Part 2 (was Ill call it green in case mod gallery - Ill Call this Waterworld...

[bradyapba]

ok onto some fun stuff... I thought I would do a little leak test outside the box, becuase well, it took me so long to make it, i wouldn't want a little water ruining it.. and since I have never hooked up any water cooling parts ever..... and the next step is to put them in the case.... i thought why not.

hooking them up... filling with some water..

putting it all in a bucket in case it leaks, so i can sleep soundlyknowing it wont be all over the floor

shot from overhead

close up of res.... as you can see, there is a little air still in the top of the res becuase its tilted slighty to the side.. I can say it has an interesting side effect... it sounds like one of those machines you buy that sounds like a water fall, or a babbling brook..it looks like a waterfall as well...

i did have ot make one decision, and it had to do with the res....i read a few reviews on it, and one reviewer (i think it was on procooling) said he didn't like the way the 1/2 barbs had a rubber gasket.. that the plastic barbs weren't made to use it, and they weren't o-rngs, etc,etc.. and i read somewhere else, they decided not to use them... afriad over tightening them, might break or crack the res.... both neither actually tried to use the gaskets....both of the reviews used the white tape method instead... I just didn't want to use the tape.. i was afraid it was bound to rip or shred, and then be in the water, just looking to clog the maze or the tdx... so i tried the gaskets.. them seem to be working fine.. its been on for an hour, no leaks, and i didn't tighten them that hard...

So we shall see...

with the leak test running next to me, it makes me feel like im lot closer to having water cooling!

 

[Vyger2002]

I hooked up mine last night and water shot all over! I was ripped.
LOL. Can you imagine ? There goes $3000!

Actually, I need just to cut holes in the Lian-Li. Gives me the shakes just thinking about it.

The plumbers tape should not come off though. It only goes around the threads. Unless you are referring to something else.

 

[bradyapba]

Hahahahaha!

im telling you man, we can make the hole ourselves. We can jig the top of that case in no time, we have a template for petes sake.

It didn't apprear to leak, so i think I am safe... though i did have a small leak, becuase when i got up this morning there was a little puddle on the bottom of the bucket.. but all around the connections on the ressie was bone dry.. in fact it was bone dry everywhere.. i couldn't actully find the leak.. it was small, where ever it was coming from... i think it was the cheap and super stiff home depot hose i was just using as test purposes. Becuase the bucket was small, and there was some tight bends, it wasn't forming a great seal, becuase the hose was so stiff, not like the primo flex stuff i will use for real.. and I also didn't use any clamps on any connections... so..... i am 99% use it was a little leak from a hose connection.

But the plumbers tape scares me. All it will take is a little piece to shred off when i thread the barb, and you DONT want even a little piece floating around, and clogging a block.. i dont know.. maybe i will still use it, when its for real.

Chris

 

[bradyapba]

well, made some progress today...

Lets see here...the grill, and the holes on the fan, just dont match up, I hade to make the screws holes bigger, to get them to line up

getting the grill installed on the fan, was a lot harder than i had planned... having the bottom hole, hold the fans to the Rad, and now trying to get the screws through the grill, and the fan, while holding it in place, while trying to get a nut in place with needle nose pliers, in a tiny little space... was.. well, harder than i thought, but patience prevailed.. and here it is all attached!

closeup



ok heres the front, with the fan controller and hex mesh installed.. close ups too.

the back with PSU installed.

The inside with close ups of the Rad install, and hex mesh...

and lastly a pic of my newest tool... 1st time I had used one... $7 at my local hardware store

Next up is i guess, getting the pump installed, gettig the top on... the wood putty, sand, prime, and paint the top, ressie install, hex mesh for the top, uv lights install, probably some cabe management, run the hoses, install the door (which right now needs some work, its too tight a fit, like i am going to need to trim a side or 2.

Thats it for now, I hope your enjoying the work log!

 

[Bio-Hazard]

LOL.......told you the grill wouldn't fit without a mod................ But it looks like it's coming along nicely though. One more work day till the weekend................

 

[bradyapba]

You always got to be right dont you Bio ... Hehehehehe.

I knew you were right, i dont think I ever questioned you did I ? I think more along the lines of I hoped I didn't have to do any modifications

 

[Vyger2002]

Pretty sweet C-man. Its nice to see how much you have accomplished through your vaca and a few extra days. Now get to work on that dining room before the wife throws your silver box out the window

I still think you should have used the $400 african redwood

 

[bradyapba]

Hahahaha.... nah.... she would take it, sell it, then spend the money on shoes


See its not the $400 african wood thats the problem (thats some sweet wood, but it would clash with the decor)

its the shipping that kills ya

 

[bradyapba]

Well work and life got in the way, and I haven't worked on it in a week, but a got a little done today, so here it goes.

So, i had that leak, when i leak tested.. though I couldn't find where it came from (I suspect the crappy home depot tubing, that I just used to practice with).. but I took no chances, and went and got some threaded pipe compound, and put it on all the threads, as to be sure on no leaks.

