Dream of the Blue Turtles

keyoshi · 11-22-2005, 07:30 PM

looks pretty nice.

**Grez** · 11-24-2005, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AgitatedPancake

Beautiful case man! Just an idea, but if you ever still have access to this comp and get bored, paint those USB cables with your blue, or sleeve them =D. Everything you did is amazing man. Very good case, and detailed worklog. GJ.

Heh heh...yeah, my Dad and I were just having that conversation...I was saying that I'm going to show up at my brother's place with a little 6" run of c-channel style blue tubing just to cover that up. I wanted to hide them completely, but they were a little too short to do it. So sleeving is probably in the case's future for those wires. And thanks for the compliments...much appreciated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AgitatedPancake

Another quick idea...im not sure how it is in real life, but from the pics the etchings dont look REALLY distinct...so once again if you ever get access to this comp again, maybe you could paint a thin black line around the etches for your bro. I think it would really bring them out for ya!
Heres how it turned out on mine (but this image i created was with UV paint instead of etching. Also the black lines were all done with the masking tape and an exacto blade....it took a long time but i think well worth it.) The scratches were later buffed out also.

http://www.haloib.com/random/tower/DSCN1204.JPG

(Also, i don't mean to thread jack, if you dont like this pic in your thread just tell me and ill make it a link or something.)

Hey, no problem...I don't consider it a thread jack if it's relevant! Yes, I thought about something like this, but I don't think I'm going to do it. You're right, the etchings look a lot more distinct in person...the pictures don't really do them much justice. With the backlighting they really stand out well when you see the case lit in a room. But thanks for the idea...I like the UV paint, BTW...I may have to try that out on a future project. Let me know if you have any brand recommendations on the paint...I know that some brands don't work well, so if you have a favorite, just let me know.

AgitatedPancake · 11-24-2005, 03:38 AM

I think I just used the Krylon fusion for black and the xox UV blue...heres a mini worklog with links instead of pictures to give ya an idea.

Transferred the image from a peice of paper to the masking taped plexiglass:
http://www.agitatedpancake.com/rando...r/DSCN1182.JPG
Closer view:
http://www.agitatedpancake.com/rando...r/DSCN1183.JPG
In the lower half, you can see my doubled up lines for cutting the outline for the black, the rest has been cut:
http://www.agitatedpancake.com/rando...r/DSCN1190.JPG
This pic its hard to tell whats going on, but i finished cutting the outline, painted the outline black, and then removed the inner masking tape sections:
http://www.agitatedpancake.com/rando...r/DSCN1199.JPG
Same as above, back side. You can see my black outline:
http://www.agitatedpancake.com/rando...r/DSCN1200.JPG
First coat of UV paint:
http://www.agitatedpancake.com/rando...r/DSCN1201.JPG
Done painting UV, starting to remove all masking (Note, the UV paint peeled off the black paint, but stuck to the plexiglass, so i removed all of that that was coming off. This is the back side of the plexiglass anyways:
http://www.agitatedpancake.com/rando...r/DSCN1202.JPG
Voila! Front side:
http://www.agitatedpancake.com/rando...r/DSCN1204.JPG
Blurrry pic with my UV cathodes:
http://www.agitatedpancake.com/rando...r/DSCN1208.JPG

=D Enjoy. PM with ANY questions...

Dr_Doom · 11-24-2005, 12:19 PM

OT: Home Depot doesnt carry krylon, where are yall getting it?

keyoshi · 11-24-2005, 01:28 PM

d*mn pancake that looks really really nice.

**Grez** · 11-24-2005, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr_Doom

OT: Home Depot doesnt carry krylon, where are yall getting it?

It's usually used for automotive purposes, so the best place to grab the Fusion paint is at an auto parts store...I found it at O'Reilly's, but Autozone, etc., should have it too.

AgitatedPancake · 11-24-2005, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr_Doom

OT: Home Depot doesnt carry krylon, where are yall getting it?

I got mine at Ace Hardware.

Quote:

Originally Posted by keyoshi

d*mn pancake that looks really really nice.?

His thread, not mine. Just tryin to help him out =)

(But thanks, hehehe)

Dr_Doom · 11-25-2005, 03:34 PM

Looked through again and cant find info on where you got window molding. Care to share?

keyoshi · 11-25-2005, 06:31 PM

www.frozencpu.com has some...over priced? probably..but they have clear, uv, black..check it out

Dr_Doom · 11-25-2005, 07:04 PM

Wow, don't post links to competing sites lol. I already checked them out, although they only have black and UV blue that I noticed, and since Grez isn't too far from me, I was wondering if he got it somewhere local, since that would be better than online + shipping.

keyoshi · 11-25-2005, 07:40 PM

ahh..I forgot you both live in Texas..I wouldn't have linked to frozencpu if I knew xox had it sorry.. :/

Rob! · 11-26-2005, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr_Doom

OT: Home Depot doesnt carry krylon, where are yall getting it?

Wal-Mart always has it where I live, but they card you for it.

