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Guide to Tools for PC & Case Modding

MonsterMawd
Level 12


These are the most common Tool I use for Case Modding.

THINK SAFETY FIRST!

Smith & Wesson Safety Glasses, $9.99,
http://www.mnpctech.com/Safetyglasses.html



CREWS "Stratos" Safety Glasses, $6.99
http://www.mnpctech.com/Safetyglasses.html



Respirator Mask with canister filters
Use when sanding, painting or using any hazardous chemicals


Wear Latex or Rubber gloves for handling any type of chemicals and Paint products.


Work Gloves for use with any equipment, including Power Tools


Rotary Cutting Tool
The most versatile tool for case modding. You can cut plastics, metals, grind and polish.

Black & Decker RTX Rotary Tool



Dremel brand is most popular.





I hear a lot of complaints about cutting discs breaking when cutting metal. You need to use aluminum reinforced discs like these 1.5" Reinforced Dremel Cutting Discs
http://www.mnpctech.com/Discs.html




Cordless Power drill
Minimum volts recommened 14.4V) with bit sizes 1/16 through ½ for cutting various mounting holes and operating hole saw attachments.

Hole saw attachments for Drill
For cutting fan holes in acrylic and metal.



80mm = 3” hole saw
92mm = 3.5” hole saw
120mm = 4.5” hole saw
140mm = 5.5" hole saw

In order to use the Hole saw, you'll need an Arbor that fits your Powder Drill or Drill Press. Mine is 1/2"
http://www.amazon.com/Lenox-Tools-300033L-Solid-Shank/dp/B0015B9RUM/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1279...



5.5" size bi-metal Hole Saw Attachment (140mm = 5.51181)

Amazon has 5.5" "Bi-Metal" Hole Saw attachment for your Power drill, http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=5+1%2F2+hole+saw&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=35766151...








3/4" Hole saw attachment for 22mm Vandal Resistant Power Switch
http://www.mnpctech.com/Vandal_Resistant_Switch.html










80mm, 92mm, 120mm, 140mm Fan grill printable templates
http://www.mnpctech.com/Fan_Grill_Templates.html


120mm, 140mm, 240mm, 360mm, 420mm, 560mm Radiator & Grill (15mm & 24.5mm spacing) printable templates
http://www.mnpctech.com/Radiator_Grill_Templates.html

Greenlee Knock out Punches
Greenlee part # 730EBB-120 Last time I inquired, they were around $450 in the states + Large 3/4" socket wrench, and 2" socket. I wouldn't use anything less than 19" long socket wrench. Estimated purchase price of $550 new.


Threaded shaft of Knock-out punch


Knock-out punch blade


Ready to cut hole.


You need leverage. Using 19" Socket wrench to draw in knock-out punch balde


Clean Cut


I've had this 12" Craftsman Bench top Drill Press for 4 years without any problems, other than the LED swivel light burned out. 5 speed (manual drive belt) with digital depth readout and Laser cross hairs. $219.00 at Sears
http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10155_12602_00921914000P?vName=Tools+%26+Equipment&cName=Power+Tool...

* Item# 00921914000
* Mfr. Model# 21914





Grizzly 14" Bandsaw, 3/4 HP for cutting plastic for window and metal sheets for scratch building
http://www.grizzly.com/products/14-Bandsaw-3-4-HP/G0580







Aluminum fence!


Drill bits for cutting Plastics
http://www.mcmaster.com/#drill-bits-for-plastics/=9hldrb

Metal drill bits will not work for acrylic or plastic, they're made to bite into the metal as they are pushed into it. If they are used on acrylics they will chip and cause other damage to the plastic. When drilling holes for screws, you must make the hole larger than the screw itself to allow for expansion and contraction of the material. If not you will cause stress cracks at the hole and they will spread!







Roper Whitney No. 5 Jr Hand Punch kit
https://www22.ssldomain.com/roperwhitney/store_detail2.cfm?groupingid=68&categoryid=53



(for cutting fan mounting holes or enlarging existing fan mounting holes for rubber silencing grommets)


Hand Punch makes clean fan screw holes. No deburring.


Jigsaw

A Jigsaw should be in every Modder’s arsenal of tools. It’s the most efficient hand power tools for cutting a chassis or case panel. The $39.97 price tag on this Black & Decker JS660 is very good!


Used for cutting panels and acrylic sheets. (minimum 18 teeth metal cutting blade) Black & Decker brand Jigsaws
http://www.blackanddecker.com/ProductGuide/CategoryOverview.aspx?cPath=1496.2052

A Jigsaw is great for cutting Cast Acrylic sheets for PC case windows.



Hand files
Deburring jagged edges on both plastic and metal.


...









http://www.mnpctech.com/scotch_4010_tape_of_the_casemod_gods.html



Pop Rivet Gun



If you're going to dismantle you PC chassis, you will need a Pop Rivet gun and new pop-rivets. I use 1/4" length, 1/8" diameter, Gripe range .092" - .125" A Pop rivet gun is used to attach two pieces of any type of material together to make them one. It can attach anything from plastic, aluminum, and even metal. A rivet has two parts, the pin and the rivet. What the rivet gun does is push the pin through a pre-drilled hole, which is going to slightly larger then the rivet you have. Then you are going to put the rivet through the pre-drilled hole first. Then you squeeze the gun compressing the ring into the rivet, expanding the rivet out larger then the whole and the rest of the pin breaks of in to the gun. This makes it so the two pieces are now together for whatever you are going to use it for.

