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If you're in the habit of giving credence to tired clichés, you're probably aware that a good chef never blames a mistake on his tools. That's not quite true when it comes to case modding. Anybody who's ever tried molding metal (or anything else) into newfound shapes knows that skill is definitely a factor, but even Modderati masters can't turn ducks into swans if their tools aren't up to snuff. On the flip side, solid tools can help novices pump out professional-looking mods.
But just what tools does a modder need in his toolkit? We're glad you asked. If you found yourself flipping through our kick-ass case mods gallery and wondering how you -- yes, you -- could craft such beautiful works with your own hands, this handy-dandy guide will get you going in the right direction. Everything from beginning tools to advanced tools to sources for super-advanced services can be found in this lengthy tome… and most of the basic tools could already be sitting in your garage.
None of this would have been possible without the help of three Modderati maestros whose innovative builds have been blazing trails and wowing onlookers for years:
Bill Owen of Mnpctech rose to fame on the back of his mod-making prowess but he's since expanded Mnpctech into a true resource for case craftsmen, selling tools and custom-made modding accessories. Mnpctech has an extensive series of video tutorials covering basic modding techniques and Bill's Case Mod Blog is a frequently updated resource. Above is the "DiRT Showdown" mod he recently made for an AMD giveaway.
Ron Lee Christianson of BHSTECH created the awesome Iron Man mod that was on display at ThermalTake's booth at Computex. He's currently working on a Captain America-themed mod and provided a lot of the pictures of basic modding tools.
Sander van der Velden (a.k.a. Asphiax) recently took Tatooine by (sand)storm with his Imperial AT-AT mod. His current work-in-progress, the VENATOR Class Republic Star Destroyer, is gearing up to be just as impressive. Sander's a scratch build fanatic who dropped a lot of knowledge about advanced techniques.
Thanks for the assist, guys. Now on to the show!
Before you pick up your first file or plug in a drill press, make sure you're dressed up in gear that'll keep you safe. Work gloves are a must, as are latex gloves and a respirator if you're working with paint or other chemicals. Doing some heavy machining? Wear some ear plugs. Anti-static straps are a good idea if you're poking around electronics. Then, there are safety glasses, which should be a mainstay on every modder's face.
"My most important tool is my safety glasses!" Bill says. His favorite pair is the "stylish and comfortable" Smith and Wesson Elite safety glasses, which he sells through Mnpctech. But what if stylish and comfortable isn't your thing? "No matter what brand or type of safety glasses you use, your safety glasses should meet the High Impact level of the ANSI Z87.1+ safety standards."
Got it? Good! Now let's crack open this toolkit.
Comments are closed on this article
Brian B.
July 02, 2012 at 6:30pm
As a concerned user of hearing protection I would recomend Sonics as they are genneraly used at shooting ranges and do the job well. I am speaking of the rubber ones with the highend accoustic filter. I can't speak of any of the newer design's though but they can be found at Amazon [Blue case and flesh colored rubber] and will not set you back an awfull lot.
How can I back this up well as a vetern user of Marshall amplifier's at 100 watt range, yes that is correct plural which I use them in the stereo mode and I have used them for a good twenty years.
Enuff said enjoy.
barbara009
June 29, 2012 at 11:04am
my classmate's aunt makes $78 an hour on the laptop. She has been without work for 10 months but last month her income was $15994 just working on the laptop for a few hours. Read more on this web site NuttyRich.com
Eoraptor
June 29, 2012 at 12:45am
Forgot to mention the most important tool of them all, Patience. (yes capital P)
Taking your time and letting your tools work for you (and especially getting to know your tools) trying to force the last few mm of your fan hole cut out will just tear the metal and leave you twice as much sanding and deburring to do, if you haven't trashed the panel entirely.
And when you rush something and it doesn't go right, you get frustrated, and go on to make another mistake, and it becomes a cycle.
Patience.
ASPHIAX
June 29, 2012 at 1:40am
Amen to that !
You cant add material you've taken of, so cut wide and file it down. Its a pain (well with a good file its not so bad) but you will prevent having to order new part cause it just doesnt look right!
thematejka
June 28, 2012 at 8:41pm
Great article, it provides excellent information to start modding. I may have to pick up that nifty hand punch.
metalsphere
June 28, 2012 at 8:08pm
This article covers the essential tools needed to build and modify custom PCs. I may reference this if I consider to build a custom PC.
Slugbait
June 28, 2012 at 3:31pm
OK, with the prospect of making eyes roll for all the trekkies hanging out here...
The Empire never deployed the AT-AT or any other walker to Tatooine. Walkers are primarily utilized for battle, and there was no rebel base on Tatooine.
Other than that, nice article ;)
Brad Chacos
June 28, 2012 at 4:46pm
I know that, but c'mon -- puns are hard enough, you gotta give me some creative license.
ASPHIAX
June 28, 2012 at 2:08pm
Who says I am not a Power Sander ??!!?? LOL !
Very nice write up Brad thanks !
Neufeldt2002
June 28, 2012 at 9:37am
Agreed, great article Brad, brings back fond memories of when I was younger and started reading Boot. Definitely need more articles like this.
kire
June 28, 2012 at 12:39am
Not to be a stickler, but your link for the "Black & Decker's RTX Rotary Tool" (pg 2) is wrong/broken (is pointing to your C drive...)
Neufeldt2002
June 28, 2012 at 9:34am
Seems to be working for me. If you are still getting a C drive start checking for viruses or other malware.
Brad Chacos
June 28, 2012 at 9:42am
I changed it right when you were posting this, it was pointing to my C Drive originally.
Insula Gilliganis
June 27, 2012 at 5:50pm
Brad, this is one of the best articles I have seen in a long time, here or any other tech website. It harkens back to the many "how to's" of boot & early MaximumPC. This article is soo loaded with info, way too much to be absorbed at even a few readings, that it will end up being a bookmarked source that will be constantly referred to time and time again. Thanks for taking the time to write it.
Brad Chacos
June 28, 2012 at 4:57am
Thanks for taking the time to read it in today's tl;dr age! (That applies to everybody, btw.)
Valor958
June 28, 2012 at 9:56am
Completely agree! Once I get home this is going on my primary PC bookmarks for modding. I knew I'd need a lot of these tools already, but having them clearly pictured and laid out like this was a huge help.
Beards unite!
Rooke
June 27, 2012 at 4:45pm
I wish I had this article a year ago when I started modding my case. It would have saved me a ton of time and frustration.
That link to working with acrylic plastic will help me a lot too.
Thanks Brad, great article!
Brad Chacos
June 27, 2012 at 2:45pm
You, sir, are right of course re: sandpaper grits. That got garbled during some editing and is now fixed. I used to spend weeks polishing sapphire rods to different surface finishes for a former employer, using nothing but diamond polish and a buffing wheel, so that never should've slipped by me.
Valor958
June 28, 2012 at 9:53am
Sounds like you got the shaft on that job %_%
*rimshot*
... sorry, had to go for it.
