Tokara IV - Compact Wooden Case build... In 1 month.

[Manicdan]

its ok, you look like your pretty skinny

[ascl]

Looks like its coming along really nicely! Can't wait to see it finished with gear in it!

[DarkCow]

Haha, skinny is an understatement... I'm like a twig, I designed my college schedule so I pretty much force myself to workout. thx for the compliments guys.


New weight saving technology!!! Cut giant holes in strategic areas!

[DarkCow]

I've been quite busy lately Lots of stuff to do for clases (got my schedual, calculus II - Accounting - General Chemistry - Engineering programming), Case is close to polyurethane phase, one big job though, the front of the case. Which design do you think looks best? Any opinions?

Again, I am going to be using marquetry and inlay a piece of wood to make the contrast of light to dark.

[kinghong1970]

sorry, not a big fan of any symbols representing japan's imperialism era... all those atrocities they've committed in china, korea, heck, all over asia... still just turns my stomach.

that being said... one on right... maybe middle but that just lost me... perhaps find some b/w japanese sumi drawings?

[DarkCow]

Yea, I completely agree Kinghong. I didn't really like the 1st and the second needed more, sense I guess... I really was trying for tentacles just coming down as I love jelly fish. This is more of a really abstract symbol I once saw and completely forgot where... Heroes maybe? Lost? And also a sumi drawing which I think looks pretty cool

[DarkCow]

Well, here was the final design. Decided against an inlay purely because I lacked the correct tools. Instead I did a raised surface.



Sorry for the bad cell phone pic. Can't quite find the camera. The wood I used is some Cuban Mahoganoy... Its so rare that its practically illegal The originally piece probably cost $200 and is 65 years old easy.

[Martinm210]

Awesome work!

It's one thing to buy a bunch of bolt together parts and call it custom, but it's a whole level above that to actually fabricate something from scratch like that.

Ever since seeing Voigts wooden build and now yours, I'd really like to get off my rear and build one of my own.

Kudos for the awesome craftsmanship and initiative to build something truely custom from scratch like that! That's awesome!!!

[kinghong1970]

agreed... very nice...

[DarkCow]

Thx guys for the compliments... I have to find that damn camera the color really makes the piece pop.

I was never really satisfied with buying an expensive metal case and then cutting it up. I never liked working with metal, its difficult, slow, and I can never make it look how I want it to look. So with 40 bucks of wood I got myself a top notch case built exactly how I want it. Of course its taking me almost a 60 man hours to put the thing together

[DarkCow]

Busy few days.

Mapping out the radiator mounting...


Waxed paper for cooking is quite useful


Finished (well almost a few screw holes missed.)



Best joint I've personally done... not a single gap

[nipper575]

Love it so far.

[DarkCow]

thx I appreciate the comments guys. I'm trying to go for a little bit of a "wow" factor here. I want it to be elegant, modern, and "badass" for lack of a better term. The new up against the old. I think its a world of difference.


Close to finished :thumbsup:




Tight bend? Put some nylon rope inside the tubing. Boil it, stick it in ice, repeat...



And it can be even tighter of a bend.

[voigts]

Hey this is looking really nice. I like the contrasting color on the front accents. it looks stylish, and your joints look great. It is amazing just how hard it can be to get corners and joints just right when working with home duty power tools. I am going to have to break down one of these days and get a really nice cabinet type table saw. That little 64th of an inch off becomes very noticeable on corners and such.

please make sure you stealth your DVD drive somehow. black plastic would just ruin the look of the front.

[grasskicker509]

that looks pimp...pizza looks delish too!

[Boulard83]

GREAT job ! keep posting !

[Baulten]

Wow, I saw this thread a while ago, then lost track of it. It looks beautiful so far! Good work.

[tiro_uspsss]

and of course the most fattening pizza I can buy

& totally welcome!

[DarkCow]

please make sure you stealth your DVD drive somehow. black plastic would just ruin the look of the front.

Yea, any sort of gap can be a real annoyance, I've tried to work within .5mm and its turning out very precise. And yea, I do love contrasting wood, I dunno why but I have a habit of doing it. Yep I thought about that, several options where on the table but I've decided to replace the cover with a bit of wood. Pics tomorrow.

that looks pimp...pizza looks delish too!

If I would've taken pics of every pizza I've bought this past month it would easily fill up this page.

GREAT job ! keep posting !

thx, will do, almost done

[tiro_uspsss]

If I would've taken pics of every pizza I've bought this past month it would easily fill up this page.

oh is that so?

visit here:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=177037

[DarkCow]

haha, great thread right there.

quick how to:

Tired of spending all your money on expensive rotaries?\


Step 1


Put a rope inside your tubing.

Step 2


Tape the bend, boil it.

Step 3


put it in really cold water, then boil - freeze - boil - freeze a few times...

Step 4



waa hooo! very bent, non kinking tubing.

[DarkCow]

Leonard



As close as I can get to the true color of the case.




Look at that bend beneath the vid. card, thats 180 bend followed by 90 degrees followed by another 90 below... and thats all front boiling and bending tubing.

[Baulten]

That looks really nice. Are you going to add some kind of side window to it to close it off?

[DarkCow]

That looks really nice. Are you going to add some kind of side window to it to close it off?

thx and you betcha. I have one made, just gotta glue it up, and screw it on. As of right now here is my to do list.

Wednesday: Side Panels (No time to route out air hole opposite radiators, going to be a big hole for now ) Power Button

Thursday: CD-Drive Cover (If time, route out air hole opposite radiators). Pack for college

Friday: Clean Clean Clean (garage, front room, dining room, bedroom everywhere is covered in tools/cables/barbs/screws you name it )

Saturday: Leave for college.

[voigts]

Your setup is looking mighty sweet. I'm glad you shared the rope/boiling water/freezing water bend trick. I had never thought of that and its a great idea. I might have to give that a try.