Most Computer Chassis will accept 1/8” diameter Pop rivets, Gripe range .092" - .125" for Computers, http://www.mnpctech.com/Pop_rivets_for_computer_case.html








Metal Nibbler
Cutting case panels


Metal Tin snips
Used for Cutting "http://www.mnpctech.com/moddersmesh.html"Modders Mesh & Sheet metal



Solder Gun or Pencil


Heat Gun
Heat shrink tubing, bending acrylics/plastics


Craftsman 8" bench top sander. I've been using the disc sander primarily for acrylic and aluminum pieces.
http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10155_12602_00922500000P?vName=Tools+%26+Equipment&cName=Power+Tool...




PSU and Molex Tools, for sleeving his Power Supplies, http://www.mnpctech.com/ATX_Molex_Removal_Tools.html





PC Modding Rule
http://www.mnpctech.com/PC_Modder_Ruler.html

A measurement tool made exclusively for PC Building and Modding. Identify cooling fan sizes, computer screw threads, Vandal resistant switch, watercool barbs and hose diameters. Template locations for mounting internal and external drives. Thickness gauge for most common build materials.

Templates.
16mm / 22mm Bulgin, Lamptron switches, G-1/4 & G 3/8 watercool barb and hose. 2.5" SSD, 3.5", 5.25 optical drive screw locations.

Fastener Gauge.
6/32, 8/32, 10/24, 10/32, 1/4-20, 3MM, 4MM, 5MM, 6MM

Thickness Gauge.

Tap / Drill & Decimal Conversion Chart.

Measures Inches & Millimeters
CNC milled by Mnpctech from 1/8" thick solid aluminum and measures 12" x 2"







I will be posting more Tool Suggestions and encourage you to share your own! :cool:
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42 REPLIES 42

pcjunkie209
Level 9
Very nice. So of those tools would have made all my modding easier if I new they made it. lol
"I would rather be gaming!" Grunts-clan.com
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
http://Pcjunkiemods.com
http://c2cmods.com

xeromist
Moderator
I'm not sure if they were just out of stock at the time but I had a difficult time finding a 1" hole saw for a fillport installation. I finally ended up finding it in a door lock installation kit. So if anyone else has that problem, that's where you can find it for sure.
A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station…

@pcjunkie, which ones? from looking at yr worklog photos, it looks like yr garage may be nicely equipped with tools (btw: I tossed in the PSU Tool samples with your order 🙂

@xeromist, I found that one at Home Depot, also try Lowes, or even Ebay

pcjunkie209
Level 9
Well the hand punch and hole punch the high $$$ one. I have most of the other tools. But for holes I always use my scroll saw no hole saw. I might change up though. And thanks on the order. 🙂
"I would rather be gaming!" Grunts-clan.com
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
http://Pcjunkiemods.com
http://c2cmods.com

pcjunkie209 wrote:
Well the hand punch and hole punch the high $$$ one. I have most of the other tools. But for holes I always use my scroll saw no hole saw. I might change up though. And thanks on the order. 🙂


Right, and I hardly use mine anymore since more case manufacturers have made 120mm cooling fans almost standard

MonsterMawd wrote:
Right, and I hardly use mine anymore since more case manufacturers have made 120mm cooling fans almost standard


Ya but they must come in handy for scratch builds!?! 🙂
"I would rather be gaming!" Grunts-clan.com
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
http://Pcjunkiemods.com
http://c2cmods.com

We just mill everything for scratch builds. The Knockout punch is great for adding holes to side panels or removing factory perforated grills

MonsterMawd wrote:
We just mill everything for scratch builds. The Knockout punch is great for adding holes to side panels or removing factory perforated grills


I have been doing all by hand. Can't wait to get m hands on some real machinery! Soon !!:)
"I would rather be gaming!" Grunts-clan.com
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
http://Pcjunkiemods.com
http://c2cmods.com

A Micrometer is widely used for precise measurement of small distances. I use a Micrometer to measure the thickness in materials like sheet metal or aluminum. You can also use a Micrometer to measure the diameter of a cylindrical shape or sphere.

Types of Micrometers:

Outside micrometer, (aka micrometer caliper), typically used to measure wires, spheres, shafts and blocks

Inside micrometer, used to measure the diameter of holes

Depth micrometer, measures depths of slots and steps.



This is a Starret T436XRL-9 Outside Micrometer from Amazon



This is a Metric "Caliper" style micrometer made by “Draper.” It’s manufactured from hardened stainless steel. Slider displacements are amplified by a rack and pinion mechanism and indicated on the dial. Four way measurement: internal, external, depth and step. Reading 0.02mm. Slider has lockscrew function. Display packed in plastic storage case.