Ahhh.. Good suggestions Twiz I don't have the diodes, so I'll try something with purple acrylic

I can send you the diodes if you need them..... or if you cant figure somehting out send it my way.

The acrylic idea sounded good, but your other idea makes the most sense. Could you assemble these on your end and send em over? ..... Lokie planned to ship me that PIMPRIG FAN GRILL, you could drop these in his box.

Do you mean the tribal spiral fan grill, Bill? I have some more stainless steel ones and plan on moving over the chrome ones I currently use to this rig if you need them.

Shouldnt be a problem bill... I will make them with long enuogh leads that you can cut them down as needed... Wish we would have had more time Saturday could have gotten them at Ratshack and done it there so I could make it all fit right...

Quote: Originally Posted by GlitterKill Do you mean the tribal spiral fan grill, Bill? I have some more stainless steel ones and plan on moving over the chrome ones I currently use to this rig if you need them.

I'll let ya know. Thank you Gary!

@ Twizted, Thank you! Just let me know if you need my addy again... please send that 120mm grill from Lokie too

This next mod Twizted's idea. Vern suggested covering up the HD led portion of the front bezel with aluminum modder's mesh used for the intake grill

btw; I still need to drill out holes in the mesh for the leds!

Could you please give me an ETA on the leds Twiz? Thanks Bro!

Quote: Originally Posted by mnpctech_guy Could you please give me an ETA on the leds Twiz? Thanks Bro!

Should be able to get them out this week... We have been bustin tail to get the bench back to normal so we can work and I have pretty much been tied up with that.. sorry bout that...

Looking 4ward to seeing updates of Lokie & Twiz's workshop

As I suspected, the real challenge with this project would the layout of the 2 seperate watercool systems with 1/2" ID - 3/4" OD tubing (TYGON #3603)

Visualizing the layout was the easy part. Big Thanks to AntiM for his experienced input. The key factor in making everything fit was the relocation of a sliding Motherboard tray for the 2 MBs. This old Maxpoint case is narrow and didn't leave me any room for mistakes. Unbeknowst to Twizted & I, DangerDen was super busy and couldn't ship the parts as soon as I would have liked. Fearing this project would never move, I performed the MB tray mods and relocation w/o prefitting DD's parts. In these situations you must rely upon your "Modder's Instinct." Once DD's parts arrived, I confirm if my Instinct decision was false. I had installed the 1U PSU (vertically) towards the front of the chassis. That left about 7/8" space for the 3/4" OD tubing to pass between the TYAN MB and 1U PSU. Luckily my Instinct didn't fail me!. I nailed the location of the tray so the tubing could pass between the TYAN & 1U PSU w/o being pinched.

However, we underestimated how much space the DD12V-D5 (Laing) waterpumps would hog up.

D-5 waterpump.. Very nice, but hogged valuable space



We originally wanted DD's MagIIs, but they've been out of stock for over a year. I shopped both US and any overseas reseller (even Ebay) for the MagIIs. Argh! Theres no MagIIs to be found! Just for the hell of it, I asked Hank at performance-pcs if he had any MagIIs lying around. "No, but I'm expecting some new compact pumps that I'm describing as MagII Killers." "Oh Really? Set aside two for me!" I replied.

AnitM, have you ever used MagIIs? You may try asking Hank is you can review these new pumps and test his claim.

DB-1 Compact Low Noise 12 Volt Pump (MagII Killer)

Features:

* Compact case
* Designed specifically for PC cooling
* Very low noise output (20db)
* Virtually no vibration output
* Mag drive ceramic bearing motor assembly
* Advanced rotor design provides quick priming
* Low power consumption and low heat output
* Brackets included for multiple mounting configurations
* G 1/4" Barb threading
* 1/2" or 3/8" Nickel plated Hi-Flow barbs
* Standard Motherboard 3-pin connection
* Can be submersed
*

Choice of 3/8" or 1/2" high flow fittings.