Also, I was unhappy with the crappy O-rings they gave, they we so tiny, and mushy, it was real easy to even, slighty over tighten, and the the o-ring would get pushed out, and make a crappy seal, So i went and got better o-rings. I also didn't like the metal barb in the Rad... it gave almost NO overlap. So i changed up to the plastic barb for the rad.. I know this pic is out of focus, but you can see, how much more of a lip(phalange?Spelling?) you get on the plastic barb to seal against, as opposed to the metal barb, which gives almost NO lip, and makes it real easy for the o-ring to get out of whack.

Heres the o-rings they give you (the 2 on the left) and the one I bought(the one on the right)look at the pretty design of the paper towel, i never noticed it before...

Here it is on the plastic barb, a MUCH better seal, compared to that tiny o-ring.

Heres the pipe thread compund I used.

Heres what it looks like on the barb

Heres what it looks like after I put it on eveything, and tightened them back up.

Heres the pump installed on the side wall, instead of the floor, should work fine.

further away

Heres the pics of the top finally installed.

Well I guess next if sanding, taping off, and priming and painting the top.. that will take awhile... after that its the UV lights, some cable management, install the ressie, tubing, and putting on the last side/door.... getting closer!

 

[Elysian]

thats pretty neat, but how heavy is it? i'd imagine it weighs quite a bit... cool approach though, you've got a lot of work put into that thing... one day i'll finish mine, but not till money starts coming in again...

 

[bradyapba]

Thanks... i feel the same way "ill finish someday ".. its not as heavy as you think.... dont get me wrong, it aint light, but doesn't wight near what say... my computer weighs... with having a decent amount of cut outs, reduces the weight.. and becuase it was a cheap as hell PSU, it doesn't weight nothing either.. the PSU probably weights 25% of what my OCZ weighs... ill have to get it on the scale and see what it weighs in total.

 

[R1ckCa1n]

I'm not sure if the pipe dope was a good idea as it might breakdown in the loop and cause problems. All current watercooling equipment does not require any dope.

Nice looking though!

 

[bradyapba]

yeah I thought about that.. but I doubt it..its supposed to never break down, and always stay soft and pliable. and its designed for Gas Mains, and house water systems with a ton more pressure than a computer WC, I doubt the low pressure in a computer WC system will ever break down pipe dope. And whats the worse thing that can happen? It might ruin a block.. The blocks were around $35-40. I would rather ruin a block, then have a leak ruin a $300 Video card.

But, with such a low pressure system, i doubt the water has any effect on the dope at all.

And I disagree.. with the crappy o-rings I got with my stuff, and by looking at how some of the threads were machined (esp on the rad)...i think its required. Shoot they GIVE you plumbers tapes WITH it. But I decided on the dope instead of the tape is all, i doubt there is much of a difference.

But thanks for the comps on the looks... hopefully i get some more done today!

 

[Bio-Hazard]

Looks good, you're getting close to being finished.

I wouldn't have used pipe dope on the fittings with "O" rings either. And on the one without a "O" ring, I would have used Teflon tape. That's what several different component manufactures have recomended for their products....................

 

[bradyapba]

You never give me enough info Bio.. why wouldn't you of used it?

I personally hate the tape, and wont use it. Do you think the dope would hurt something? Give me more info.

 

[Aronj66]

What happened?? did you finnish yet?? Was lookin good so far.

 

[bradyapba]

nope, not work, life got in the way again this week, though I did sand, prime, and pain tthe top.. top looks real good... i spent a little more time on it... wish I had spent that time sanding other places, so they looked as good as the top.. oh well.. also had to touch up some places where the tape peeled some paint, from where I masked.

I didn't post any pics of the top, figured I would wait til I did a few other things... hopefully by the end of the weekend I will be mostly done.. installing the door, lock, and ressie are next, also with some wire management.

 

[bradyapba]

Well,

Finally got some more done.

Heres the top all painted.

More of the top

Got the back side on, which is really a door, heres the hinges

Got the lock installed

Heres the whole side

http://images1.snapfish.com/232323232fp64=ot>2335=:94=78:=XROQDF>2323;487986<3ot1lsi

had a little problem, even though it locked, it was still a little lose, causing a gap.

it should look like this

Heres what the lock, locks too

heres the inside of the door.

inside of the lock

both sides of the lock

more of the lock

I installed another brace to fix the gap when the door closes

further away

look ma No gap!

the 2 fans and grill installed on the door

inside of door

mesh installed in the top, with glue gun.

inside of the mesh

Ressie finally installed!

Ressie from the inside, with some of the UV lights installed, and my god, look at all those wires!

from another angle

becuase of the wires, there was quite a few PSU wires I didn't need, these are them, snipped.

if you didn't look like this, you got cut

Heres all the wires cut back, and taped up.

Heres the wires all cleaned up on the PSU.. so pretty.

Heres the inside with all the wires cleaned up, and I still will probably do a little more.

Ok I will take some better pics of it all together, from a few sides with better light.. and in the dark to see the fans and ressie glow.

