Makin holes, part 2

[Doorbasher]

I have a crapload of fans lying around. 92s, 60s, and a *lot* of 80s. My case has spots for 3 80 mm fans. I want more than that. Can someone hook me up with the proper procedure for cutting a gaping hole in an expensive tower case and then screwing a fan into it?

[Haysoos]

i dont think there is a "proper" procedure. Just a dremel, a drill, and a pencil to mark where the damage happens. Im sure theres articles on the subject somewhere, but i dont know where any are. This is the kind of topic i said this place should have an article on, because it seems simple until you get out the dremel, look at the case and ask "what the f**k am I doing?!"... someone here make an article on making pretty holes in your computer for pretty (or ugly) fans for one of the main page articles...

[OtterPop Junkie]

Have you got a corded drill, if so look for a hole saw. That should be pretty easy do. Even better if you have access to a drill press, somehow.

[AMGpower]

Ive been wondering the same thing. What drill bit would you use for the dremel. I have a couple but would it be like the little disc one or more of a rotary cylinder one?

[Tanaban]

Bit-tech Article on dremels (http://bit-tech.net/article/101/) is a nice read.

[K]

I would recommend:

Holesaw (slightly smaller than 80mm).
Benchpress Drill or access to.
or High Power Hand Drill.
SLOW RPM.
Block o' wood.
Coolant (liquid based or even some Tallow ... lard works too).

If you use a holesaw, go slowwwww.

Otherwise, you best have a Dremel, a billion cutting discs and a very steady hand.

[Doorbasher]

Well, I have a Dremel and a bunch of those reinforced cutting sics. It's not so much the hole that the air goes through that worries me, it's the holes that the fan screws go through. I have some other bits/wheels/etc that came with my dremel, but I don't know what they are or which ones I have.

[AMGpower]

Use a drill bit. ;)
Woa is this the new wink

[ToxicSoup]

I've cut plenty of holes in my case.. and in others. The way I did it was with a dremel. Get a fan and mark off where you want the hole to go then do your best to mark off the circle. Or cut something as big as the opening needs to be. Make sure to mark the screw holes as well. this is all done with a pencil.

Cut the big hole first. Make sure and put two layers of masking tape around the area you are cutting, so if you do slip it wont damage the panel. Make sure and go slow, let the dremel do the cutting for you. Also make sure you cut inside the circle a little bit, you can do trimming and sanding later.

As for the screw holes... make sure you have very strong drill bits. A drill press would be the best way to do this. I had a lot of trouble using my piece of shit cordless drill, and went through 2 drill bits.

Good luck.

[OtterPop Junkie]

If you decide to use a drill to drill the holes I suggest you get a good quality drill bit set or just the individual drill bit, like this (http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=NAVIGATION&CNTKEY=market%2fpg_zip_code.jsp&BV_SessionID=@@@@2027202157.1042685578@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdeadchfiglmjjcgelceffdfgidgkk.0&catOID=100014760&DRC=4&source=HOMEPAGE) one. I highly recommend you buy cobalt bits if your case is metal because they are tougher and disipate heat better than cheaper. If it is plastic just buy a good qualtiy bit and go slow so you dont burn up the plastic. Good luck.