Making Case Fronts?

Dreyco · 11-August-04, 11:29 PM

Ok, I've kinda ruled out buying a case front cause the ones they have are boring and ugly. I was wondering how about to make a case front. Id like it to have : Three 5 1/2" slots and one 3 1/4" slot as well as a place for an intake fan. I'd like to spray paint it black when its done so whatever holds paint material wise is ok.

As for making it:

What Materials?
Cautions?
Things to add while im making it?
How to attach it to the case (Antec Mid)
Anything else?

Also It needs to stick out like 1" like my original front cause my CD drive cant go back any farther cause of my Chimney fan...

Thanks,
Dreyco

Zer0s · 12-August-04, 12:06 AM

try just re-modling your old front to what you want it to look like. first of make a couple rough sketches then pic out one or two that you think will be best and make em full size. put on the fron and think of how it will look when its done. if you have a full scale drawing then it is easier to fabricate the new front. as far as materials i have no clue. im kinda curious bout that one.

Dreyco · 12-August-04, 12:35 AM

Well I was thinkin pexiglass but i want it black... damn it would be cool to have some obsidian colored pexiglass... obsidian like the black glass volcanic rock...

Zer0s · 12-August-04, 01:04 AM

what if you just tint it with smoke film?

Dreyco · 12-August-04, 01:11 AM

Never heard of that, could you explain it?

Thanks

Zer0s · 12-August-04, 02:09 AM

well if you put smoke tint on plexi you will get the same "look" as obsidian.

LoL, i know its a sucky pic of smoke tint. but its on the same lines. smoke has more of a brownish "tint or hue or whatever, lol" to it. so its not a true black but it looks black but then again it doesnt look like limo tint.

if that made you mroe confused then say so i will find a better pic of smoke tint.

Zer0s · 12-August-04, 02:14 AM

Heres a better demo of smoke tint. notice the browness of it, it looks more organic than regular black tint.

BTW what does everyone think of my new signature, Lol its off topic but im proud of it!

SPECIALBLEND218 · 12-August-04, 02:15 AM

Good idea Zeros, here is abetter pic of the smoke tinted glass.

See more here...

Edit: new sig looks SWEET! I like the corner missing.

Zer0s · 12-August-04, 02:26 AM

much better demo. that would give you the obsidian look that you said you wanted.

thanks SPECIALBLEND

CRE · 12-August-04, 02:48 AM

You can find colored and tinted Acrylic sheets here.

Dimazz · 12-August-04, 10:28 AM

Redoing the front, take your old front, grab some bondo or fiberglass (better) and take a look at this thread.

http://forums.pcapex.com/showthread....301#post234301

Dreyco · 12-August-04, 12:06 PM

Is there anywhere you can buy black plexiglass thats a solid color that you cant see through? Because Im having a window on the side and I just want a solid black front and top...

Thanks for all this info guys!

Dimazz · 12-August-04, 12:36 PM

You could paint it. If you did it good you wouldent even be able to tell its plexi, just look like painted plastic.

Check out the Paintshop tuts for info on painting.

ADD :: Check out what I just found in my basement

2*3-4 foot piece of black acrylic. I have no use for it, PM me in your interested. Or IM, IM perferrd!!!

Dreyco · 12-August-04, 12:45 PM

I found some solid black at a local glass shop and its $20 for 2' X 2' sheet that'll be enough to redo the top and front! Which is the best way to cut plexiglass now? LOL sorry for all the questions. I've heard you can score it and snap it but im nervous about that ive heard you can just use a regular saw on it too. Any tips on how to keep the edges neat?

Dimazz · 12-August-04, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dreyco


	I found some solid black at a local glass shop and its $20 for 2' X 2' sheet that'll be enough to redo the top and front! Which is the best way to cut plexiglass now? LOL sorry for all the questions. I've heard you can score it and snap it but im nervous about that ive heard you can just use a regular saw on it too. Any tips on how to keep the edges neat?

Not interested? Ill give it to ya for 10+ shipping (which will be cheap, trust me

)

And yes, for 1/8th inch plexi the best way to cut it is score and snap. Here how -

Clamp the plexi with a straightedge to a table.

Take a boxcutter, and score it very hard and many times. Make sure to keep on the same line.

Flip it over and line up the straight edge to the line, clamp it down. Snap it up, will give a nice edge too, little finishing.

Dreyco · 12-August-04, 01:28 PM

Sorry I want solid black... But thanks for the offer I appreciate the help!

Dimazz · 12-August-04, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dreyco


	Sorry I want solid black... But thanks for the offer I appreciate the help!

It is solid black

Peng Lord · 12-August-04, 01:54 PM

I made some sweet looking black acrylic using black vinyl dye and clear plexi, very "obsidian-like"

Zer0s · 12-August-04, 03:08 PM

Curious, but what effect are you trying to achieve with plexi that is solid black on the back. i know how it would look but how are you going to use it.

Peng Lord · 12-August-04, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zer0s


	Curious, but what effect are you trying to achieve with plexi that is solid black on the back. i know how it would look but how are you going to use it.

