Woodwork _ Metal work advice needed

[CyberHippie]

I am after some people that can work with wood and/or metal, namely brass.

I am working on a project, which is to build a steampunk PC case and possibly take the Idea a bit further.

 

Im not asking for money at all, just some ideas and pointers to get a demo PC case assembled before chasing down some capital.

If someone has some free time and patience to teach me, I would be very appreciative.

 

This is the concept I would like to build, but of a design that comes from the advice I get.

 

 

 

email me at [email protected] if you can lend some advice

[CyberHippie]

Steampunk rocks:-) I'm assuming you've seen this DIY project, a bit of an easier start: http://steampunkworkshop.com/lcd.shtml

 

Yes.. I have seen most of the DIY tutorial...

I want to get it out from workshops and mainstream. Just need the first demo unit... I have the website and will start small and develop it like Alienware has done.

 

Thanks for the comment.... I agree, Steampunk rocks and I hope you check out my site when I finish building it.

[hungryandy]

Getting dimensionally stable timber in Thailand is next to impossible.

I have tried teh Teak trim shops that sell all sorts of pre carved and milled moulded sections and that thimber is the most stable - but that a relative thing.

It still warps , splits and shrinks within a short time.

 

When ever I have tried for Kiln Dried timber i get a "dumb Falung" look. they understand what I want but cant figure why any one would bother, and they certainly dont know of any wood merchants that do it.

 

All other timber is fresh sawn. It takes about 3 years for a pre cut log to dry naturally if its in good surroundings. Most of the logs they saw here are about 3 months to 3 days.

the best I got once was timber from logs that were bought up from Phuket about 20 months previous and stored under cover.

Still shrank but only about 30% of normal.

Rarley see Thais working in Brass - more likley to find them working in Stainless.

[CyberHippie]

Thats what I am talking about...

This is the sort of advice I need...

 

I am suprised that anyone on this forum knows what steampunk is... Nice to meet you

 

I few years back, I started a company with just 20 dollars, doing all the code work etc... 3 months into the business I was told to give as others have tried to do what I was doing and failed and I still had to borrow $ for food as I was still broke.... 6 months into the business I bought my first RADO watch.... 12 months later my business turned over a bit more than a million and a half USD.... (However I am broke again and looking for the next project that I will have more control over with less govt regulations)

 

The secret to getting anything done is to just keep at it.... I know what can be done and I know that if I build it... they will buy....

Market right and the rest will follow...

Sure.. many may want Steampunk and less will be able to afford it...

If I am after a steampunk case, I know others are too...

The logic to think the cases will only sell to steampunk people is not accurate, as the cases themselves even though will be steampunk, will also have the victorian style as well and I know many many people who prefer old stuff than the high tech products. Products are really intended for those a little tired of having the place where they have their computer look like an office, instead of complementing the home... That in itself is a niche market... as there will be other products to be released overtime with the "in the office" theme....

 

Its a pity that so many people want Steampunk but few can actually make it or have the time to make it...

I just want to fill the niche... Its not productive to think others have tried and failed at it... I will just do it...

 

So what if I only sell 1000 units per annum... @ $1500 each... I am happy at that....

I used to test pre-release hardware for some firms a few years back as well as having my own game review website, so when I have the case ready, I may possibly sell complete systems for those that have disposable income and crave for unique items...

Mass production is not in my gameplan...

 

I have the domain name for the selling of the units....

 

The units will be sold globally only via a website I have yet to construct... My market never has been thailand... (sorry... I didnt mean to make this a sales pitch... just adding to the WHY i want to do this project)

 

BTW.. Here is a wallpaper I made ... in case your interested... I am a graphic artist/web designer - System builder by trade... and ex PC shop owner in OZ...

 

 

Edited June 9, 2009 by CyberHippie

[hungryandy]

Compared to what they have in China:-)

 

Teak is the most dimensionally stable wood in the world, it's the grade that's the issue. The good stuff is mostly for export, Thai's won't pay those kind of prices for "just wood".

 

Even some "B" grade stuf would be OK if its properly dried - but its just not part of the mind set.

