, voigts. And well deserved. It's nice to see a guy who does excellent and creative work, but doesn't shout it from the roof tops (as in, you seem like a low key guy who is not out to promote yourself), get some recognition.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CptDreadFlint

+1 Agreed.

There's something to be said about folks who are gifted in their craft and reserve a good amount of humility.

You seem to fit that description, voigts. Love your work and congratulations :up:

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuietIce

Well deserved recognition for your great work ...! :up:

I really do appreciate the comments. I hesitate to say this, but to be honest, I have seriously considered not posting future logs here on XS. I like XS, and read the watercooling section on a daily basis, but my type of builds garner minimal attention or interest here. Most of the people here from my observations are only interested in the very bright, chromy, SLI, block on every chip type builds. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that style, but it isn't mine, and I will probably never have $2000+ to slap down on a build for the cutting edge latest and greatest. Some of the more popular builds I have seen here look nice, but really have very little creativity put into them.

That's actually one of the things I like about Shazza's builds. She always shows a sense of style, creativity, and color in her builds.
02-16-2010, 08:10 PM
Xion X2

Quote:

Originally Posted by voigts

Most of the people here from my observations are only interested in the very bright, chromy, SLI, block on every chip type builds.

Well, this place is "XtremeSystems". ;)

I understand what you're saying though. You'll find a different atmosphere at different communities that are scattered out there on the web.

For example, your Zenith build was perfectly suited for bit-tech as those guys are more into the woodworking and homebrew type builds. A build like yours gets more attention there than a build like mine would/does. I think the most popular build over there now is a guy who's building a rig out of cardboard, so they're definitely a different crowd than what you'll find over here.

I think that you should check out The Best Case Scenario (www.thebestcasescenario.com) if you haven't yet as they're also into your type of projects. I think that they'd really appreciate something like this, and it's probably the most creative community that I've seen on the web for this sort of thing.

I frequent many communities but still consider XtremeSystems as my home and favorite community on the web. And I do enjoy seeing a variety of builds whether it's a more throwback build like yours or something new and flashy like Sniipe's "Flow."

Oh, and congrats on the bit-tech cover.

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