I was just screwing around with it when I first tried it out, but I later built an acrylic aquarium hood using the technique, it had a nice glow to it when the lights were light... uneven and "obsidian-like" (for lack of a better term.

Maybe Dreyco can elaborate on his intnetions for the design...

11-August-04, 11:29 PM		#1 (permalink)
Dreyco PCApex's Mac Man	Making Case Fronts? Ok, I've kinda ruled out buying a case front cause the ones they have are boring and ugly. I was wondering how about to make a case front. Id like it to have : Three 5 1/2" slots and one 3 1/4" slot as well as a place for an intake fan. I'd like to spray paint it black when its done so whatever holds paint material wise is ok. As for making it: What Materials? Cautions? Things to add while im making it? How to attach it to the case (Antec Mid) Anything else? Also It needs to stick out like 1" like my original front cause my CD drive cant go back any farther cause of my Chimney fan... Thanks, Dreyco

12-August-04, 02:15 AM		#8 (permalink)
SPECIALBLEND218 H2'Hoe' Cooling Addict	Good idea Zeros, here is abetter pic of the smoke tinted glass. See more here... Edit: new sig looks SWEET! I like the corner missing. Attached Thumbnails

12-August-04, 12:36 PM		#13 (permalink)
Dimazz Sk8-Hoe-r	You could paint it. If you did it good you wouldent even be able to tell its plexi, just look like painted plastic. Check out the Paintshop tuts for info on painting. ADD :: Check out what I just found in my basement 23-4 foot piece of black acrylic. I have no use for it, PM me in your interested. Or IM, IM perferrd!!! Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Dimazz; 12-August-04 at 12:44 PM..*

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12-August-04, 12:06 AM		#2 (permalink)
Zer0s Apex Tech God	try just re-modling your old front to what you want it to look like. first of make a couple rough sketches then pic out one or two that you think will be best and make em full size. put on the fron and think of how it will look when its done. if you have a full scale drawing then it is easier to fabricate the new front. as far as materials i have no clue. im kinda curious bout that one.

12-August-04, 12:35 AM		#3 (permalink)
Dreyco PCApex's Mac Man	Well I was thinkin pexiglass but i want it black... damn it would be cool to have some obsidian colored pexiglass... obsidian like the black glass volcanic rock...

12-August-04, 01:04 AM		#4 (permalink)
Zer0s Apex Tech God	what if you just tint it with smoke film?

12-August-04, 01:11 AM		#5 (permalink)
Dreyco PCApex's Mac Man	Never heard of that, could you explain it? Thanks

12-August-04, 02:09 AM		#6 (permalink)
Zer0s Apex Tech God	well if you put smoke tint on plexi you will get the same "look" as obsidian. LoL, i know its a sucky pic of smoke tint. but its on the same lines. smoke has more of a brownish "tint or hue or whatever, lol" to it. so its not a true black but it looks black but then again it doesnt look like limo tint. if that made you mroe confused then say so i will find a better pic of smoke tint.

12-August-04, 02:14 AM		#7 (permalink)
Zer0s Apex Tech God	Heres a better demo of smoke tint. notice the browness of it, it looks more organic than regular black tint. BTW what does everyone think of my new signature, Lol its off topic but im proud of it!

12-August-04, 02:26 AM		#9 (permalink)
Zer0s Apex Tech God	much better demo. that would give you the obsidian look that you said you wanted. thanks SPECIALBLEND

12-August-04, 02:48 AM		#10 (permalink)
CRE Apex Tech Maniac Supreme	You can find colored and tinted Acrylic sheets here.

12-August-04, 10:28 AM		#11 (permalink)
Dimazz Sk8-Hoe-r	Redoing the front, take your old front, grab some bondo or fiberglass (better) and take a look at this thread. http://forums.pcapex.com/showthread....301#post234301

12-August-04, 12:06 PM		#12 (permalink)
Dreyco PCApex's Mac Man	Is there anywhere you can buy black plexiglass thats a solid color that you cant see through? Because Im having a window on the side and I just want a solid black front and top... Thanks for all this info guys!

12-August-04, 12:45 PM		#14 (permalink)
Dreyco PCApex's Mac Man	I found some solid black at a local glass shop and its $20 for 2' X 2' sheet that'll be enough to redo the top and front! Which is the best way to cut plexiglass now? LOL sorry for all the questions. I've heard you can score it and snap it but im nervous about that ive heard you can just use a regular saw on it too. Any tips on how to keep the edges neat?

12-August-04, 01:28 PM		#16 (permalink)
Dreyco PCApex's Mac Man	Sorry I want solid black... But thanks for the offer I appreciate the help!

12-August-04, 01:54 PM		#18 (permalink)
Peng Lord Apex Tech Maniac Supreme	I made some sweet looking black acrylic using black vinyl dye and clear plexi, very "obsidian-like"

12-August-04, 03:08 PM		#19 (permalink)
Zer0s Apex Tech God	Curious, but what effect are you trying to achieve with plexi that is solid black on the back. i know how it would look but how are you going to use it.