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Electrolytic Etching, For What A Dremel Can't Do

Posted by timothy on from the blood-might-do-funny-things dept.

Dustin writes "A lot of people modify computer cases, often requiring them to cut intricate custom designs in sheet metal. For most, there is the Dremel tool. But sometimes, that just isn't good enough. Possibly due to an insanely complex design, or unsteady hands, a Dremel just might not cut it (pun honestly wasn't intended). JimBob, a member at OverhauledPC.com, has a much better way. Using readily available salt water and electricity, his technique is much easier than trying to cut patterns with a rotary tool."

18 of 242 comments (clear)

  1. Dremels are bad web server too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Or maybe someone used one in the server network cable... no comments and down.

  2. My guess at his method... by Faust7 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Using readily available salt water and electricity, his technique is much easier than trying to cut patterns with a rotary tool.

    The site is down. Therefore I will assume that he poured water over the case and shocked the shit out of it.

    You could get some interesting burn patterns that way. You might even match your case.

    --
    The coolest voice ever.
  3. slashdotted already. by gambit3 · · Score: 2, Funny

    any of the paying Slashdotters wanna grace us with the text?

    I promise you'll get lots of Karma for it! ;)

    --
    Watch the Teaser Trailer for "The Lightning Thief" Her
    1. Re:slashdotted already. by nxtr · · Score: 3, Funny

      >>Let me introduce you to mirrordor.

      The Mirrordoor? Is it like the door where you see your self coming into? It only managed to cache the introduction page of the website.

  4. Wait a minute. by Tackhead · · Score: 4, Funny
    > Electrolytic Etching, For What A Dremel Cant Do

    First off, there's nothing a Dremel can't do.

    But since your alternative involves electricity, water, and chemicals, we'll forgive it. (But next time, could you kindly use something more dangerous than sodium chloride? We've got reputations to uphold here, and if the case mod weren't so danged cool, we'd feel we were slipping.)

    1. Re:Wait a minute. by Ann+Elk · · Score: 4, Funny

      Try it without the chloride.

    2. Re:Wait a minute. by Tumbleweed · · Score: 4, Funny

      there's nothing a Dremel can't do

      Welll, let's be fair, here, there _are_ some things that a Dremel can't do. But that's what duct tape and/or WD-40 are for!

    3. Re:Wait a minute. by kryogen1x · · Score: 5, Funny
      Try it without the chloride.

      That, or NaCl sans sodium. Gotta love those chlorine fumes.

    4. Re:Wait a minute. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      I agree with your assessment on corrsion but you need to look at this BIG PICTURE.
      Working with any steam generators, chlorine levels are monitored continously on the running system and for all makeup water. Any introduction of chlorine into the system can cause serious damage in very little time. How you take that concept of a system running 1000-2000PSI @ 400-700F and try to relate it to the "rough and damanding" world of a PC case sitting in your office is beyond me. Even if you had a stainless steel case, it is not under any force or tensile stress at all other then holding its own weight. Very big difference and worlds apart.

  5. Excellent... by Gorffy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now, instead of merely cutting myself, I can electrocute myself as well. I love case modding!

  6. Slashdot Kicks In by queenb**ch · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well, either they've taken their site down, or the "Slashdot Effect" has kicked in. They're gone.

    Rats! I wanted to see how this works - suprise my boyfriend by etching the fenders on his 69 Mustang ;)

    2 cents,

    Queen B

    --
    HDGary secures my bank :/
  7. What about what a Dremel CAN do? by Ghostgate · · Score: 4, Funny

    Let's see your fancy "salt water" and "electricity" do this!

    1. Re:What about what a Dremel CAN do? by chadjg · · Score: 2, Funny

      Thank God for morons with active imaginations and spare time. There is always one in every crowd that is willing to eat worms, spray stuff with hairspray and the light it, or spin CDs to destruction.

      Our lives would be so much duller without them.

      --
      Why do I have this? I don't smoke.
  8. "much easier", where's the fun in that? by AC-x · · Score: 3, Funny

    What a true geek would do is build their own computer-controlled laser cutting/etching rig, a few of these together should cut through aluminium or mild steel no problem :)

  9. The 2005 Darwin award goes to! by HockeyPuck · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yeesh, you would have thought the kid would atleast have worn long sleaves and a face mask (welding mask)... They did this on Mythbusters and the fragments when into the human flesh like gel about 2inches...

  10. Re:Coral Cache, just in case... by techno-vampire · · Score: 4, Funny

    Your link is currently 404 compliant.

    --
    Good, inexpensive web hosting
  11. Effects to look into by Striker770S · · Score: 2, Funny

    One of my friends reminded me the other day of a time when he was making his cooling system. After a while of playing, his computer made wierd noises, and so by looking through the case window we could notice that his cooling system did not work. Basically it looked like a carwash inside his computer. I feel that the best case designs come from mistake, even though that mistake cost him his wonderful computer parts. But lego cases look cool too.

    --
    I thought what I'd do was, I'd pretend I was one of those deaf-mutes. - Catcher in the Rye
  12. Re:I used to do that with nitric acid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Yea, but add a little sulphuric, glycerin, and diatomatious earth and really watch things get going! ;)