Custom Cube Case (Scratch Build)

[Pellepel]

excellent work, simply amazing cutting skills.

[zuess]

I absolutely love that satin polish kind of look for the metal totally awesome!!

I love the look of of bare aluminum too, but look at the pic below with all those fine scratches.
The panels were fine until I started cleaning them with paper towels, I now only use micro-fibre cloths.

y ano it when u can leave it bear metal and it looks soo good that way??

If I could find a way to remove all the fine scratch marks i would consider leaving it bare.

Thanks for your comments everyone.

[DarthBeavis]

This kicks butt!!! I would like to extend an honorary membership to teh MM fan klub since you clearly enjoy the same athetics and design as the rest of us . . .and were able make it your own in grand fashion!!!
You deserve two thumbs up!!!!

[Herc130]

I love the look of of bare aluminum too, but look at the pic below with all those fine scratches.
The panels were fine until I started cleaning them with paper towels, I now only use micro-fibre cloths.




If I could find a way to remove all the fine scratch marks i would consider leaving it bare.

Thanks for your comments everyone.

Yah, the 4'x8' panel I got has a ton of scratches. Think yours looks pretty prestine compared to that, but I got it for free so hard to complain

You can try brushing the aluminum, looks pretty easy

http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=114028


although the edge will come out a bit more stand-out looking.

[DarthBeavis]

If you want your case air-brushed I bet Smooth Creations could do a knockup job!

[zuess]

Yah, the 4'x8' panel I got has a ton of scratches. Think yours looks pretty prestine compared to that, but I got it for free so hard to complain

You can try brushing the aluminum, looks pretty easy

http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=114028

although the edge will come out a bit more stand-out looking.

Thanks very much for the link Herc130, I will have to give it a shot and post my results.

This kicks butt!!! I would like to extend an honorary membership to teh MM fan klub since you clearly enjoy the same athetics and design as the rest of us . . .and were able make it your own in grand fashion!!!
You deserve two thumbs up!!!!

Thanks Darthbeavis,

I will gladly accept your invitation into the MM fan klub.

[voigts]

This case is very nice. The attention to detail is excellent. You have done a very good job in this. Having built my own case, I can appreciate the time and attention it takes to make something like this. It sounds however that like me you are a perfectionist. While everyone else looks at how nice the case is, you notice every little flaw that you incurred while building that everyone else doesn't even see.

[bianco]

have you tried the rubbing compound they use for cars?
i think it should manage those scratches well...
i used that before when i scratched my dad's car when i was driving... :P... hides the deed very well.

[zuess]

This case is very nice. The attention to detail is excellent. You have done a very good job in this. Having built my own case, I can appreciate the time and attention it takes to make something like this. It sounds however that like me you are a perfectionist. While everyone else looks at how nice the case is, you notice every little flaw that you incurred while building that everyone else doesn't even see.

Your very observant, perfectionist most of the time but i do appreciate how well the case came out in the end.

If you want your case air-brushed I bet Smooth Creations could do a knockup job!

I haven't heard of Smooth Creations, maybe they can smooth over the scratches.LoL
What's the secret password to teh MM fan klub? LoL

have you tried the rubbing compound they use for cars?
i think it should manage those scratches well...
i used that before when i scratched my dad's car when i was driving... :P... hides the deed very well.

No i haven't tried rubbing compound, what kind did you use and what's involved.
Here's more pictures











That's all for now guys.

Thanks for your input.

[DarthBeavis]

www.smoothcreations.com


They painted this which you will love
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...moothcreations

[freakgeek1337]

Nice case!

I just noticed that you live in Ontario. Perhaps you could come up with a little something...

[bianco]

hi zuess, i used the turtlewax premium rubbing compound
it's just like using brasso/metal polish.
just put a generous amount of the rubbing compound on a damp cloth and rub in a circular pattern on the area you want to remove the scratches.
i suggest you try on some other bare metal first before your pc to see the effect.

[zuess]

That's fantastic painting, I looked at Smooth Creations website.
Would cost me a small fortune for shipping to Oregon though.

[zuess]

Zuess, you now truly have a "labor of love".

My hats off to all the time/effort you have clearly put into this build...

Major kudos...

Thanks M8,

It sure has been a labor of love, emphasis on the labor.
It took at least 300 hours.
Unbelievable ah!

I've been over to your buildlog and it's looking great, love the brushed black aluminum.

[zuess]

Thanks. It has been suspended until I take delivery of the "bigger" Ascension. Didn't see the point of doing any wiring and such, when I'd have to start all over. Very conscienous about the wiring being hidden, to the point of becoming a seriously detrimental obsession...

I hope you receive it soon, patience are a virtue.

