Is a shroud made of cardboard and duct tape good enough?

[Roger24]

Will that decrease performance too much? Just asking, cause it would be much easier to make than a metal one (saw something like that on the FrankenCooler II article)

 

[cw823]

My guess it would be functional.....though I'm sure you won't be posting any pics of it online!

 

[NASsoccer]

My guess it would be functional.....though I'm sure you won't be posting any pics of it online!

haha

but by all means if it works then do it. I am sure a much better solution is out there but that is not what this thread is about. I say go for it and post pics anyway I am going to make a duct out of plexi- it won't be the most efficient one but i know it will get the job done

 

[Iron Hawk]

When it comes to ducts and shrouds anything will work. If you keep all of the seams airtight a cardboard shroud will work just as good. The only thing that may hinder the performance ever so slightly is the fact that cardboard may be slightly rougher than metal, desturbing the airflow just a little tiny bit.

 

[Iron Hawk]

I am going to make a duct out of plexi- it won't be the most efficient one but i know it will get the job done

Plexi is nice because you can see into it.

 

[KingB]

I'm making one out of ducting sheet metal and HVAC aluminum foil tape. I think it will look arlright and be function. It will be easily cut with a pair of tin snips too. Not promising any pics until it is done though LOL.

Just as easy as carboard and duct tape, but will look a little more professional.

 

[Roger24]

Thanks for the replies. I'm not so worried about looks, since I'm not into that kind of modding
I'll make one of cardboard then.
Is the optimum depth of the shroud determined by the size of the fan, or is around 1" optimal?

 

[Ugmore Baggage]

I'd be afreaid of putting any bare metal into my case.

I'm going with plexi, when I get around to it -- right now I have cardboard in it (my case badge says "Cardboard inside" LOL). I think wrapping all the edges of the cardboard with duct tape helps... alright call it a superstition but that's what I did -- I think Red Green would agree.

 

[NASsoccer]

Plexi is nice because you can see into it.

exactly

 

[res0r9lm]

I would think cardboard would absorb some of the vibrations from the fan reducing noise

 

[MiseryQ]

Cardboard works just fine for me... I think it does take some of the noise...

 

[Iron Hawk]

I would think cardboard would absorb some of the vibrations from the fan reducing noise

HMM.. good thinking res0r9lm!

 

[plague]

i use a cardboard shroud, works just fine. its held onto the rad with paperclips bent to make some sweet hooks

 

[Roger24]

Interesting, I didn't even think of the noise reduction issue
But the fan is gonna have to be screwed on to the case, so I wonder if there are any simple, easy ways of reducing vibration noise from the fan even more when mounting it to the case, like rubber washers or something?

 

[res0r9lm]

Interesting, I didn't even think of the noise reduction issue
But the fan is gonna have to be screwed on to the case, so I wonder if there are any simple, easy ways of reducing vibration noise from the fan even more when mounting it to the case, like rubber washers or something?

some O-rings or rubber washers at the hardware store should work

 

[res0r9lm]

thin coat of silcone will also work. I used velcro on mine (industrial strength)

 

[Roger24]

Thanks for the tip.

 

[Diggrr]

Make the shroud 2" thick and put the fan on the inside. Then the cardboard would be your vibration damper.

 

[mcrites]

I just got 2 shrouds from dtekcustoms and they are pretty nice for the lazy/no tools among us. They should fit most of the small heatercores, and they have a neoprene sealing against the heatercore . They are held on by bolts inserted through the heatercore. The only problem I had with it is the hole in the middle of the shroud is razor sharp, I think I cut my hand a dozen times forgetting how sharpt it was while putting it on.

 

[Lou Natic]

If you're worried about the cardboard being too rough for smooth airflow, you could always use that clear lamination stuff on-top of the cardboard. If you're creative, you could figure out a way to use it to cover the seams and round them off a bit.