Case Feet

[seekermeister]

I want to replace the feet on my HAF922 case, to increase air flow from the bottom fan, and to increase the height just for convenience. However, short of making my own, the only options that I'm aware of are to use either Lian Li rollers or something like these:

Machined Aluminum Case Feet

The problem with either options is that my case doesn't provide an accessible location for the mounting bolts, since they are bigger than the stock bolts, and would require drilling new holes. I could do that with 3 of them, but the fourth would need to be located where the power supply is, which is mounted on the bottom, which leaves very little space between it and the side of the case.

For these reasons, I'm beginning to think that my only solution would be to make my own, but that would entail problems of it's own, so I'm wondering if anyone know of something that I have overlooked?

 

[LiquidSnak]

How much height do you need?

 

[seekermeister]

I would like to have an additional 6", but that is not practical for feet (it would probably become top heavy). Yet, I would like to have at least 2" more than I have now.

 

[Phone Man]

Check this site for some ideas. I use this one. It pivots in the middle to adjust to the size of your case. I use velcro strips to hold it to the bottom of the case. The vertical pieces on the corners are removable. It puts my case 4" off the floor and has wheels.

Cyberguys.com Proudly Offers the Ziotek ® Brand



This one has a better view of the pivot point in the middle.



Jim

 

[seekermeister]

No thanks, I have tried some stands, but never cared for them. That is probably the only way that I could get 6" height, but I want something that permanently attaches to the case, essentially becoming part of it. The highest rollers that I know of, of this caliber are Lian Li WB-01 rollers (~1.5"), but they were somewhat difficult to mount on my HTPC case, which had the power supply top mounted. On this case, it would be much more difficult.

 

[LiquidSnak]

Are your stock feet bolted?

 

[seekermeister]

Yes, but with very small bolts...maybe 1/8" diameter. Too small for most any other feet.

 

[LiquidSnak]

Go to your local HW store and find longer bolts of the same size, but with an extra 2-3 inches in length, and a length of PVC or ABS pipe in the outer diameter the same as or smaller than your feet. PVC will have to be painted, but will be most likely available in a 2 foot length. Cut the PVC to four equal pieces that are the length you want to add via the bolts, and use as a spacer.

 

[carwiz]

Cyberguys is an excellent place for accessories, gadgets and small hardware. They have about 13-14 pages in their paper catalog dedicated to case mounts and stands. Take a look online but I noticed they have many of items spread into different classifications/pages. The link below will show the most types. There's far too many options to post here and no one can imagine your needs better than yourself.

Look under Work Space Gear: CPU Holders, Computer Stands, Under Desk Mounts, and CPU Rollers

 

[seekermeister]

Go to your local HW store and find longer bolts of the same size, but with an extra 2-3 inches in length, and a length of PVC or ABS pipe in the outer diameter the same as or smaller than your feet. PVC will have to be painted, but will be most likely available in a 2 foot length. Cut the PVC to four equal pieces that are the length you want to add via the bolts, and use as a spacer.

If I decide to improvise, I have some plastic blocks that were part of some bed risers that I have considered using, because they wouldn't look bad, and would give me a little more than 2" extra height. The problem with them is that the only convenient location to mount them would be pretty far recessed from the front and back of the case. However, since they are ~3" square, I think that they would still be a fairly stable base for the case to sit on.

The thing that has held me back from using them, is that I would need to find some pretty large rubber blocks to insert into them for traction (~2 3/4" square and ~ 1 1/4" thick). I have searched, and that is not something easy to find.

 

[Sardonicus]

Looking at the bottom of your case, I don't see anything that would hinder you from using the Machined Aluminum Case Feet. There are the two PSU risers that will give you some clearance. You can probably invert the bolt installation for more clearance. With the PSU riser clearance, it's definitely do-able.



Computer Case Mods-Install "Black Diamond" Computer Case Feet

http://www.mnpctech.com/CaseFeet.html

 

[seekermeister]

I would not be able to use those screw holes, unless I drilled them out, because on two set of feet on that website, they say that the bolts are 1/4" diameter, which is twice the size of those holes. However, as you say, it is do-able.