I've had a hard time with the psu cables in the bottom section, every cable except the 24 and 8 pin are way to long.

[Herc130]

Just cut em and make it exactly the way you want. Easier to do then making a case Buy a connector kit, some extra pass through molex, pin remover tools, heat shrink, heat gun for $20 at home depot /lighter and probably some other stuff I am forgetting. Lot less clutter and I think improves the internal look of a computer a ton.

Planning on bending some HDD fan brackets as well and looks like you put enough space on yours to turn the HDD around and have the cabling be more hidden. Provided the holes line up going the other way. If not, maybe slot the whole thing.

[trfnj74]

EXCELLENT WORK....You should make some and sell them I think they would go really fast

[zuess]

Just cut em and make it exactly the way you want. Easier to do then making a case Buy a connector kit, some extra pass through molex, pin remover tools, heat shrink, heat gun for $20 at home depot /lighter and probably some other stuff I am forgetting. Lot less clutter and I think improves the internal look of a computer a ton.


Planning on bending some HDD fan brackets as well and looks like you put enough space on yours to turn the HDD around and have the cabling be more hidden. Provided the holes line up going the other way. If not, maybe slot the whole thing.

Thanks for your input.
I have all kinds of equipment that you mention, I dont use a heat gun though I use a jeweller's mini butane torch.





I have all the radiator fans wired together.
What I need to buy are the 6pin connectors that plug-in to the PSU, then I can keep the original psu cables stock just in case I ever want to sell it.

Yes your right, if I turn the hdd's around so the connections are closer to the fans the bracket screw holes don't line up.
Making new hdd brackets to turn the drive so to hide the cables better is still another project for my case.

EXCELLENT WORK....You should make some and sell them I think they would go really fast

Thanks very much,
Well if anyone is in need for a panel or a bracket that they can't find just send me a PM, remember I'm in southern Ontario though.

[interDOS]

Zuess, Great workmanship and attention to detail. I have been looking very closely at your build. I'm currently building a work area for a mad cap project I've been thinking about for nearly 2 years. It involves building a similar frame except my dimensions would be W537 x D575 x H810 mm, to hold 2 horizontally positioned motherboards each with its own WC system.

You and others are probably thinking "it's simple, just build the frame and fill in all the bits", if only it were that simple. It's a mod of a well known production single mobo tower case , and I want to keep as much of the original trim and look as possible, but the design is proving to be a real headache. Think of it as being a square peg round hole issue.

I keep looking at your project to inspire me to keep going until I find a solution for my design.

Keep up the good work, looking forward to your next update.

[zuess]

Zuess, Great workmanship and attention to detail. I have been looking very closely at your build. I'm currently building a work area for a mad cap project I've been thinking about for nearly 2 years. It involves building a similar frame except my dimensions would be W537 x D575 x H810 mm, to hold 2 horizontally positioned motherboards each with its own WC system.

You and others are probably thinking "it's simple, just build the frame and fill in all the bits", if only it were that simple. It's a mod of a well known production single mobo tower case , and I want to keep as much of the original trim and look as possible, but the design is proving to be a real headache. Think of it as being a square peg round hole issue.

I keep looking at your project to inspire me to keep going until I find a solution for my design.

Keep up the good work, looking forward to your next update.

Thanks, I appreciate your comments very much.

It sounds like you have a very interesting build idea, are you trying to use existing case parts into the case dimensions you list in your post.

[interDOS]

Thanks, I appreciate your comments very much.

It sounds like you have a very interesting build idea, are you trying to use existing case parts into the case dimensions you list in your post.

Spot on, the original case size is W210 x D575 x H492, only the depth of the mod will be the same as the original and that's why the design is proving so difficult. I know it can be done, its finding a workable solution.

Your rig is looking great.

[zuess]

Hi interDOS, I see what you mean it's to bad you couldn't just stretch the front panel width to double it.

Don't give up, cuz in the end it will look great and be so easy to work with.

Good Luck.

[masxerofkartis]

how did you manage to angle the aluminum to create those pump/fan stands?

masxerofkartis

[zuess]

how did you manage to angle the aluminum to create those pump/fan stands?

masxerofkartis

I have an 8" vise in my workshop.

[zuess]

It's been awhile since I have updating my build log, but I recently started
making custom lenght cables and sleeving them.

The first thing I had to figure out was how to make the sleeving and
heat shrink all the same length.
Here's the T-Square I have had forever.





I used one of the sata power cables that came with the Antec TruePower Quattro psu, as well as another cable I had that had some 90 degree
connectors.





It's got six connectors, and right now I only have 3 hdd's but I will be
anding 3 more in the future.





Next up will be the 24pin power cable