Even teh timber in the best 5 star hotels here is bent and twisted after a couple of years - so like even teh top end custom furniture guys cant find it and / or wont pay for it.

 

ALTERNATIVE.

In Oz we have a timber called TASMANIAN OAK. Its reasonably high density and is ALWAYS sold as fully kiln dried and DAR - no rough sawn available. Beautiful timber - extremely strong and dimensionally extremely stable. I have seen the occasional piece of it in places like Home Pro in their "dressed timber" section. Not often and not much. So some one is exporting it.

I also remember being surprised at seeing it mentioned on a US woodworking site some years agao - so may be worth a hunt around in the specialist shops.

[LaaMok]

steampunk was searched 550,000 times last month! Might be worth me getting a site up there!

[ROOTER]

http://www.woodbin.com/calcs/wdpick.htm

[CyberHippie]

thanks guys...

All good info

[runabout]

Hello there *waves*

 

hope you dun mind but i saved the pick to my HD and mailed it my buddy. Well that was necesseray because hes quite like a lil prince if not even a king in case modding (hes well known in the german casemoddin scene).

 

He suggest you use a normal metal pc case where you can remove the platic front on top of the tube, or even half way in the tube. For the tube he suggested you use an aluminium one about 2-4mm thick. Metal he told me has the advantage that you dun have hazzle about stability and the wood can be very thin and easy mounted or glued onto the metal case. Also with metal case you have a possibility to case the edges and leave for the wood a bit space in the edges so its not affected by heat or cold to much (dunno if i explain correct its hard to do technical stuff if you not have an english mothertongue).

 

For the instruments at the front you can easy use amperemeters and voltmeters as you can buy em in round forms and easy mod em to steampunk he suggested. The cooling should be made a watercooling so you can use the copperpipes outside effective, even the cooling radiator could be mounted outside and made a steampunk look he thinks. A nice gimmick would be using a sound generator from the small model trains which makes steamsounds whenever you switch the system on.

 

That was his ideas when i talked to him 10 mins ago, i think he will tell me more if he thinks long enuff.

 

Hope i could help a lil.

[CyberHippie]

Thanks runabout...

 

I am taking all this info in and will take bits and peices of the information that I need to create a repetable design.

I will be using a case internals and build around it...

I have noticed many of the well known steampunk modders using copper? sheets that are templated and cut to create the edges. This part of the design aspect is what I see as a real letdown as it just looks "added on", so I am now looking at creating generic molds of trim that can be cut and trimmed as needed, with reciprical corner/edges made to fit, as that will create a more authentic perspective and also allow for less skilled people to assemble the units and maintain identical production.

 

Ive decided to learn rhino 3d, so will design the case as a 3d model, which if done good enough, can be used for the website as a demo version of the unit that will go on sale.

 

The pic of that Steampunk case is all over the net, so no worries on taking it.

I hope you liked the wallpaper... creating the leather look was tough as I couldnt find a texture that I liked, so I made my own.... I havent played around with photoshop to create a complex image for a while, so I am happy how it all turned out....

Edited June 11, 2009 by CyberHippie

[CyberHippie]

Does anyone know how to give wood the burned/rusted look without it destroying the texture of the wood to much?

 

After I apply the "look" I would like to apply some coats of oil/shine/gloss to it.. would this create a problem....

 

I made a quick image showing the brass plate on top of wood with a burnt/rust look to it...

 

Edited June 14, 2009 by CyberHippie

[CyberHippie]

Thanks... I will check that site out.

 

Hopefully someone in this forum has a workshop and can give me some hands on tips

 

I appreciate your help katandmilo

 

BTW.. I think I may have solved the wood issue... I will try and find a place where they sell wood flooring material and grab some samples to take home and play around with...

 

I would assume its long lasting and can hold a polish ...

Edited June 14, 2009 by CyberHippie

[CyberHippie]

katandmilo...

Your link is great... i also ended up at another great site..

 

For anyone that would like videos on subjects... you must take a peek at this wonderful site http://www.expertvillage.com/categories.htm

[CyberHippie]

Yes I have thought about that....