**Grez** · 11-27-2005, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr_Doom

Wow, don't post links to competing sites lol. I already checked them out, although they only have black and UV blue that I noticed, and since Grez isn't too far from me, I was wondering if he got it somewhere local, since that would be better than online + shipping.

Hey y'all...sorry I haven't been around...had 17 people at our house for Thanksgiving and I'm just now getting my sanity back.

Yeah, I got the stuff locally, although since the shipping was so cheap, and these guys are way out on the West side (and I'm on the South side), I bought it through the web site. This should be a non-compete with Xox, since they don't stock this stuff (hint, hint, c'mon guys!).

Anyway, the molding came from a little shop here in town called Best Byte Computers. Here is the round molding (.99 per foot):
http://www.bestbyteinc.com/prodinfo....er=CMO-WIN-LSM

And here is the c-channel (.45 per foot):
http://www.bestbyteinc.com/prodinfo....er=CMO-WIN-CSM

Both of these get cheaper if you order in bulk. Good prices. I'd love to see Xox stock these items and compete with these prices.

keyoshi · 11-27-2005, 03:12 PM

ahh I see how it looks so clean now..I think..

Dr_Doom · 11-27-2005, 03:34 PM

C channel doesn't really show detail, and the round molding looks confusing lol. Which did you use?

**Grez** · 11-27-2005, 11:01 PM

I used the c-channel around things like fan holes, just to help cover up jagged edges. It's very thin, and you can press things against it almost flat. The windows are held in place with the round molding, which is two parts (2nd part is a locking strip). Here's how it works:

1) See the two flat channels opposite one another in the cross-section picture? These are going to fit your two surfaces that you're connecting. Different kits will have differing instructions, but I like to start by fitting the molding to the window first. So, start pushing your window into the slot in the side of the molding where you want your single seam to come together. Go around about half of the window, enough to push into place. If you're having a hard time getting the molding to stay put, try some small strips of Scotch or masking tape to temporarily hold the molding in position.
2) Once your window has half of the molding in place, push the window into position in your panel. Know ahead of time that this isn't going to be easy...you're going to have to be patient and take your time. But, after a little bit of trying, the metal/plastic/whatever from your side panel should slide into the opposing channel in the molding, and should have a fairly snug fit.
3) Now you're ready to push the molding into place the rest of the way around the window. Carefully work it into the small gap between the window and the panel, fitting both parts into their respective channels as you go. Again, this is tedious and takes time, but almost anything that looks really good in the end takes time now, doesn't it?
4) Once you get to the end, carefully mark where you need to cut your molding to get it to fit flush. Guess a little on the long side, as you can always take off a little more, but you can't ever put some back! Plus, you'll generally have a little bit to play with in terms of squishing some of this back together if it's only 1/16" - 1/8" too long...shouldn't be a problem. Cut the molding nice and straight with an X-Acto knife or very very sharp scissors (I recommend the knife...less chance of jacking up your acrylic). Push it into place.
5) Now your window is in place, but not completely solid. This is where the 2nd part of the molding comes in: the locking strip. This is a separate piece of rubber that goes in the 3rd (bottom) funky-shaped channel on the molding, forcing the sides further apart and squeezing the two channels for the window and panel together, causing it to lock firmly in place. I'll tell you right now that this is a real booger to get into place with most molding. This is the part where I had to use a tiny screwdriver and force it into place a millimeter at a time...took a couple of hours, and it's where I scratched my acrylic (which I was luckily able to fix). Next time, I will try lubricating each piece with a mild oil that won't affect the acrylic or rubber in any way...probably will make the pieces fit together much more quickly. You're supposed to be able to just push it into place, but it never seems to work out that way. Nonetheless, when this part is done, your window is done. Sit back and look at your professional-looking results (a lot better than a so-so, semi-straight window hole with the acrylic double-sided-taped in behind of it).

There ya go...it's really not difficult to figure out once you see it...you just need a lot of patience to get it installed correctly. But rushing things will just give you a crappy-looking case, so don't get into a hurry.

Hope that helps...

keyoshi · 11-27-2005, 11:08 PM

hmm..sounds good...I can tell this is going to be a challange for me in a while.

Dr_Doom · 11-27-2005, 11:32 PM

Ok ordered the molding tonight, with cheapest shipping, but I live in Clear Lake so I don't think it will be all that big of a deal. Now I gotta cut my window, should be interesting. I decided to not cut apart my case covering. Its one of those that covers mobo side, top, and open side. Was originally planning on cutting open side off and throwing some hinges on it so it would open up and look nice, but not sure the cut would look clean enough.

keyoshi · 11-27-2005, 11:55 PM

your doing this for your folding rig?? I mean cause it can't be for your gaming/everyday rig..you can't have a case that old..

Dr_Doom · 11-28-2005, 04:33 PM

Yes its my folding rig. Was free from my uncle. AMD Athlon 900mhz, no HDD, offbrand PSU, Asus A7V mobo, 256 (2x128) offbrand and Hitachi. Better to mod the free stuff and learn all the ins and outs so if I screw up I wont want to cry about the $100 case and all the junk I just messed up. BTW, I think it was you who suggested it to me grez, but denatured alcohol isnt working to take the case paint off.