Steel Case cutting suggestions

[RedeviL]

I brought a case which is perfect for what Im after, other than being completely steel.. and a tad on the heavy side.
Decided Im gonna do a custom design on the side of it - which is a nice 3mm thick.

I thought about Dremelling, or using a Jigsaw but this may take quite along time and cost alot in the end (blades etc).

Someone suggested Laser cutting, or even finding a place that will Water blade it.

Does anyone know of any places in Wellington, or close by that can do this?
And any idea on price range of this kinda thing?

Thanks in advanced :D

[I.R]

Don't be a wuss....... drill it then cut it :p

Hint: check your spelling ;) sase?!?!?!?

[RedeviL]

:o

I dont mind doing it myself, I have before.. thats where I found how many blades Im gonna go through. Just looking at my options. :)

[whetu]

soz, I dont know of any place in welly, but the white (www.whitepages.co.nz) and yellow (www.yellowpages.co.nz) pages would be a good place to start

[mird-OC]

if you can find anyone with a plasma cutter they work VERY well... zip zap she's done... like cutting paper with a craft knife.

[Agent 86]

Speaking of plasma cutters I wonder if you can hire them. Looks like a light sabre outta starwars.

[Agent 86]

Fancy fan holes oh yeah

[RedeviL]

I heard about those, but no one I talked to knew of anyone in Welly with one.

/heads out and asks around.

[mird-OC]

most sheet metal places have em... so do most engineering firms and a number of panelbeaters and so such...

[Genesis]

Hey red welcome to the forums :P Try a mechanic or something? maybe they have sort of cutting tool like laser cut or something that can do your job?

[Wibber]

I cut a fan hole in my 2.5mm steel server case with a drill and a file... time consuming but fun

[Mashed_Penguin]

you could use an oxyacetlyne torch, mabey... don't think your holes would have straight edges through :D

[Binky Stunt Cat]

Does Welly have Eng Students???
They're handy for doing things like this....heck, a friend of mine custom made a bloody metre long longsword for a fancy dress party....

[whetu]

yeah welly has engineering students.. the engineering block of my tech campus is 5 minutes walk from here.. they all seem a little preoccupied with their rice cars tho...

[Volodkovich]

u could use an oxyacetlyne torch, however, if u want straightish edges (i.e. not all ragged) u needa be bloody 1337 at gas axing.

[paul rhee]

Originally posted by Binky Stunt Cat
Does Welly have Eng Students???
They're handy for doing things like this....heck, a friend of mine custom made a bloody metre long longsword for a fancy dress party....

fancy dress party? hmm... what was your role?

[RedeviL]

Originally posted by mird-OC
most sheet metal places have em... so do most engineering firms and a number of panelbeaters and so such...

Heya Gen, thanks ;)

Have a few numbers to try at work today. Might come out with something.

[RedeviL]

Originally posted by whetu
yeah welly has engineering students.. the engineering block of my tech campus is 5 minutes walk from here.. they all seem a little preoccupied with their rice cars tho...

That counts me out right there :o

[Binky Stunt Cat]

it was a LoTR theme so we went as Ring Wraiths...., but the sword was bloody kewl :D

[whetu]

Originally posted by RedeviL


That counts me out right there :o

in saying that i have only walked past engineering block twice during daytime hours... there's bound to be some students there who arent try hard loser boy racers.. and the tutors at my tech are very approachable... hell if you asked one of the tutors nicely enuff he'd prolly do it himself...

[OberoN]

I've done a bit of oxy acetalene cutting before. I would be more concerned about warping. Admittedly I su><0r at welding (& such) but even the pros have trouble with warping.

Most other ideas start to get expensive. & besides the fun of modding a case is doing it yourself. I say persevere with the drill, jigsaw, dremmel and files. More rewarding & FAR more affordable.

Just don't do what a friend of mine did & use wood cutting blades on the jigsaw! (What a mess!!!)

[whetu]

lol silver's case window was cut with ONE wood jigsaw blade :D

[RedeviL]

Originally posted by OberoN
Most other ideas start to get expensive. & besides the fun of modding a case is doing it yourself. I say persevere with the drill, jigsaw, dremmel and files. More rewarding & FAR more affordable.


I agree, if I could get my hands on the tools I would do it myself.
Which may be the case in the end.
Its just Ive seen some case side cutting go very wrong and just look shoddy. 10 points for effort, but just not a nice lean look.

Originally posted by whetu

in saying that i have only walked past engineering block twice during daytime hours... there's bound to be some students there who arent try hard loser boy racers.. and the tutors at my tech are very approachable... hell if you asked one of the tutors nicely enuff he'd prolly do it himself...

Hmm, thanks for the info. I doubt they hang around in the weekends? Thats about the only time I've got spare since Im working late. :/

/begins calling companies

[whetu]

there's bound to be weekend classes... i dunno.. ring weltec and find out.. i'm at the IT school not the engineering school so I'm not really the one to ask

[SilverPriest]

One wood jigsaw blade and a helluva lot of baby oil ;)

[Septic_12]

Deja vu

Laser cutting -

A. E. Tilley

in Rongotai, Wellington
http://www.aetilley.co.nz/index1.htm

These guys weren't too helpful though (ie aren't keen to cut materials not manufactured by themselves ... )



Etech Industries

In Palmerston North
http://www.yellowpages.co.nz/for/etech/dp29327.html

Made some equires to these guys a couple of years ago, sound really helpful and onto it.

Was going to to cost under $200 .... :)

[whetu]

hmm sounds familiar to my chrome expedition...

our car got munched into on vivian st while going on the mish out to lyall bay, only to get some less than enthusiastic service from the crowd out there who seemed less than professional anyway...

went for a mish to plating developments in palmy and got great service and lots of helpful information and ended up sticking with that guy...

[Stove]

Suuuuuuure. We believe you were on your way somewhere else and not just cruising Vivian Street, Whetu :)

[p01s0n_p1e]

*thanks god secret squirril doesnt know what vivian street contains*

[RedeviL]

Thanks for the info guys, spent some of the weekend calling around, and have to agree with ya Septic_12.

A. E. Tilley didnt wanna touch anything but thier own, maybe Ill do a trip out to Palmy. :)