Specifications:
Dimensions: 2.3" x 1.8" x 2.4"
Voltage: DC 12V
Voltage Range: DC 8V ~ DC 13.2V
Starting Voltage: DC 8V
Amp: 0.5
Motor: Ceramic Bearing
LPH: 500
Max Head: 2M
Noise: 20db
MTBF: 50,000 hrs
Temp Range: 0 ~ 60C
Connector: 3 pin/w signal
Weight: .2 LBS

Quote: Originally Posted by mnpctech_guy AnitM, have you ever used the DD's MagIIs? You may try asking Hank is you can review these new pumps for PCApex. DB-1 Compact Low Noise 12 Volt Pump (MagII Killer)

I've never used the MagII's. I've heard good things about them and the specs are very good for a small inexpensive pump.

I personally like the little DDC plus pump from Laing. The little power house has 20 ft. of head! Nothing comes close for the size/performance ratio, but they are like twice the price of of a MagII and you'd need something like the AlphaCool converter top to run 1/2" fittings. Even then, 1/2" is not the best choice for the DDC. And they are definitely louder than other compact pumps.

Judging by specs alone, the DB-1 isn't really a MagII killer in price or performance. Hard to tell though, specs for DC pumps are often measured by voltages well over 12V. If measured at 12V, it should roughly equal the MagII.

In a modest loop, it should do quite well. The footprint is is almost identical to the DDC.

I originally planned on just giving the side panels a satin smooth finish, but I ask myself "Will it be "Pimp Enuf?" ...hmm "No"

Our bench top buffer which I use for the billet parts Mnpctech sells would be too time consuming for our 17" side panels..(2" quilted cotton buffing wheels are too narrow). Instead, I used a Craftsman 6" diameter automotive buffer with cotton pads, warm up the Tripoli aluminum buffing compound (for bench buffer) with our torch and apply to the 6" buffing pads



Normally, you would heat up the hardened Tripoli buffing compound by rubbing it up against a rotating table top buffer wheel. The Craftsman Buffer doesn't have enuf power (torque) to do this, so I warmed up the Tripoli with a torch..

"How would you like your Buffing Compound done Sir? ..Medium or Rare"









More to come

Heres both side panels. The background of the PCApex logo and PR letters will be painted Purple this week.

The side panels will attach with 4 Purple anodized thumbscrews. 1 in each corner.

Some of you may remember the rare 120mm aluminum fans made by Panaflo. Made exclusively for the power supplies in IBM Servers in the `80s.

You might be able to find some periodically on Ebay. (I've got 4 or 5 originals (unpolished) PM me if you're interested)

Model: Panaflo FBH-12G12L Low speed, Quiet
Size: 120MM housing, 38mm thick
Specs: 12VDC, .2A, 1700RPM @ 32dba, 68CFM airflow

I'm going to use one for the rear 120mm exhaust above the PSU.

Wetsanding with 800 grit




Dremel's Polishing Kit




#421 Polishing Compound


Soft wire brush attachment for corners and crevices






120mm alum P-flo is mounted outside the chassis to accomondate space for "DFI, PR side" Waterpump







120mm "Original" PimpRig Tribal Flame Fan Grill donated by Lokie

ok broken record time...."Great job Bill"

I still can't believe how uncanny it is, that paint matches so well.

Quote: Originally Posted by Lokie I still can't believe how uncanny it is, that paint matches so well.

No kidding Lokie! It's allowed me to accent components that otherwise would be silver or who knows what

Spent 5 hours sanding out deep scratches from the mill around the tribal flames yesterday. I predict another 5 hours working on it over this coming week.

I can't wait to assemble everything when all of the polishing is finished.

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I've had to take a break from polishing to concentrate on other aspects. I worked on a 5.25 bay fan controller that I should have some pics to post soon. btw: Twizted, your modified leds you sent are installed. Thank you! I haven't had a chance to power it up yet. Will be posting pics soon of that.

Yesterday I started painting the recessed background of the PCApex logo panel. This will really offset the polished letters nicely.

Sanded the recessed portion of the milled logo with 600 grit sandpaper

3M low tack green & blue tapes mask off the panel

Here I've used an Exacto knife to cut out the portion I want painted Purple

SEM Brand "Self Etching primer" is used for base coat on bare metals



I'll peel this away to reveal a real tasty PCApex logo

Hey BA, hows the Keyboard Mods coming along?

Peeled back the tape from the painted logo in the milled alum side panel.
It came out ****-in saweet!





PR logo is next!

Yeap, knew that was going to be the right choice.

Very nice... That really sets of that panel and keeps them entwined with the theme good work bro..