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This is one of the cheaper ways to make your own
blowhole. To make the "perfect" blowhole you
would need a drill and a hole saw. A hole saw is just
a round bit for a drill. This requires either a drill
and the bit or a drill press and the bit.
This mod is without either.
Here are the parts needed.
-Rotary Tool (Dremel)
-Sandpaper (or a
file)
-Coax cable (or
a nice thick cable)
-Template for hole: --> 60mm
80mm
92mm
120mm
-Custom
fan grill (optional)
-Sharp knife or razor
-Supper glue or rubber cement
-Scissors
First you need to make sure
the piece to be modded is clean on both sides. These
old Micron cases came with ESD backing that needs to
be removed. Just pull and it pops off. If doing this
you should be wearing safety glasses, the little plastic
rivets shoot off like a pellet gun. Also be aware that
case metal can be very sharp, like razors - thus the
gloves.
Download your template and
print it off. Get out your scissors and cut out the
template.
If your panel is already
painted nice, use some masking tape on the area to be
cut (mine is not painted yet - just showing how it's
done). Lay this template on the piece to be modded and
trace this with a pencil or a grease pen.
Once traced, take your dremel
and a reinforced cutting wheel and start chopping. Don't
worry about getting it super even, just get near the
line and not over.
As you can see I did not
get too close to the line. Now grab your dremel,
a barrel sand bit and start going around in the middle
to smooth out the ruff edges. Use sandpaper (or a file)
to smooth out the edge. I used 400 grit.
Now take the same bit and
make the inner circle "sharp". Lay the sander
at an angle and sand so the inside makes a "point".
Do this on both sides and your hole will be blade-like.
The reason for this step is so the molding slips over
the edge easier. This step is not necessary if your
cutting a hole on metal. Also drill out your screw holes.
Now to make the molding.
Take a piece of wire that should be long enough. I found
some soft s-video cable that was shinny, however I do
not recommend "soft" wire. The harder wire
is much easier to work with. I went with a coax (RG-6)
cable.
Lay the wire out strait.
Take your razor or sharp knife and make a slit all the
way down. Try to keep this strait, go slow due to the
wire will try to roll and move.
Once a slit is made use something
to poke the wire out (just to get it started).
Pull out all the wire inside.
Lay your "molding"
around the hole and make sure it's going to be long
enough. Longer is better than shorter. Try to fit it
on the hole for a "test run". Now use your
glue of choice and put it on the "edge" that
we made (only a couple inches at a time). Push and hole
the couple inches you glued until the glue is dry.
Work your way around the
hole by holding and pushing - making sure the glue is
dry before you move on. When you get toward the end,
have your scissors ready and cut off the extra. Cut
"longer" then you think you need, trimming
down when needed (you don't want to get it too short-
the soft rubber will stretch).
There you go, your PC will
breath easier. If this case was painted it would look
great. You will need a good fan grill as well.
If you have the drill and
hole saw, head on over to Linear1.org
to get the "proper" instructions in making
a blowhole. My write-up is for those people (like me)
who are on a budget.
~Burke
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