Wooden Computer Case Tour 1

[theleMBeleht]

floppy drive and 40x CD (!) Rom ?? its hardware from 1950 ?^^

[Camrm]

@theleMBeleht

Just stuff I had lying around.

[He101A]

That is some great craftsmanship. A case like this could be right at home with top quality furniture and a antique grand father clock.

[Camrm]

@He101A

Thank you!

[TehCreativeDude]

Regular person: LOLOLOL MINECRAFT DOESN'T WORK ON WOODEN COMPUTRS OLOL!!111!

>this video

[jerkmcgerkin]

That sir, is the least ugly computer I've ever seen. Reminds me of a 1920's tube radio.

[Camrm]

@jerkmcgerkin

I like that comparison, that's cool dude! Thanks =)

[tallyhoman911]

its a computer for amish people :D

[Titanic19127]

Niccce!

[azeller09]

Awesome project duude! :D

[andygaras]

reminds of back in the wooden computer days

[BloXx99]

looks very good man!

[CheateRsz]

Very good work!

[vpklotar]

hey man, how did you make the switch? :D

[Camrm]

@vpklotar

I borrowed it from a sacrificial old case; just popped it out and mounted it in my wooden case, along with the HDD LED, power LED, and the reset button. I made the button itself out of oak by carefully using a modified hole-saw.

[vpklotar]

@Camrm ok nice, i think i will make someting ike this, but i don´t now, what du you think, a desktop/HTPC or a tower?

[Camrm]

@vpklotar

A tower is easier to make, since you don't have to worry about making things small (and thus potentially more fragile).

[darkj3am]

i'm wonder if wood helps cooling the air inside the case :P and its immune to vibration?? :P i'm plannning to build one!! i mean i'll be the one making it... going to use my woodwork and sculpture skills!! it will be a bad ass gaming pc u know^^

[Randquez]

WOW, this is awesome! I guess what I will ask next is: HOW MUCH???

[Camrm]

I've been neglecting this stuff because I've been working so much lately so I haven't had time to put anything together. I'm thinking about releasing the finally dimensioned plans when I get around to doing them, but to be honest, so much of this was on the fly decision making and I couldn't possibly account for all of the 1/8" changes and such over the course of construction! So I guess I'm saying, no, not for this case. Maybe my next one (coming summer 2010). Oh, and thanks! =)

[2Jeff4Gordon]

Okay. I was thinking about it for about an our and asked a old friend of mine and he said use spruce cedar but I was kinda thinking on the line of really light woods that can hold up for 20 years or however long the laptop will last. got any in mind.

[Camrm]

Spruce and cedar are definitely not woods that I would use to build a computer case. They're softwoods and aren't as dimensionally stable as great hardwoods like cherry and maple, or oak and mahogany. They will be lighter weight, but that's because they are less dense. Their density will in part affect their stability (warping, possibly splitting) and it will also affect how finishes penetrate the wood. I just wouldn't recommend softwoods for this at all.

[2Jeff4Gordon]

thats right plan plan plan. but i actually been thinking about it for 2 years now and been taking measurments every time I re-design. but I finally came to mind and decided on a wood, cherry maple. but I want your opinion.

[Camrm]

Like, you want to use cherry and maple as contrasting woods? It should turn out fine. Just remember that maple does not stain well, and it will also darken when lacquered. It won't darken so much with varnish though. They're both very stable, hard woods (if you get a decent maple species) so I can't for see any machining problems.

[2Jeff4Gordon]

yeah. I was thinking about doing a wood laptop from crappy APPLE iBook G4. it looks tough. i wonder if you could send me some guid lines.

[Camrm]

My first piece of advise would be to plan out everything and take incredibly accurate measurements for things that matter, and don't sweat the stuff that won't matter too much. Over engineer everything in terms of how much weight parts of the case can support, and use proper joinery (don't screw everything together, use mortise and tenon joints with high quality wood glue). Plan, plan, plan.

[2Jeff4Gordon]

I wonder if the first computer looked like this? still, this is got to be the hands down best peice of wood that involves technology i have ever seen. sweet work dude! :-D

[Camrm]

There have been cases like it, but this is certainly a design that is completely original and off the top of my head. Thank you very much! =D

[bob333336]

NICE WORK! 5/5

[bikerbub911]

looks amazing. i love the haf932 style fans on the side door. i would say to put some fans on the top, but that would ruin that beautiful design. simplicity FTW.

[Camrm]

My original plans called for exhaust fans on the top, but yeah, I decided I just wanted the simple, yet elegant top instead. =P

[dwillpro]

this is so awesome. only 2 things, both have to do with the fans. 1, screens will inhibit air low up to 20%, 2nd, not a fan of your cross grill, but that's just cosmetics. other than that, this is the coolest case i've ever seen!

[Camrm]

Yeah, but they'll also keep some dust out. =P The cross grill was pretty much the simplest thing I could make with wood, but I already have ideas for my next case. Thanks though! =)

[ucsdrake]

hey man looks really good so far, quick question though, which elastics did you use and how are you sure they won't snap/melt when the computer starts to really work, wouldn't want the hdd and fans to fall lol

[Camrm]

Thanks dude. The fans are suspended by braided 9mm wide clothing elastics (meant to hold up to repeated stretching) and have fabric all around them so they won't ever melt. They're not stretched anywhere near their capacity so they won't snap. The HDDs are suspended using 3mm diameter round cord, and they seem to hold up just fine. It's the same stuff that you tighten your backpack up with, or your snowboarding jacket sleeves (as an example).