Since it will take time to develop the first case... (I want to extend the quality and make it look more precise and repeatable), the site customsteampunk.com will offer free use of the site for people to sell their creations and will also allow for me to create peices for sale. This will need to be for a specified period of time to allow for growth of the site and recognition, after all it will be a commercial project. Then at a later time, the units I have created can take center stage, the parts can be second, with user projects moved into a more specialized category, thereby capitalizing the site as much as possible, to increase production and take steampunk out of the makers realm and more mainstream.

 

Thats my plan and I can see no areas that I have left open, while still maintaining a healthy community, recognition for the brand and greater public exposure that will come from sites like engadget, tomsharware and other well known reputable information portals.

[DocHoliday]

In addition to a functional door to access your computer, add a faux door. Inside the faux door put some stuff like turning gears and pushrods, etc.

 

You could even put a live hamster running on a wheel inside!

[CyberHippie]

Hamster... interesting thought... Might be an issue with customs though...

 

Kat..... I dont suppose you have any creations you could post here?

[dontheturner]

Thanks... I will check that site out.

 

Hopefully someone in this forum has a workshop and can give me some hands on tips

 

Hello. Cyberhippie, First off, I am miles from your base! I am down, or is that across? in Ubonratchathani. Second, I have a wood workshop, - fully fitted for doing woodturning. Third - it is my hobby, for 50 years ( Not my Trade). Fourth, there is a wood yard, and furniture business, (I only found discovered 2/3 weeks ago, so hardly know them) and they Kiln dry all the wood they use for furniture. But they also sell wood. They handle Bradoo, Can, SaK, Ching Chan, and I have also seen Palung & Tabak there. in large sizes, and I mean lots of it. (my Thai Wife scrounged samples) if you want to come and see me, we can accommodate you, and we are only ten minutes from the Airport.. The place I mention, is near Siringtorn Dam, just outside of Phi Bun. Regards Don ([email protected])

[CyberHippie]

Thanks... I will check that site out.

 

Hopefully someone in this forum has a workshop and can give me some hands on tips

 

Hello. Cyberhippie, First off, I am miles from your base! I am down, or is that across? in Ubonratchathani. Second, I have a wood workshop, - fully fitted for doing woodturning. Third - it is my hobby, for 50 years ( Not my Trade). Fourth, there is a wood yard, and furniture business, (I only found discovered 2/3 weeks ago, so hardly know them) and they Kiln dry all the wood they use for furniture. But they also sell wood. They handle Bradoo, Can, SaK, Ching Chan, and I have also seen Palung & Tabak there. in large sizes, and I mean lots of it. (my Thai Wife scrounged samples) if you want to come and see me, we can accommodate you, and we are only ten minutes from the Airport.. The place I mention, is near Siringtorn Dam, just outside of Phi Bun. Regards Don ([email protected])

 

Sounds GREAT...

I will definately like to come see you when I have a break from my current work (I create websites)...

I have a website that will be built around the first of the custom cases and hopefully, we can get some popularity started and get some of these cases sold around the world At least thats my goal.

 

Thanks Dontheturner

[dontheturner]

ame='dontheturner' date='26 August 2009 - 02:59 PM' timestamp='1251273545' post='687220']

 

 

Sounds GREAT...

I will definately like to come see you when I have a break from my current work (I create websites)...

I have a website that will be built around the first of the custom cases and hopefully, we can get some popularity started and get some of these cases sold around the world At least thats my goal.

 

Thanks Dontheturner

Hello Mark, Thanks for the reply. I also do printing, and my Thai Wife will be making jewellery -( was my Fathers profession) and I am at the moment printing next years English calendar, for distribution, around Shropshire Uk family. And whilst researching Cities of this area, found MUKDAHAN - which I understand has a morning market, on the waterfront flogging OLD rubbish and Junk - so maybe that is where ALL Thai Antiques end up? I am also making Clocks at the moment. Don.

[CyberHippie]

Well... Its been a hard battle

Ive had the URL sitting there for months so I thought I better use it.

Instead of making things (which I still would love to do) I am now offering a community platform.

 

Feel free to say hello

 

Custom Steampunk