View Full Version : disassembling/reassembling case for paint
I just got a new case today (chenming/chieftech dragon/antec amg/ultra dragon/etc) for my new project. Im looking to break it down and paint the inside. I know how to disassemble the case; drilling out the rivets and so on. My problem is reassembling it. It looks to me that the rivets are VERY small possibly smaller than what ive seen at the store and some look countersunk.
Has anyone disassembled a cases similar before or have any suggestions on how to go about reriveting the case. Im just a bit skeptical about breaking it down and then not being able to rivet it back together. If pics are wanted I will get some.
Sshadow
07-12-05, 04:07 AM
Please take some pics, i wanna see if its smaller than the smallest i seen.
If its smaller than i could get, i would drill the holes and rerivet with a little bigger ones.
Plus if you unrivet the whole case, the possibilites you have, i think i would rearrange the 5.25 and 3.5 putting the hdd's up and put the one 5.25 at the external 3.5. For 2 92mm or one 120mm or one 150mm fan. Maybe turn the whole motherboard tray, like a Lian-li. Maybe turn the PSU 90degrees like in the TT Armor/Kandalf cases, install a fan beside it. Can't remember the measurements, but i think a 120mm should fit there.
The possibilites are endless. Plus all is upto the imagination. :D
//Christain
johnny5c
07-12-05, 05:26 AM
I have the Antec verson and it uses 1/8 rivets for the top and drive cage. If the holes on your's are smaller, you could just drill them out with a 1/8 bit. For the top of my case I replaced the rivets with small machine screws so it's easy to remove.
Enablingwolf
07-12-05, 06:21 AM
The do make really small Rivets (http://www.rivetsinstock.com/rivet60.htm). I don't think they use smaller then 1/16 though.
I perfer to use allenhead bolts(machine screws work also). If I am going to work on a case alot. That way I have deversity later on.
Rivets are about the easiest thing to do in case modding. Taking them out and replacing them have a very low skill level. A good machine shop supply house will have all the parts you might want for your idea.
Captain Slug
07-12-05, 07:54 AM
Just use bolts, nuts, and lockwashers to replace the rivets.
clocker2
07-12-05, 08:02 AM
Has anyone disassembled a cases similar before
After removing the rivet ( I much prefer to use a 1/4" drill and remove the rivet heads...the body will fall right out and you haven't buggered up the holes) you should be able to tap the holes with a 6-32 tap ( which is a standard case screw).
Then use low profile, button head allen screws to reassemble.
My entire case is held together thusly (on some of the more critical structural joints the screws are backed with washers and nuts) and can be completely stripped back down if need be.
After removing the rivet ( I much prefer to use a 1/4" drill and remove the rivet heads...the body will fall right out and you haven't buggered up the holes) you should be able to tap the holes with a 6-32 tap ( which is a standard case screw).
Then use low profile, button head allen screws to reassemble.
My entire case is held together thusly (on some of the more critical structural joints the screws are backed with washers and nuts) and can be completely stripped back down if need be.
How solid is it? I am about to tear down my case and I was going to rebuild it the way that you are talking about.
Enablingwolf
07-12-05, 09:37 AM
Ace Hardware is your best friend. You get personal service and they will hit the catalogs for you if need be. Plus you can look too. Every time I had a computer idea and went to a smaller store, even if they did not understand the result. They went and tried to look up what I needed for the application intended.
They went and tried to look up what I needed for the application intended.
Thats why I hate asking for help anywhere when modding. I need something for one application and when I go to buy it and ask for where to find it in the store or something I get some kind of bs from the people.
Anyways heres the pics. Id get some measurements but im not very good with small standard measurements and dont have a ruler around to get a metic one, but you can compare to the size of the screw for a general idea.
http://img323.imageshack.us/img323/9129/dsc005040hc.jpg
http://img323.imageshack.us/img323/2313/dsc005064pq.jpg
http://img323.imageshack.us/img323/9553/dsc005129ns.jpg
clocker2
07-12-05, 12:33 PM
I used 6-32 button head allens from Ace Hardware.
The heads are comparable to those on rivets ( a little taller, but not much) and they will typically fit right into the recesses stamped for the original rivets.
As I said, corner joints were reinforced with washers and nuts where possible (some of the channels/nooks make this frustratingly difficult) and the case is as sturdy as it was before.
