A wooden computer case idea. What are your thoughts?

[thready]

I was thinking that after I get a job I would make a wooden computer case.

I am pretty good at wood working. I would make the side panel a wood door like you see on a cabinet. I was thinking of having 2 120mm front intake fans, 2 120mm side intake fan on the door, a 120mm rear exhaust fan, and a top 140mm exhaust fan. I have a similar combination on my HAF 922 and the ventilation is perfect for dust and cooling. I would use metal fan grills for the fans and mesh dust filters for the intake fans.

Since the motherboard holes need to be precise and because tiny standoff holes wouldn't allow for sturdiness with the motherboard because it would have too much give in it, I was thinking of gutting an HAF 912 and screwing the inside motherboard plate (whatever it's called) to the inside of the wood case. Then I would create some holes in the plate and screw that into the wood with some glue on the screws to keep it in place and then screw the motherboard into that. I would do the same for the hard drive bays. I probably won't do any 5.25" bays though because I haven't used them in a long time and I don't plan on putting in a DVD drive.

Some problems I would run into are how to create a power button and how to create the LEDs for the power and HDD activity. I know it can be done but I've never done it before. Since wood is an insulator, it might insulate the case but good ventilation can fix that, and I believe that I have good ventilation. I might use a closed loop for my CPU and use the rad fan as the rear exhaust fan. I honestly don't think my hard drives, SSDs, RAM, and graphics card are going to create too much heat. I don't overclock so I think it should be fine. I would use the same parts I have now and I taped some thermometers to the inside and outside of my HAF 922 case. I have been running furmark and prime95 for 20 minutes now and I will check the temps in a minute. If they aren't too hot then I think these parts will work in a wood case.

 

[Mellon Head]

It's an interesting idea, I'll give you that.

You could certainly make a nice case out of different types of wood laminated together and properly finished. If you do this, I really hope you'll post some pictures!

If you're going to gut a HAF 912, you could always use the power button and LEDs from it...

 

[thready]

I like your signature.

Yeah I will definitely post pics but these sorts of projects usually take me 3-4 months because I don't work on them continuously. I might stop for 2 weeks at a time and do something else and then when I get bored I'll come back to it. I want the front and the side to have doors like an end table cabinet if you can imagine that. I would put a magnetic latch on them like you see on an end table. I would just have to keep the hard drive away from it.

It definitely won't be a powerful PC. It's like when you do a mineral oil build. You don't put an R9 290 or an i7 CPU in a mineral oil build. You usually use cheaper parts.

 

[smarteyeball]

As long as you've got enough ventilation - wood away

 

[Layback Bear]

A sit you might get some ideas from.

https://www.google.com/search?q=WOOD+COMPUTER+TOWER&client=firefox-a&hs=jDU&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&tbm=isch&imgil=ApQg1S0tIj0sUM%253A%253BoTTV3o1gB4P_CM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.neatorama.com%25252F2012%25252F01%25252F06%25252Faerodyne-art-deco-inspired-computer-case-mod%25252F&source=iu&usg=__FlLTCPHjlC-qWS-y-epzmBh4--0%3D&sa=X&ei=rJ7oU4H6EK3IsATWloGYDA&ved=0CFAQ9QEwBQ&biw=1024&bih=683#facrc=_&imgdii=ApQg1S0tIj0sUM%3A%3B4TFeM_jbkk7UlM%3BApQg1S0tIj0sUM%3A&imgrc=ApQg1S0tIj0sUM%253A%3BoTTV3o1gB4P_CM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.neatorama.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2012%252F01%252Fad1-539x550-500x510.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.neatorama.com%252F2012%252F01%252F06%252Faerodyne-art-deco-inspired-computer-case-mod%252F%3B500%3B510

Because wood doesn't dissipate heat well think on more fans.

 

[NoN]

As Suggested Layback B, you can also get some out those:

Wood Computer Modding Desk

To insulate i would use 2mm aluminium tray to pad the inside and let 2mm with spacers between wood and it.

 

[fireberd]

Something to consider, as a potential issue. Wood is not an RFI shield and thus there could be problems with interference.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

My biggest concern with an all wooden case would be weight. I would build the frame, cages ,side, top, back, and bottom panels, etc. from aluminum and clad the top and sides of the case with wood veneer or really thin plywood. The only solid wood I would use might be the front panel.

 

[fireberd]

I would also use metal mesh of some type for the front.