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Custom Cases?

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obiwan168

Junior Member
I've always wanted a sweet looking case with a cool paint job, something along the lines of Falcon Northwest Style, but I've never found out how to get one.

It seems like no one sells custom painted cases, and dropping 5 grand for a PC just for that cool looking case is out of question. So where can I get one? I am truly confused...

 
Well, for about a grand you can get "custom" painted Cooler Master cases (I've seen 'em listed at Newegg and SVC). Keep your eye out for a severe price cut as I doubt they are selling at all well at the original prices - after all, who'd want a custom case that anyone else can buy?.. Looks like the Egg gave up on them and the price is down by $400. or so at SVC on the Mystique 632 based ones - couple hundred more for 830 based ones.

If you are near a reasonable size city (and even some smaller ones), there is probably at least one hot rod and/or motorcycle and/or general airbrush artist and you could get a really custom job. The local Harley shop is a good place to start your search for an artist.

Welcome to the forums.

.bh.
 
If you want to see a really awesome custom built case check out the links below, it's a case that my friend made. He's a furniture maker so he knows his way around the wood shop. Though I believe this is the first computer case he's made. Was built completely from scratch, the only things he took from a retail computer case was the cd drive/HDD trays and the rear IO shield and PCI slot covers. Even the motherboard tray was designed by him, I think it's plexi. Really a neat thing, his son also made a case with a 1940's wooden radio motif.

I'm also in the process of modifying an old full tower case that I have, putting a plexi window on the side, making mounts for water cooling system, and a double hard drive tray to fit in the cd rom bay. It's definitely not as elaborate as this scratch built case but it's functional. I was actually going to buy the Antec 900 case but it's so expensive and why even buy a new case every time you build a computer when you can just modify the one you have or just build a new one.

The computer tech I used to go to had an athlon xp rig with a micro board. His case for that was a mobo tray for the back, a piece of plexi for the top and side, the bottom was a piece of stained ply wood and he had two 80mm fans for front and back. I think the entire case was only as big as the micro ATX board and all the drives sat at the bottom. A case like that would cost maybe 20 bucks.

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If you just want a custom paint job I would seek out an air brush artist, or you could just do it yourself if you wanted just a solid color and no graphics. Heres a link to directrons computer paint section, I don't know if it'd be any good but it's a place to start.

http://www.directron.com/painting.html
 
If you are just looking for a custom paint job on a existing case. You could try going to the local college and posting a flyer on the bulletin board for an artist who does airbrushing. College students are always needing more cash. Maybe the local art supplier would be able to give you a reference on someone who can airbrush. A lot of tattoo artist also do airbrushing. Try the local auto body shops and see if any of the painters have artist skills. There are sign businesses that paint signs on store front windows someone like that might be able to help. Just some suggestions on how to find an artist.
 
mnpctech.com does custom case work. I've never used them though, so I have no idea on prices, turn-around time, etc.
 
Welcome to AT!!

What all are you looking for? A 100% one off case? A heavily modified case or just something with a little bling to impress your buddies? There are a few of us around that do custom work. I'm backed up about 3 months right now though from being sick recently but, I would be happy to help you decide what you want done and help you find someone to do it. Aigomorla has a few friends on xtremesystems that may not be as far backed up as I am.
 
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