I suppose that your success will hinge completely on how well designed your original case structure is.
The Silverstone (and the CM Stacker, as well) was quite rigid to begin with, any loss due to my use of screws is unnoticable.
Enablingwolf
07-12-05, 01:01 PM
Thats why I hate asking for help anywhere when modding. I need something for one application and when I go to buy it and ask for where to find it in the store or something I get some kind of bs from the people.
Edit:
When you go to ACE. They will ask the right questions if you don't or they don't know. It is not the Orange box. Tell them the application, not you are modding a computer. They will ask what are you going to do? Then tell them your intentions. 99% of the time you can get a good product to meet your needs.
If I was going to ACE. I would say I needed to join sheetmetal with a lfush fastener. They will ask what for. Tell them in a chuckle a computer case. You might be asked some specific questions about the thickness of the material. I would guess ... ???8 or 12 gauge????
Go to ACE or smaller hardware store for personal service. If you go to the big box, you will be in there on your own. Good prices no service. ACE= service and higher prices(sometimes).
I have gone in there for plumbing supplies and came out with a buttload of stuff for other projects. I got to talking and I was suggested items that may of fit the bill. :thup:
Plus them fellers who been in hardwardware for like 30+ years know the good stuff, and help alot.
I went out and bought a ruler and some other stuff so in a bit I will give you guys some measurements of the rivets. Im probably going to reassemble it with screws though.
Enablingwolf
07-12-05, 08:24 PM
A nice trick is a motorcycle shop. Even a race shop for cars. They have the really cool parts that are made for looks and are low profile. You can get the kind of fasteners that side into a hole and then an allen bolt slides right into the threads. I don't know the exact names of the parts but, this will give you a good idea of what I think would work really good and be a good load bearing solution. Maybe even a motorcycle shop would carry something for farings(sp?).
Here is two pictures to try and show you what I mean.
\Using an allen bolt that is short enough or has been modified to meet your needs.
http://img348.echo.cx/img348/2614/medianl8zk.jpg
You then slide the nut which will be flush with the back. It will make them tight spots much easier to get to. Since you just turn the allen head.
http://img348.echo.cx/img348/9070/lseries3ej.gif
I popped out the rivets for the top and bottom and it seems that the holes are SLIGHTLY bigger than that of the threads of a case screw. I can push the screw into the hole just by wiggling it.
Overall im still a bit unsure about what to do. I think I will probably just go with some machine screws and nuts though.
four4875
07-13-05, 02:53 PM
it would be nice to find case liek screws with slightly larger threads so you could just replace the rivets with the screws with a nice snug fit. im considering taking out the rest of the rivets in my case and screwing them, also considering rivets. i dunno yet.
mine is already disassembled, and because i am lazy, and it is hot outside, the painting process is going very slow, also installing windows at the same time
Joachim
07-19-05, 07:39 PM
Looks like a bunch of sound advice.
One set of pictures up there look like 3/32 flat-head pop rivets. Not terribly common, but not impossible to find. Check industrial supply houses. Downside is that you might have to buy them by the box of 100. Any good quality pop-rivet gun will have a nosepiece to fit them.
The pics that Enablingwolf posted are of a bunch of button-head caps screws, and a pair of "nutserts". Nutserts are aircraft-rated hardware. They are installed into holes and are expanded behind the sheetmetal to lock them into place. They're pretty slick, but they're a bit fussy to install properly, and you want to make sure there's enough space available for them to expand properly.
I forgot to post what I ended up doing. I bought some 8-32 screws & tap and went ahead and put the case back together using those. All went well for the most part.
i'm planning to rivet the top panel back on as soon as i finish the painting and install the window. right now all i have left for painting is clear coats and rubbing compound. then its back together.
Can I use screws to replace the rivets? Why can we use allen nuts but not normal screws? I have the same worry that I either can't find the same rivet heads or the pieces are not strong enough when I rivet them back (getting out of shape, wobbly, etc).
killem2
01-21-10, 04:49 PM
Can I use screws to replace the rivets? Why can we use allen nuts but not normal screws? I have the same worry that I either can't find the same rivet heads or the pieces are not strong enough when I rivet them back (getting out of shape, wobbly, etc).
Main reason is the threads on screws are generally not the same universal thread spacing as bolts so you can secure it with a nut.
:sn: Yes? 99% sure on that.
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