Building a PC case out of wood

[TWills]

How bout it? Anthing I should know before I get started? Is airflow or overheating an issue?

 

[MDE]

It may be easier to find a cheap steel case that has the internal features you need, strip it to the frame and then build the wood around that. Make sure the case will take 120mm fans and it has the space for your components. Most of all, make sure to keep fan grills to a minimum. Cut a hole into the wood and screw a wire grill over the hole (or something similar).

 

[daniel49]

hardwood would obviously be better then a softwood.
Since wood needs to be approx 500 degrees to burn you should be ok on the heat.
I would be tempted to not use any sealer on the inside and put a nice finish on the outside.
heres a nice pic of one
http://www.coolcomputercases.com/wooden-computer-case.htm

I would vote for cherry or Maple

 

[CycloWizard]

Cool idea... The only thing you should really be careful with, besides the basic airflow, is to ensure proper grounding. Motherboards ground themselves to the case using the mounting screws, so take that into consideration.

 

[TWills]

hmm. I really don't know much about grounding. That may be an issue. It'll be a pain to put a wire for grounding in it. It would have to be on the inside of the case under the motherboard, going where? To the bottom?

 

[SilverMirage]

I've been thinking about that also...I wanted to build a wooden case not just for the challenge, but also because I felt it was more expressive and of course more unique than metal. With that said, I have not actually done anything yet to build one. My thought process might be of help to you though.

1. Buy a well constructed case (probably not too expensive because you only need a frame)
2. Depending on how much you want to cover the case in wood is up to you:
http://www.coolcomputercases.com/wooden-computer-case.htm
or
http://www.directron.com/contest1win.html (third place)
or
What I wanted to do was have a less structured case with a flat bottom and the sides to have contors which were natural to the wood. The case would be smooth and natural looking but not in bad taste.
Buy the kind of wood you like - ebay has a great variety. I personally wanted to make a teak case, but that wood is too expensive. I would go for any wood you find which you like. Just make sure that when you buy the wood that it is dried wood. Wood which isn't 100% dried and is exposed to 0% humidity and hot temperatures will warp - ruin the case.
3. There are all sorts of shapes you can get. Try to get something that will fit well on your case frame. Maybe even buy two kinds of wood and make a pattern - be creative. Don't get a "busy looking" wood and contrast it with a dull wood though. Wood with highlights or a flame and a nice grain will look best.
4. Be careful of the wood while cutting/shaping it. Wood can be surprizingly inconsistant and decieving (but isn't that what makes wood beautiful?). Go slowly because if you mess up, often the repair isn't as nice looking. Often one can take a piece of scrap wood with a similar grain and glue it into the hole that you made by mistake. It is hard - very hard to repair a mistake, so don't make one in the first place.
5. Be creative. Mix metal and wood or mix wood and art. Whatever you want to do - just do it carefully.


Be prepared to spend a LONG time on making this case if you want it to be a nice looking piece in your house

 

[TWills]

With that said, what ARE some decent frames I could model around? fyi, My uncle makes custom furniture for a living, so I can get some good tools from him.

 

[Zepper]

Have you considered teak? Hard to get these days because it's a rainforest hardwood - but it makes most elegant cabinetry - and you are likely never to run into another teak case... You might be able to scrounge enough scraps at a yacht building yard to make a confuser case.

.bh.

 

[CycloWizard]

Originally posted by: TWills
hmm. I really don't know much about grounding. That may be an issue. It'll be a pain to put a wire for grounding in it. It would have to be on the inside of the case under the motherboard, going where? To the bottom?

I'm not really sure how the grounding is arranged other than what I mentioned. I would ask someone in general hardware. I would imagine after thinking about it a little more that it might not be a problem, since the mobo won't short out on the wood surface, but I wouldn't hang my hat on that.

 

[TWills]

bump for further discussion. give me more ideas and things i need to be aware of or watch out for...