Project Quintessence

[Waterlogged]

I figured I had better post this here for fear that if I don't, you will show up at my house out of the blue and I'll get beaten with the first piece of this build that you lay your hands onto! I could see myself trying to explain that one to my wife.

That could be difficult to explain.

As for the wood, I do so love Walnut, darker the better.

[voigts]

As for the wood, I do so love Walnut, darker the better.

I'm actually leaning towards cherry, but the jury is still out.

[Waterlogged]

I'm actually leaning towards cherry, but the jury is still out.

Love the smell of cherry. I used to work for a lumber yard that made shipping pallets, always enjoyed cutting the boards for the ones made of of cherry. Walnut has a majestic look and feel all it's own, to me, it screams "filthy rich".

[Elpy]

You are making me wanna make a wooden case . Much familiar on working with wood than metal.

I'm not really one for antique but other than that I like the quality of your cases

[voigts]

Love the smell of cherry. I used to work for a lumber yard that made shipping pallets, always enjoyed cutting the boards for the ones made of of cherry. Walnut has a majestic look and feel all it's own, to me, it screams "filthy rich".

If I make it out of walnut, the "filthy rich" part would definitely only be a false impression!

You are making me wanna make a wooden case . Much familiar on working with wood than metal.

I'm not really one for antique but other than that I like the quality of your cases

I appreciate that. I try to do quality work.

I am the same way. I see some builds that while I don't particularly care for the style of the build, are well made and creative.

I now see where your coming from mate.
I thought that the curves on the edges were only from the sides and not part of the front panel.

I'm still voting for Cherry for the front panel.

Good luck with this mate I will be following your every move.

I don't know if you would want to follow my EVERY move because if you did, you would be making plenty of mistakes along the way!
+1 for cherry

Hmmm... tuff call that... my vote would be for walnut. Poll?

A poll might be an interesting idea. I have to use something that is relatively knot free due to the fine fretwork, and preferably something that doesn't have a heavy grain when stained (i.e. oak). The local hardwoods place has probably 10 or more different kinds of hardwood and their corresponding plywood in 1/4" and 3/4" available.

I might go by next week and get a list of what they have available so that I better know what there is to choose from and the characteristics of each.

[voigts]

Time for an update. Although I have not made a single cut or bend for this project yet, I have been steadily ordering and getting tools and materials. I haven't bought all of this at once, but have been getting things a little at a time over the past 5 months or so. Its something when you can spend hundreds of dollars before even starting a project. I am trying to avoid the situation where you start on something and then keep having delays because you don't have what you need during the project. I also am getting some things that I have needed for some time (finally!) and am stocking up on some things that should last me through several builds.

As shown in this picture, I have already bought: five 12” x 12” x 1/4” sheets of cast acrylic -$45; two 10” carbide hollow ground saw blades for aluminum and acrylic- $45; a new Craftsman router with switchable bases- $120; a new Dremel 300 with a bunch of sanding drums and bits- $45 + $30ish; a punch set $5; carbide router bit set- $35; clamp on bench vise $5; 18” metal bending brake that will do up to 16 gauge- $30; two metal sawhorses- $20 (not in pic); sandpaper; drill screw bits; files; and other various bits and pieces.



I also have bought: a Lian-Li micro ATX MB tray to use as a template- $35; an old micro ATX MB just to use for test fitting- $10; 75' of 1/8” & 50' of 1/4” thick black sleeving- $20; 2' of 1/8”, 4” each of 1/4” and 3/8”, and 2' of 1/2” 3:1 adhesive lined black heatshrink- $23; used MCR320 rad- $30; used MCR320 stackable rad- $30; eight Gentle Typhoon 1450rpm fans- $120; two Bitspower black 45 rotary elbows- $20; Western Digital Black 750gb HD- $55 ARs; 2x2gb OCZ DDR3 12800- $35 ARs; various connectors such as black 3 pin male and female plugs, PCI-E plugs, etc.



I also picked up this little $8 jewel called a Helping Hands for soldering. I am so sick of trying to hold wires with pliers and stuff when trying to solder.



I also paid $50 for the 48” light tent that I used to take these pictures in.

These haven't come in yet, but I also just ordered a 12” 24 pin ATX extension cable so that I don't have to re-sleeve the actual PSU ATX cable- $10; an 8 pin MB power cable extension cable- $5; an original Molex brand ATX/PCI-E pin remover- $25; one each black female ATX and 8 pin power plugs- $2; and since I can't decide yet if I am going to stick with water or try air, a slightly used Scythe Setsugen for only $27.50 (I figure I can always sell it and get my money back if I do decide to go back with water).

So not including the router (since it a larger ticket tool that also will be used for other things), I have spent $765 + I'm not sure how much on sandpaper, wipe on polyurethane, connectors, etc. I also invested in a new-to-me really nice table saw that I practically stole from Craigslist in Dec. for only $150, and a new-to-me contractor grade cast iron scroll saw from a friend at work for only $100 also in Dec.

I hadn't realize how much I've spent over the last five months or so. Ouch! The sheet metal and hardwood will be cheap in comparison. If I go with water, I'll still have barbs to buy, some tubing, and one more rad, or if I go with air, I'll need a good CPU heatsink. Then finally down the road a new MB and CPU will be in order. Since it will take some time to build another case, I'm not going to buy the CPU and MB until later in the year. There is no point in buying them now and having them just sit while something newer comes out in 6 months.

The one consolation in all of this that I tell my wife (and she agrees) is that my modding hobby is still a lot cheaper than restoring old cars, bass boats, fishing, hunting, jet skis, Harleys, etc. Plus now I've got some much nicer tools to make her a few things that she's been wanting.

I took a look at the hardwoods available locally, and I think that I'm going to go with mahogany. The samples I saw were gorgeous.

Thanks for taking a look.

[Aphellyon]

I'm actually leaning towards cherry, but the jury is still out.

Hmmm... tuff call that... my vote would be for walnut. Poll?