Wooden Case - Help and Ideas?

[Kamui]

I've been looking into ideas that would save me a bit of money and still look good as far as cases go. I figure what the heck? I can build a wooden case with as many fans and 5.25" slots as i can ever want or need.

My problems stem form the following: Having a laptop only, i have no reference materials for measuments. I also have no idea about how to go about mounting the motherboard to such a case.

The things i need as far as measurments go are things like the specs on a 5.25" drive bay. Width, Height, and Depth. The same with 3.5" drives. I'd need measurements for PCI slots and power supplies. Can anyone else think of any other measurements that i'd need?

[Mark620]

If I were you, I would buy a cheap case and start from that.

[mateo]

I started on a wood case last year, dropped it because of time and crappy results, but I may finish it this fall...

First off, try to find a motherboard tray. Making your own, especially if you want all the PCI screwed down and everything, isn't worth it.

5.25 bays are 5.75" x 1.625" on the front, depth usually 6-7".
3.5 bays are 4" x 1", depth maybe 4-5", I'm guessing on that very last one.
Check product listings for further dimensions, they're usually given.

A good material to work with is birch, not solid but in like a plywood-composite-ish form (forgot the exact term, plywood sounds too cheap). It gives a really smooth, slick finish. Pine has an ugly grain compared to it IMHO. If you can, try to do a door, then just exposed 5.25 fronts behind it for the easiest and cleanest look. Also, and this is stretching it, but if you can, find some way to cover the wood seams with something else. Just an aesthetic thing, but its an easier way to perfect things. Maybe I'm giving away too many of my ideas ;), but I don't mind, I might not be able to finish mine anyway- haven't even restarted. Another continuation of that theme is to take a case and keep the front, but cut away the sides except for the edges and panel with wood- you have the wood look but still with the framing of a case underneath.

[sautegod]

I would go and buy a cheap case, as cheap as you can find, then rip everything off the chassi then build around that. that was my plan when I was going to make a case with diamond plate.

[Kamui]

I'm already looking to find an old case or two that i can salvage parts from. The mobo tray and the drive bays I'll steal and use when i get aroudn to building. As soon as i get those i can probably startbuilding the case. I dont have the money for the computer components...prolly wont for a while....but ti'll give me soemthing to do in my free time. With as much free time as i'll have on my hands to work on this it'll turn out nice.

I'll need to design some kind of side panel lock so i can take the side panel off and put it back on when i need to work inside the case. Talking to one of my friends i'm going to put two fans on top and a fan controller "box" mounted on top. As soon as i can get my salvaged parts though i'll be able to start drawing up plans :)

[StreetPharmacy]

Actually, while it is expensive, and requires a pilot hole to use screws in, Cherry is a very nice and strong wood for this type of purpose. I would also reccomend Oak, and Cedar. But remember this stuff cracks easily if not used correctly, ask a local lumberyard or the nice friendly man at Lowe's for help.

[Westline]

Often times at fry's electronics, cases are on sale for like 20 or 30 bucks with a psu. That would save you the time and probally be less expensive than the wood and hardware would cost.