• The "I need this material/part/tool/etc but don't know where to buy it!" thread.
    10 replies, posted
I have been a long time lurker of this section (and have even copied a few creations I have seen here) and have always wondered why there is no thread dedicated to finding specific materials, parts and tools at a decent price. I know a little bit about wood, so I plan to help with this thread where I can. Maybe make this a general "I want to do this but don't know how" thread? Plus /diy/ is seriously unhelpful compared to facepunch (of whom I already asked, and basically got "i dunno lol"). To start it off, I am currently in need of clear plastic. It needs to be thick enough to withstand damage, but it wont be moving around a ton. It will be for a custom PC case I am planning. It will have a metal frame, but the plastic will still need to be sturdy. I was originally thinking plexiglass, but every retailer I found was super expensive. Is there an alternative to plexi glass, or a place that sells it cheaply? Will be shipping to Canada.
[url]www.mcmaster.com[/url] If it isn't here, it never existed anyway. Locally I get my steel from [url]www.discountsteel.com[/url] Allows me to order cuts of steel, drive to the yard the pickup without waiting.
[QUOTE=Sonydude;39554578][url]www.mcmaster.com[/url] If it isn't here, it never existed anyway. Locally I get my steel from [url]www.discountsteel.com[/url] Allows me to order cuts of steel, drive to the yard the pickup without waiting.[/QUOTE] MC master is very helpful, thanks a bunch. Sadly they are US based, but is good for details on materials. I assume for creating a PC case it would be best to use anti static plastic to avoid damage to internal components? [url]http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-plastic-sheets/=lfrj08[/url]
Good idea for a thread, there have been a lot of times I couldn't find a material I needed for a project so I didn't get past planning or had to make changes. I have a couple of things I need for projects... The first thing is some pick and pluck foam for a DIY camera bag. I bought a Navy surplus storage container off of ebay for about $8, it's really heavy duty, padded, and waterproof but not enough to store a camera in safely and snug. I looked online but I could only really find sheets of foam, not the pre-cut stuff that I can just pick out to the shape of my camera and lenses. I'm in the US by the way. Second would be birch plywood boards so I can have a go at building a longboard this spring. I read up on it over the fall and in the winter, now I just need to actually get it done. I'd need them to be 6mm thick so I can glue two together (as recommended on the sources I've looked at) but I'm only seeing thick boards if they're long, and small boards if it's anything thinner. I'll keep looking at Home Depot I guess.
[QUOTE=Ninja Duck;39556468]Good idea for a thread, there have been a lot of times I couldn't find a material I needed for a project so I didn't get past planning or had to make changes. I have a couple of things I need for projects... The first thing is some pick and pluck foam for a DIY camera bag. I bought a Navy surplus storage container off of ebay for about $8, it's really heavy duty, padded, and waterproof but not enough to store a camera in safely and snug. I looked online but I could only really find sheets of foam, not the pre-cut stuff that I can just pick out to the shape of my camera and lenses. I'm in the US by the way. Second would be birch plywood boards so I can have a go at building a longboard this spring. I read up on it over the fall and in the winter, now I just need to actually get it done. I'd need them to be 6mm thick so I can glue two together (as recommended on the sources I've looked at) but I'm only seeing thick boards if they're long, and small boards if it's anything thinner. I'll keep looking at Home Depot I guess.[/QUOTE] Cutting foam really isn't that bad to do. I made a box to hold my paintball gear and used foam - just buy a few sheets of ordinary foam, outline your gear on it and cut it up. Pick and pluck is a tiny bit easier to work with, but overall not worth the extra cost in my experience. Pick and pluck also comes apart easily through ordinary use. Seriously foam is super easy to work with. For the plywood though, I have no idea.
I'll go with the regular foam then, thanks. Also I'll look again at some local places that sell wood again, I just included that as a crap shoot in case anyone knew.
[QUOTE=GhostlyGob;39555181]MC master is very helpful, thanks a bunch. Sadly they are US based, but is good for details on materials. I assume for creating a PC case it would be best to use anti static plastic to avoid damage to internal components? [url]http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-plastic-sheets/=lfrj08[/url][/QUOTE] Not particularly. You need a good ground, but as long as you make the case have a metal internal frame and attach all the components to that you won't have a problem with plastic panelling (I made a wooden case for a college project, it had a metal frame inside and worked fine)
[QUOTE=metallics;39562964]Not particularly. You need a good ground, but as long as you make the case have a metal internal frame and attach all the components to that you won't have a problem with plastic panelling (I made a wooden case for a college project, it had a metal frame inside and worked fine)[/QUOTE] Interdasting. I have decided not to make a completely clear case, I found a guy that did and he said they tarnish easily and are not very good for cooling. I will probably just buy a normal case, mod a window in (if possible/not already there) and paint it.
[QUOTE=GhostlyGob;39563334]Interdasting. I have decided not to make a completely clear case, I found a guy that did and he said they tarnish easily and are not very good for cooling. I will probably just buy a normal case, mod a window in (if possible/not already there) and paint it.[/QUOTE] I can't see why a see-through case would be any worse than any other for cooling, it's just a matter of careful design and a bit of thought about airflow. Putting a window in a case isn't too difficult though.
[QUOTE=metallics;39563562]I can't see why a see-through case would be any worse than any other for cooling, it's just a matter of careful design and a bit of thought about airflow. Putting a window in a case isn't too difficult though.[/QUOTE] Apparently since plastic is a better insulator than metal, it retains heat. Probably wouldn't matter for a internet-and-facebook PC, but for gaming/overclocking it does matter. Plus a window means I can hide all my cables behind the mobo! :v
Does anyone know somewhere that supplies perspex which is pre-laminated with a 2-way mirror material? I'm looking to make an infinity mirror and already have some of the laminate, but I think my roll has become quite scratched and creased in the time I've had it, so I don't know how well it would apply. I live in Western Australia, so preferably somewhere local would be helpful.
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