See Case Mods By Mnpctech!

These are the most common Tool I use for Case Modding.


THINK SAFETY FIRST!
Safety Glasses


Respirator Mask with canister filters
Use when sanding, painting or using any hazardous chemicals


Rotary Cutting Tool
The most versatile tool for case modding. You can cut plastics, metals, grind and polish. Dremel brand is most popular. Black & Decker and Craftsman versions are also popular.




Dremel Tutorial Link



I hear a lot of complaints about cutting discs breaking when cutting metal. You need to use aluminum reinforced discs like these Reinforced Dremel Cutting Discs

Reinforced 1.5" Dremel Cutting Discs. Available here



Cordless Power drill
Minimum volts recommened 14.4V) with bit sizes 1/16 through ½ for cutting various mounting holes and
operating hole saw attachments. DeWalt brand power tools.


Hole saw attachments for Drill
For cutting fan holes in acrylic and metal.

80mm = 3” hole saw
92mm = 3.5” hole saw
120mm = 4.5” hole saw



Greenlee Knock out Punches
Greenlee part # 730EBB-120 Last time I inquired, they were around $450 in the states + Large 3/4" socket wrench, and 2" socket. I wouldn't use anything less than 19" long socket wrench. Estimated purchase price of $550 new.


Threaded shaft of Knock-out punch


Knock-out punch blade


Ready to cut hole.


You need leverage. Using 19" Socket wrench to draw in knock-out punch balde


Clean Cut


Video with Bill Owen using Greenlee Knock Out Punch




Roper Whitney No. 5 Jr Hand Punch kit available here
Hand punch (estimate $60 new)



(for cutting fan mounting holes or enlarging existing fan mounting holes for rubber silencing grommets)


Hand Punch makes clean fan screw holes. No deburring.


Jigsaw
Used for cutting panels and acrylic sheets. (minimum 18 teeth metal cutting blade) Black & Decker brand Jigsaws available here



Hand files
Deburring jagged edges on both plastic and metal.



Mouse Sander
Sanding body filler. Prep case panels for paint.



12” and 24" Combination Square Rulers
Aligning windows, fan holes etc



3M Heavy Duty Clear double sided adhesive tape #4010


Using "The Tape of the Gods"



Pop Rivet Gun
Most chassis accept 1/8” size rivets.


Metal Nibbler
Cutting case panels


Metal Tin snips
Cutting Modders Mesh & Sheet metal


Solder Gun or Pencil


Heat Gun
Heat shrink tubing, bending acrylics/plastics


More Tools, but no photos yet..

Phillips Screw drivers(variety of sizes)
Wire Stripper & Cutter
Butane Torch(for use with heat shrink tubing)
Tape Measure
Bench Vise

im on quite a tight budget but i have a dremel, a jigsaw, a soldering gun, a cordless drill, and the basics (sandpaper, screwdrivers etc)

thanks in advance

get a pencil aswell

Scroll Saw in general, Dremel 1800 Scroll Saw Station in particular.




You can find the details here but this thing is da bomb. It is a scroll saw first and foremost. What does that mean? Well, the blades are very thin and are attached top and bottom to the arm which goes up and down. This means that you can drill a hole in something and then put it on the table and put the blade through the hole and start cutting very small, intricate detail work. In some ways it can be easier to use than an actual Dremel rotary tool.

But that is not all it can do. It has a blower to blow that dust away and light so you can see what you are cutting. It also has a 5" sanding disc on the side and a rotary tool attachement. So it is a scroll saw, sander, and rotary tool all in one.

It is one of my favorite tools, even though I haven't had the opportunity to use it much yet.

Hey d***,
What did that thing set ya back .... been looking to upgrading some of my old tools.....

Gee. I got it over the summer at Home Depot, I think it was like 180 or so, but don't recall exactly.

on homedepot's site it is 239.99


homedepot sucks for linking to, the easiest way I belive to find it is search "dremel" and then it is the only result between 200-400$

That's it! It was $239 with a $50 rebate so it netted to $189.

And yes, their site sucks for linking to 'cause the urls are huge.

These clamps are awesome, I was at Lowes one day and spotted them, I thought I would pick up a set of the quick grips - not because I needed them, but I like tools allot. Around here if you want it you better buy it then or it probably won't be there. I quickly found I was using them all the time.. They come in all size's from small to large. I prefer the smaller one's for case modding.



This week - I came across these and they are just as good. They are good for holding side panels and parts while you are cutting - grinding - sanding - gluing.. Just get as many as you can afford, you will find plenty of things to use them for...



And here is the Link to Irwin's site w/ all the clamps on it..

http://www.irwin.com/irwin/consumer/jhtml/quickGrip.jhtml

As far as cut off wheels go for Dremel - For those big jobs do yourself a favor and pick up this kit..



It locks the wheel in place with a little pressure lock - they last way longer and are faster to change..
Be sure to buy the bulk pack's though after you have the holder for them it will cost you way less over time..

Dremel EZ lock

This is a nice set of cutters from craftsman. They are good for cutting heat shrink, plastics, loom etc.. Some people where complaining about getting blades but I have not crossed that bridge yet. They are a 10 out of 10 as far as I am concerned.. And very intimidating, the photo does nothing for them..



Check them out here...... they showed on sale for $19.? I think I paid quite a bit more..

Cutters

A Hot Glue Gun. These things are very handy. You can use it to hold buttons - covers or mesh etc. it place, it easier to work allot of times over slow drying, messy epoxies. you'll figure it out just pick one up..



I got one at Sears and it works fine, As far as I know they all work about the same..

Glue gun

cool thanks. my parents officially gave me my dremel and its a good one i think. also they gave me a picture of a lian li pc70b and said it was in the mail

also they said as soon as they find a wii its mine
this is prolly the best christmas ever and i havent even gotten presents from reletives

What model is it? I got myself a 300 series a few days ago...

As for tools... I can't live without my Torx 10 driver, hot glue gun, and butane soldering iron (it doubles as a torch so I don't even need a heat gun)

I also got these nifty wire strippers:


They actually have a sensor in the handle that tells you if a circuit is live. I think its cool.

its a 400 i guess. my mom said she got me a 300 but brought it back because she thought i didnt have enough other gifts lol. so then she got me the 400 and here it is

looks sweet, i plan on buying the 90 part kit from canadian tire, when i have the money

I have the Same setup ..... i think i got mine about 8 months ago. when my B&D rotary tool burned up.

Here is something I came across today. Pretty much a must have!

I am not going into detail on how this works but - It's a Craftsman bottle opener (VA-44500), I think you can figure out how to use it?

I looks kind of weak in the photo, it is about the size of a half inch ratchet...