Not much left to do. I need to build the wheeled platform the computer and Water Box will sit on, but thats and easy build, that I will probably knock out 1 day next weekend. Then just have to run the hose and install the 2 blocks! Almost there!

 

[Bio-Hazard]

It's lloking more and more like a water box .................. Hope you get it up and running soon, keep up the hard work......................

 

[bradyapba]

thanks bio! Almost there, its been tough, Both the wife and I have been working OT, so working on the WC, has been back burner.. but getting closer now! Thanks for the incouragement! It will be hooked up soon!

 

[Aronj66]

Yea.. That is lookin really nice and clean!! Awsome work..

 

[DarkenReaper57]

Yeah, it is looking great, especially now. Keep us posted!

 

[bradyapba]

small update

I got a chance ot cut the wood for the cabinet that the computer and water box will sit on.

 

[bradyapba]

Arrghh.. another weekend past, and im not done.. life got in the way again..

heres why I had to put in a new floor in the bathroom over the weekend, when then lead to me having to re-plumb the toilet... So 12 hours or work later we have this

But I did get a few things done with my trusty Electric Nail Gun and some wood glue.

And here is a back view. WC box will sit on top left, and the computer the bottom right.. this is actually the back view... i still need to add one more piece to close in the shelves, add stability, and drill a few holes, to run cables becuase my router and cable modem will sit in there.

So got to add the last piece, drill the cable holes, fill nail holes, prime, paint, and add the wheels...... geez.. one day i swear!

 

[Bio-Hazard]

It sure sucks when real life gets in the way of your computer modding fun doesn't it............. I've been spending most of my free daylite hours cutting and clearing dead fall on my property, it's that time of year again, and let not forget, I still have to finish cutting and splitting enough firewood to last all winter, just about done with that part though.................

 

[bradyapba]

It does suck.... and next weekend its gonna be a tag sale.. so now im looking at 2 weekends before I am probably finished..... ARGGGGHH!

I am hoping for a few hours during the week to at least get the back board on, drill the 2 holes, fill the holes and maybe sand............


Sweet, send some wood over, I could use it!

 

[Digital Oxide]

Wow =). I have no other words to express myself.

 

[bradyapba]

Thanks digital oxide!! I didn't mean to make you speechless! But ill take a wow any day

 

[bradyapba]

got a little bit more done tonight



Ok, i got to put the last panel on, drill the holes for the wires, and fill the nail holes..

Side

Front

Side

Back

Next up, sanding, priming, painting, then wheels!

 

[bradyapba]

no pics, but an update none the less, i got it sanded... so onto priming then painting!!! I hope maybe by Sat to have the wheels on, and have it hooked up on sun!

 

[Bio-Hazard]

Cool, it's coming along slowly but surely....................

 

[revenant]

with the leak test running next to me, it makes me feel like im lot closer to having water cooling!

heh... I thought the same thing while doing my leak test. heheh... nice work, man!!

 

[bradyapba]

thanks guys! I cant wait to run the hose and hook up the blocks! I am hoping to have time to prime tonight, paint tomorrow.. then its wheels and hook up this weekend... one can hope..... or my house may be taken in the rapidly growing flood water here in MASS.... but thats not what I had in mind when i said I wanted water cooling But it would definately be a high flow system

 

[Bio-Hazard]

I wish you the best of luck with the floods and that you make it through with dry feet and house.................

Oh, by the way, here's a little shot of some of my fire wood for this year...............

 

[bradyapba]

sweet, thanks for cutting that up, freight some of that over if you will...

I will use it like sandbags

 

[bradyapba]

We've got Primer!!!

Side

Back

Side

Front

The Primer

Well, looks like im stil on target, hopefully get it painted and wheels on, on Sat...

And Sun, hook up the blocks, and test it out!

 

[Bio-Hazard]

Looking good............. Progress is always good.................

How's the rain and flooding up in your area? Everything still high and dry at your place?

 

[bradyapba]

the rain has been crazy... non-stop.... but last few days, its been more of a steady light rain, instead of like 2-3 inches and hour.. so the flood waters stabilized... even receeded a smidge... so i think we are gonna be ok... predicting more rain for weekend.. but nothing crazy.. then supposed to be sunny and nice all next week.. so I think we are going to be ok.... but not to far away, some of my neighbors have not been so lucky.. 100's of people homeless around me.

 

[Bio-Hazard]

It does look pretty bad up in your area from what they show on the TV news. Take care and be safe till things dry out up there a little.

 

[bradyapba]

thanks for the kind thoughts Bio. It does make for some crazy driving, its really a pain to get anywhere.... But things are looking up.. thankfully my house sits up on a small hill... so looks like we are going to be fine.. and thankfully I have a truck that rides high... it hasn't rained in about 8 hours.. things are stablizing... there is a little more rain in the forcast for tonight, and sat morning.. but then sunny and 60 sat afternoon, and all day sun.. so it looks like we are going to be in the clear soon... I have never seen so much rain here... about 16 inches in a week.