Finally Modding my Antec case

a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
edited October 2003 in Hardware
I picked up a piece of plexiglass a few weeks back and I'm finally getting around to cutting the side of my case out. The Dremel rotary discs aren't the tools for the job lemme tell ya that! :banghead:
I think I'm gonna have to go get a pair or metalcutters. I'll post some pics when it's done.

Anyone have any tips? I've already lost control of the dremel a few times and knicked outside my tapeline so I'm definitely going to have to do a little touchup to the side of the case and I may just go all out and paint the whole thing. If I paint it I know I can use regular spray paint, but what should I do to make it ultra glossy? Sand it and then rub it with polish?

Comments

  • DanGDanG I AM CANADIAN Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    rotary discs worked fine for me, you just need the carbon cutoff ones, the regular heavy duty cutoff discs suck. Or you could get a metal jig saw blade because they also work really well. As for painting it, when I did my last case, lots of thin coats, with wet sanding in between coats and then a couple coats of clearcoat. Then get some car polish and get to work, but you should wait a couple of days for the clear to harden properly.
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited September 2003
    I found out.

    Couldn't find my jig.

    I'll try painting that way. :) if it sux, I know who to blame. ;D
    DanG said
    the regular heavy duty cutoff discs suck.

    Or you could get a metal jig saw blade because they also work really well.

    As for painting it, when I did my last case, lots of thin coats, with wet sanding in between coats and then a couple coats of clearcoat. Then get some car polish and get to work, but you should wait a couple of days for the clear to harden properly.
  • ClutchClutch North Carolina New
    edited September 2003
    A jigsaw or a dremel should work fine, did for me atleast. As far as painting, go to your local pep boys or advance auto and get some of that spray auto paint stuff, and just wetsand it really good, paint it, wed sand, paint it, then get some polish to it.
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited October 2003
    Sorry about no updates.
    Quite a bit has come up since I started and I'm still not finished. I know some might be upset but I haven't taken before pics and I haven't taken during pics. We have another Antec case that is almost exactly like mine (except for two leds and a front-panel USB) so you'll get to see what my case used to look like (by showing the case that's almost exactly like mine) and what my case NOW looks like.

    I've got a little more sanding to do and then some more clearing and painting the top of the case. Oh, and I changed the side-panel's handle so I'll have to fill in the holes in the side-panel with something and paint that area again. Hopefully I'll be done by Saturday or Sunday and have some pics for you all.
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited October 2003
    Here's what the case would look like unmodified.
    This isn't my actual case, but it's a picture of a case that is almost exactly like mine. The side (that you see here) is exactly like mine, so what you see that I did to my side compared to this image is all because of my modifications, nothing is due to minor changes from Antec.
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited October 2003
    These next pictures aren't part of the mod, but I like it because it makes my case all nice and clean. Normally I have wiring going crazy inside my case but I took about 30 minutes today to get all the wiring tucked away and not obstructing the airflow.
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited October 2003
    Another
    all.jpg 179.9K
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited October 2003
    And another
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited October 2003
    Some more
    top.jpg 196.4K
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited October 2003
    This, obviously is the modified side. The handle on the case has changed from the original. I made a "boo-boo" and the only way to fix it was to cut the handle down. Hey, it makes my case all the more unique. ;D

    Anyway, this is with the flash on.
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited October 2003
    flash off
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited October 2003
    I still need to paint the top of the case. I'll take more pics once that is done.

    Word of advise: Don't use Laquer for a clear! It likes to crack the paint. The Fusion I used for the plastic was fine w/ the Laquer though, but the regular spray paint hated the laquer. Oh well . . . live and learn.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited October 2003
    Just out of curiosity, what exactly does the slogan for a diaper company have to do with your case mod? ;D
  • TheSmJTheSmJ
    edited October 2003
    I'm wondering where/how you attached a handle to the case. I have that same exact one, and was thinking earlier about attaching a handle myself.
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited October 2003
    To what are you referring?
    Geeky1 said
    Just out of curiosity, what exactly does the slogan for a diaper company have to do with your case mod? ;D


    It's the same handle as before, but I messed it up using my dremel on it so I had to modify it. I'll take some close-up shots for you and post them so you can see it. Since only two of the prongs are now present on the handle to help hold it to the case I used super-glue to keep it tight.
    TheSmJ said
    I'm wondering where/how you attached a handle to the case. I have that same exact one, and was thinking earlier about attaching a handle myself.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited October 2003
    you said "live and learn"

    as in "live and learn... then get Luvs" or whatever that ad is...
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited October 2003
    My digital camera really sucks so sorry these aren't any clearer.
    1.jpg 159.7K
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited October 2003
    Another
    2.jpg 185.7K
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited October 2003
    this one turned out like crap, but shows the holes still present.
    3.jpg 226K
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited October 2003
    last handle pic
    4.jpg 194.6K
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited October 2003
    "Live and learn" is a pretty old saying. Also, I've never seen a luvs/huggies/pampers ad with that saying. Oh well.
    Geeky1 said
    you said "live and learn"

    as in "live and learn... then get Luvs" or whatever that ad is...
  • TheSmJTheSmJ
    edited October 2003
    Ohhhh, THAT handle.

    I thought you were installing one for carrying the case.
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited October 2003
    No way! This is a steel case, not aluminum. I don't move this sucker unless I have to. We have another case that's very similar to this one that came pre-modded from Antec w/ the window and LED fans and all that and it's aluminum. That thing is like a feather compared to this case. Next case I buy for a main rig will not be steel.

    BTW, looking @ your sig. I have the same CPU, mobo and PSU that you do. My CPU is probably a different stepping, though, since I'm @ 2.3GHz, but it's still a 1700+.
  • TheSmJTheSmJ
    edited October 2003
    Actually, I have the same stepping as Thrax (I cant remember what it is exactly). I COULD get it to a much higher speed, but the temps get way, way too high.

    I LAN with this thing all the time. Did all summer, and will this January. I'll prolly just get one of those strap-on carriers that are available for around $15-$20.
  • a2jfreaka2jfreak Houston, TX Member
    edited October 2003
    I have the JIUHB 0310XPMW.
    I think Thrax has the JIUHB 0310WMPW
    Both are DLT3C.
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