My Experiments with Case Modding

Case Windows, Cont'd

Broken Glass

Since I do some mild overclocking on my computer, my case is equipped with several case fans that draw in and exhaust air. Because I have more exhaust fans than intake fans, the air pressure causes the case to act like a vacuum cleaner. That is, any holes, openings, or vents in the case will suck air in. When I first mounted my new glass side panel, the case fans were running, and so the panel seemed to "stick" to the case without any additional adhesive. I was quite satisfied with the results and left the piece of glass "stuck" to my case so I could pat myself on the back for such a great idea. When I turned off the computer, however, the air pressure inside the case and in the room equalized, negating the vacuum effect and causing my brand new glass panel to crash onto my desk and shatter into several pieces. Lesson learned: never leave a piece of glass unattended!

I embarrassingly returned to the glass store to purchase another piece of glass. After hearing my story, the owner took pity on me and charged only $5. This time, the first thing I did was to mount the new panel with mounting tape. I lined the entire perimeter of the case with the tape, and then mounted the panel. To make a long story short, lining the entire perimeter was a mistake. The mounting tape was too strong, and I could no longer remove the glass panel by hand, and I had a cold cathode light on its way! It was time to make another mistake: attempt to pry off the piece of glass with a flat blade screwdriver. The second I applied a little pressure, the glass cracked. I returned once again to the glass store, and the manager concurred that glass is very sensitive to sharp, pointy metallic objects. Lesson #3, and another $5 lesson: glass and metal don't mix.

Determined not to make the same mistake thrice, I thought about how I could mount the window but still be able to open and close it to access the innards of my case. I went to my local hardware store for ideas, and found a set of hinges that would work. I could mount the window on three hinges, use a small piece of mounting tape as a "lock," and still be able to open and close my case for maintenance and upgrades. The hinges were also bronze colored, matching the fan grille of my power supply (see above). Perfect! Lastly, I purchased some black felt pads that I would cut into strips and use to cushion the glass from the metal and prevent any vibrations or damage (remember lesson #3).

Success

My new glass case window was finally nearing completion. I installed all the parts, and the window was now fully functional. I opened and closed it a few times, and then I turned on the cold cathode light. Simply beautiful! For less than $20 and without any tools, I achieved an effect similar to the ones you see at CompUSA. If not for my lack of planning, I would have completed the project in less time and with less money. Here is the theoretical cost breakdown:

And you get to keep the remainder of the mounting tape, too!