Thread: Building a Computer Case out of Wood - amateur woodworker.

Hi Mitch

I've built the sort of thing you are thinking about.

MDF is fine if you are going to paint it, otherwise it looks like MDF, which isn't so cool.

Pine would be OK, it's real wood and easy enough to work with

For a window you can route out a dado or groove in the frame and use that to hold the glass / perspex in place. Thats what I've done on my machine. Otherwise cut a rabbet or step on the inside of the frame, sit the glass in place and tack / glue a bead to hold it in place. Think picture frame / wooden window frame here.

I've attached a couple of pics, the first is during the construction, you can see how the perspex is held in place by the groove in the uprights.

The others are the finished PC, gotta love the mini-ITX boards for building custom PCs, they aren't high powered but they fit anywhere and dont need 300w of power supply / cooling.

Cheers

Ian

For your project veneered MDF would probably be the answer. as wood will moove overtime with changes in humidity, having all of those electrical bits inside a pine box may not be condusive to it being stable. With veneered MDF you could then make it look like it was made out of an expensive wood.

As for the window, you would just need to rebate the window into the side, just like they do with a cabinet door.

I have seen a couple of wood cases somewere on the net (a google search will probably turn it up), good luck, they always look good. Keep us informed on your progress and post lots of pictures, it will be a fascinating project to watch.

Originally Posted by mitch01

I'm currently looking into/drawing up designs for a new computer case, made entirely of wood.

- Mitch

This might give you some inspiration

Wooden Computer

Have a look here (it's been posted before) http://www.extremetech.com/slideshow...99&po=1,00.asp

I worked in IT for 30 years and I've seen plenty of powersupplies with smoke coming out of them and scorch marks on motherboards when CPU fans fail. I would be interested to know what effect, if any, the heat in a computer would have on the chemicals used to bond MDF and chipboard. Would the heat leech some of those toxic chemicals out of the wood.
I've been thinking of building a desk with an inbuilt computer but the fire risk is something to take into consideration when determining the type of timber..

I don't think that the heat generated by a computer would be enough to effect the MDF. The hottest my main PC ever got was 75degC and that was measured in between the CPU and the mainboard. The ambient temp inside the case peaks at about 50degC on a really hot day. You would do more damage by sitting a hot cup of coffee on the MDF.

Realistically - about as much risk as a plastic case

Power supply should be kept in it's steel box as thats the most likely to actually burn. Your cooling fans should keep the general air temp inside the case down to 10 deg above room temp, if they dont, you need more fans / vents.

Remember all the old TVs and valve radios, they all had wooden boxes, and they would generate some heat, OK, some even caught fire, but it was unusual.

If you were really worried you could mount some sheet aluminium between the wood and anything you thought might get too hot.

Cheers

Ian

Plastic cases have an internal metal RF shield, to prevent radiation of frequencies that affect radios and many other devices. Steel is a natural shield and sometime the metal provides an earthing shield path for the motherboard. Forget wood unless you'r eprepared to shield the case.

True most cases have RF shielding built into them, but it's not really necessary, well unless you are really unlucky and your motherboard runs the same frequency as the neighbours cordless phone or something.
Yes there may be a little more RF noise radiated, but my TV, radio etc still work, even if a PC is running on the bench with NO case.
You can buy cases with clear perspex windows in the side, not much RF shield there. They probably dont comply with FCC regulations, but they dont jam airport radars or anything either.

You are correct about the shielding, just it's not really a big issue

Cheers

Ian

..... looking around the room at the wooden PC and all the others with covers off Can still watch TV, talk on the cellphone etc