Creating cool cases for your computer to reside in is something that everyone is capable of doing. I believe that a computer case should be an extension of your personality or at least show your favourite film, game, music or whatever. So how do you start creating cool cases first I choose from the following methods, depending on the type of mod, type of case or whether it is for a customer.

First Method for Creating Cool Cases I start with a theme whether it is a film I just saw, a game I just played or a talk with the customer about what they like and choose a theme with them. I then start drawing out cases in my moleskine note book. Once I have a few designs, some I am happy with others not so happy, I will show them to my fiancée, to friends or the customer, they then help me decide what design to go with. Then I will either buy a plane case or buy a case that will facilitate the design

Second Method for Creating Cool Cases This method is what I will do to create cool cases for myself or if there is already a case involved for example if the customer already has a case and wants me to mod it. I will take the case and just look at it, from all directions and from as many odd angles as I can. If a cool idea doesn't pop into my head I will take a walk or go do something else for a bit then go back to looking at the case till I have that cool idea. This can take a long time but usually I have an idea quite fast.

The only other piece of advice I can give about ideas and inspiration is to go look on the internet. Search for a forum or a blog about modding this will give you ideas about what is possible.

Buying the Case If you have come from method 1, you now have an Idea and now need a case to mod (if you have come from method 2 you can skip this bit, unless you are looking to buy a case so that you can do method 2). Where do you go to get a case? There are many places you can get a case I have purchased a case from a specialist PC shop very cheaply, it was a beige box, from freecycle and found them lying next to a bin on the street . Another good place to get a PC case would be a shop that resells old business computers. So now you have a case what now? Other than building the case yourself there is no way to get all the features that you want so you will need to shop around. I would go with a case that is sturdy and well made but also easy to take apart but as blank a canvas as possible. Look for a case that jumps out at you and gets your creative juices flowing, but don't get one that looks too cool though as you want to do this yourself. Good things to look for are tool less designs and lots of fan mounts.

Get your Mod on Once you have your idea for a cool case and you have your case to turn cool what now? You will need to find an area and the tools to do the creating in and with. You need a space that you and the family, if you have one, don't mind you getting all grimy and paint splashed in your pursuit of that cool case. The area should be well ventilated and have electricity points for your tools. Ones you need to gather your tools. The best tools to have are as follows:

• Rotary tool
• Jigsaw
• Drill with bits
• Hole saw bits
• Mouse sander
• Files
• Rubber mallet
• Square nose pliers
• Needle nose pliers
• Flat head screw driver
• Scribe or Etch
• Solder
• Heat gun
• Phillips screw drivers
• Wire stripper & Cutter
• Butane torch
• Tape measure
• Bench vice
• Sandpaper

Not all these tools are necessary but the more you have the easier the job gets. If there are modding projects you have that you don't know how to do them or the tools needed I would recommend researching them online at a Forum or Blog, you could start with my website and blog the links for these are bellow. Thank you for reading and I hope you have fun creating cool cases of your own.