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.