Making my own Computer case?

[EpicGeekonFire]

So I decided to make my own computer case out of materials from homedepot but I have no idea about the risks of making your own. Say if I made a case out of wood? What are the problems with that? Should I use sheet metal or polycarbonate?

 

I was thinking of doing a cube kinda of towering design with an ITX mobo. but what happens if the mobo catches fire and the wood all burns. Might be a threat incase of a fire huh? 

[MegaDave91]

Wood wood (would) not be not the first material I wood (would) choose for building a case.

[Osmium]

No real risk to components except lack of airflow. As long as you don't do something stupid like build wood fins that reach into your CPU fans it won't really pose much of a fire risk. However Metal would be better overall from a cosmetic standpoint and a safety standpoint. 

[EpicGeekonFire]

Wood wood (would) not be not the first material I wood (would) choose for building a case.

What would you use?

[MegaDave91]

What would you use?

A metal of some sort. 

[ForsakenLive]

As long as you have good airflow nothing will burn and you will be able to run the system without issues, but wood is not a great material for hot components (it absorbs and isolates heat), so don't expect cool temps.

If you are going to do this, just try to keep the mobo tray separated enough from the board, or make the cutout at the back.

Also, polish everything, and blow ALL the wooden particles before putting a system on it! The wood dust can easily get everywhere if you are not careful with the wood.

Aluminum is not that hard to work with, and money-wise it wouldn't be much of a difference.

To do this you need the proper tools, don't get a handsaw and a hammer please.

[dizmo]

Are you doing this as a test of your ingenuity or to save money?

If it's the former, it'll be a great journey. There should be quite a few builds you can take ideas from, as I've seen quite a few cases made of wood. Anythings possible with the right amount of money and time.

If you're doing this for the latter, it's a complete waste.

[EpicGeekonFire]

A metal of some sort. 

I have nothing to easily cut it,,,

[EpicGeekonFire]

Are you doing this as a test of your ingenuity or to save money?

If it's the former, it'll be a great journey. There should be quite a few builds you can take ideas from, as I've seen quite a few cases made of wood. Anythings possible with the right amount of money and time.

If you're doing this for the latter, it's a complete waste.

I am doing it for fun. I hate the other case and I want something that fits my own modern simplistic taste.

[MatthewEnderle]

Wood is much nicer to use because you can recolor the wood to any shade you want. Also Wood will not start on fire by heat from your computer. Wood's thermal capacity is higher than the computer will allow itself to operate at, unless you got a faulty thermosensor, but even then the computer would either failsafe or short.

 

Sources:

Experience

[EpicGeekonFire]

Wood is much nicer to use because you can recolor the wood to any shade you want. Also Wood will not start on fire by heat from your computer. Wood's thermal capacity is higher than the computer will allow itself to operate at, unless you got a faulty thermosensor, but even then the computer would either failsafe or short.

 

Sources:

Experience

I am going to make sue there is ample cooling so nothing to worry about the heat. No fans to be choked. 

[airdeano]

So I decided to make my own computer case out of materials from homedepot but I have no idea about the risks of making your own. Say if I made a case out of wood? What are the problems with that? Should I use sheet metal or polycarbonate?

 

I was thinking of doing a cube kinda of towering design with an ITX mobo. but what happens if the mobo catches fire and the wood all burns. Might be a threat incase of a fire huh? 

 

have more confidence than it will fail.. more to the fact it will live and produce a scent during its operation of soothing smoldering pine.

 

'speriment with the cheapest/easiest method and more up from there. you'll start to notice easier steps to creating angles, enforcement

and layout. they once satisfied of the draft, then move to a more permanent material. check out case modding section.

[EpicGeekonFire]

have more confidence than it will fail.. more to the fact it will live and produce a scent during its operation of soothing smoldering pine.

 

'speriment with the cheapest/easiest method and more up from there. you'll start to notice easier steps to creating angles, enforcement

and layout. they once satisfied of the draft, then move to a more permanent material. check out case modding section.

You think maybe like making the main frame out of wood and the side panels out of aluminum sheets? because thinner aluminum is easier to work with.

[airdeano]

You think maybe like making the main frame out of wood and the side panels out of aluminum sheets? because thinner aluminum is easier to work with.

 

22-26ga steel (cheapest) is easy to hand form/bend. cuts with tin snips/dremel/nibbler.

wood/acrylic deffo needs different tools and next ally (most expensive).

 

your building an iTX case to support 15pounds of hardware. once you get the forming,

handling and knowledge of case crafting, then move to larger platforms.

[Skreedles]

So I decided to make my own computer case out of materials from homedepot but I have no idea about the risks of making your own. Say if I made a case out of wood? What are the problems with that? Should I use sheet metal or polycarbonate?

 

I was thinking of doing a cube kinda of towering design with an ITX mobo. but what happens if the mobo catches fire and the wood all burns. Might be a threat incase of a fire huh? 

Would could warp or crack, especially if it had any heat, such as from your computer heating. Humidity would effect it so opening your window could effect it, There could be a higher chance of starting a fire since you're attaching hot items to a piece of wood.

[WoodenMarker]

There could be a higher chance of starting a fire since you're attaching hot items to a piece of wood.

The parts shouldn't even get anywhere near hot enough to ignite cardboard, much less wood.