 

[LiquidSnak]

Go to your local HW store and find longer bolts of the same size, but with an extra 2-3 inches in length, and a length of PVC or ABS pipe in the outer diameter the same as or smaller than your feet. PVC will have to be painted, but will be most likely available in a 2 foot length. Cut the PVC to four equal pieces that are the length you want to add via the bolts, and use as a spacer.

If I decide to improvise, I have some plastic blocks that were part of some bed risers that I have considered using, because they wouldn't look bad, and would give me a little more than 2" extra height. The problem with them is that the only convenient location to mount them would be pretty far recessed from the front and back of the case. However, since they are ~3" square, I think that they would still be a fairly stable base for the case to sit on.

The thing that has held me back from using them, is that I would need to find some pretty large rubber blocks to insert into them for traction (~2 3/4" square and ~ 1 1/4" thick). I have searched, and that is not something easy to find.

I assume from traction you have your case on a smooth surface. Raising the computer with ABS or PVC risers seems to be the best option that will be reversable (we all change our minds down the road sometimes) and take minimal work. I put about a half hour of thought into it, and I think that it's easy, cheap, and effective I am not sure why you want the extra height, but the other option is to get like a scrap piece of 4x6 and put that under your case, and paint/stain/sand smooth whatever you like and use that as your riser (I needed my case out of the carpet and used a piece of scrap shelving)

 

[seekermeister]

I'm not sure exactly what you had in mind, because the size of the lumber that you mention seems excessive, and might block airflow itself, but it did get me thinking about something that I had thought of, and put on the shelf. I could cut 4 3x3 blocks of wood, and use them along with the bed riser blocks to create legs, because the actual measurement of them would be 2.5" square, which would bit inside of one side of the riser block. On the other side, which is crisscrossed with partitions, making 12 smaller spaces, I could lay a piece of flat rubber, which is much more available, for an anti-skid surface. I might even be able to use the existing screw holes to attach the feet, but since the wood screws that I would use would not match the thread pattern of the original bolts, I would have to use a smaller diameter screw, which would be pretty small, especially considering the length that I would want...I probably would still need to drill some new holes anyway.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

I've seen these and like them a lot.
Lian Li Industrial Co., Ltd.
Sorry you mention these as an option already.....great minds think alike !

 

[seekermeister]

Agreed. I have the earlier model on my other case (WB-01). instead of separate rubber bands for isolators, this appears to have o-rings inset into grooves, so that they won't slip off, like mine did. However, the problem is the same with mounting them, because they require 4 holes to be drilled for each roller set, and the only way to access the nuts that mates with the bolts, would require pulling out the power supply and flipping the case on end to drill the holes. I may do this anyway, but am somewhat reluctant to take on the task.

EDIT: I relented and ordered a set of the WB-02Bs. I really like the new o-ring design.

 

[pparks1]

I simply used 2x4's. Cut a couple of chunks and put them under my case to raise my case a bit off the phone just in case we ever get any water in our basement. It's probably not the sexy sophisticated look you want, but it's quick and easy.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Consider using double sided foam tape as it will very strong. Unless you plan to roll this on carpet I think it would make for quick and easy fix, even just double sided sticky tape should work well as long as it covers the entire truck surface.

 

[seekermeister]

I assume that you mean this as a fix for my old rollers, since the new ones wouldn't need fixing. However, double sided tape wouldn't be a good idea, as it would stick to the floor, and probably pull off. Yet, the idea still has merit, because instead of using double sided tape, I may use Velcro tape...the fuzzy side, not the hooks.

 

[LiquidSnak]

Amazon.com: Scotch® Mounting Tape, 3/4-inch x 350 Inches (110-Long): Office Products

That won't stick to your carpet, as it should just connect the rollers to the case, and not be too wide. This is the same stuff that moldings and what are stuck to cars with. Good stuff, very strong and versatile.