How do i cut 120mm fan hole in cheap steel case with no dremel or jig saw?

[Mord]

Well, simply, "How do i cut 120mm fan hole in cheap steel case with no dremel or jig saw?"

I broke my jigsaw and my dremel. Im down to my back up "Hobbycraft rotary tool" which is pathetic for anything other then cutting plastic.

I just need to think of an imaginative way of cutting a 120mm hole :S

[Rich25]

Thin hacksaw blade god help your hands though i say break out the hole saw but thats assuming you have a drill

Rich

[iD10t]

trace around a cd with something very sharp till it cuts through the case?

[penquissciguy]

Well, you're not going to have much luck without the right tools. It's probably time to invest in a new jig saw.

[Blind Tree Frog]

Trace a circle with an engraver for a long while?

[Slacker]

hole saw?

[Scary_Penguin]

It's a saw blade that is circular, blade facing down, attached to a drill or drill press.

Think of an empty can with the open end all bladed :)

[Blind Tree Frog]

Originally posted by Scary_Penguin
It's a saw blade that is circular, blade facing down, attached to a drill or drill press.

Think of an empty can with the open end all bladed :) and a bitch and ahalf to use without a drill press.

[fletch]

Very precise punch? http://www.thewolfweb.com/images/beatup.gif

Actually, you'd probably be better off with a dremel. Do you know anybody that has one? If so, try and borrow. Some jobs just can't practically be done without the right tools...

[greenman100]

12 gauge shotgun

[Scary_Penguin]

Ooh! One of those Diamond-bladed-rotating-suction-cup-window-cutter things like the spies and theives have in movies :) Knocks out a perfect hole every time! :rolleyes:

[ravenofBlight]

Originally posted by greenman100
12 gauge shotgun

hehehe......it worked for that other guy.

[Timmybighands]

You could use a pair of the "nibblers" they sell at Rat Shack for 12 bucks. Drill a hole to start and then just nibble your way around :)

[Alexia]

Nibbler!

That or start punching hard... very hard. You'll break through in no time at all!

[Blind Tree Frog]

Could do an acid burn if you have the right chemicals and venting..


proper application of heat would work too.

both might leave an interesting effect on the case too.

[Mord]

Right, £20 for a 120mm hole saw it is.

Shame as im only likley to use it once :(

[Mord]

Er, slight techical question, do i want a 114mm holesaw or a 120mm holesaw? i thought 114mm since the fan blades dont actually reach the whole 120mm, is this the case with most 120mm fans?

[glock19owner]

4-3/4” or 121mm

Better to be slighly over...then to be under and block the air flow...

[FatChance]

I second the trace idea :)

[affende]

tghe best i know is using a drill and a hole saw......but, as stated above, i hear it is quite tricky to use a hole saw qithout a drill press....good luck.



You could go to a local metal shop...or mechaninc garage.... and use an oxygen-acetylene cutting torch.

[Oroka]

Get someone else to do it :D

If all else fails... you can attempt to use tin snips... but the top panel tends to be thicker... so if it will work, it WILL be hard.

But as mentioned above, the cheepest method would be a hacksaw blade.

[isisfreak]

If you don't have a drillpress, I would get the nibbler. Holesaws are very hard to use without a drillpress. Plus you could use the nibbler more than once (wear gloves, these things will kill your hands after awhile).

[Mord]

Hmm ok, any recommended models / brands of nibbler?

[woscarr]

but the true ghetto way would be to take a block of wood and a good nail and start punchin' holes (alot of holes)

course it depends if you have a hammer. ;)

this frm a ol' newf
cheer's
woss

[shard]

take a shotgun right next to it and shoot it. it will leave a good sized hole. then file it to smoothness. very cheap and fast. eh?

[tyshy]

well....if you don't have a drill press....its ok....a hole saw still does an excellent job....just make sure to clamp down the panel you are trying to cut, and use a high torque drill and making sure the bit is as tight as possible. Using a steady pair of hands, it's not too difficult.

[Captain Slug]

I still say get a drillpress if you plan on modding any more in the future.

There's no substitute for the right tool for the job, and no way of undoing the mistake of using the wrong tool.

Just something to consider...

[Rich25]

If you don't use a drill press i would not even consider using a hole saw that big. The torque that thing is going to make on your wrist, arm and shoulder is going to be pretty big.

Rich

[proxaq]

Of course this is my ecperience.....I used a hole saw on a hand drill....I was cutting a hole in the top of of my old dragon case...I took out ALL of the components and left the panel ON the case.....I marked where the center of the fan would go...made a mark......straddled the case....let the drill bit do all the work...I then started to get to the hole part...I then just applied even, steady downforce...and it worked beautifully...no drill press needed....just a thought......need a powerful drill though...DEWALT rules

[Cjwinnit]

I made a 50mm hole in my case. I drilled a load of holes inside the mark then filed it circular.

It kinda worked.. ;)

[Mord]

I ended up using a drill, file, some sort of nibber/shear/wirecutter type tool i found in my cellar and it turned out ok.

But as you guys say, nothing compares with using the proper tools