I have permission to post more than 8 pics.
I finally got around to taking some pictures of my modded emachine. I wish I would have taken step by step pictures, But I didn't, So, O' well.....
This is what it looked like when I got it.
The next picture is the keyboard, Front panel, and the 2 pieces of Plexiglas that will cover the DVD drives.
I cut out the middle of the front panel, Then I flipped the 5" card reader panel upside-down and moved it from the middle to the bottom of the front panel. I used epoxy resin to glue it on, Then I took a piece of Plexiglas and epoxyed it on-top of the card reader panel. I countersunk the Plexiglas's 1/2" on the bottom where it meets the card reader panel, So it wasn't perfectly flat across the front of my case. I only used the Epoxy on the back, Then I used Bondo on the front of to tie it all together.
I never used the number keys on the right hand side of my keyboard, So.......I cut em' out. I used the plastic from a CD case(cuz it's thin) and epoxyed it to the bottom of the hole where the number keys used to be, Then I used Bondo to give the edges a nice rounded shape. I taped a piece of paper in between the two sheets of "chipboard contacts?" You know.....The thing under the keys that touch together when you push a key on your keyboard, Well.... the piece of paper separates that from happening.
I sanded it all down for what seemed to be a eternity, Then I sprayed it with 3 coats of primer. After that, I wet sanded it with 2,000 grit sandpaper. This is very important for a super smooth finish. Then I sprayed it with 4 coats of silver. I was going to use clear coat on it, But I really liked the satin silver look it had, So I kept it like that.
I used double sided tape to attach the Plexiglas pieces to my DVD drives to make them stealthed.
Behind the window on the front panel I made a cardboard backing like a picture frame has, So I can slip any picture, game book, or DVD book, in there It was hard to get a good picture of the front, It was either to bright and shinny from the reflection off the silver or to dark from no flash. I did the best I could, But I'm not a photographer.
I cut out the side panel window hole below the PSU and DVD drives so they wouldn't show, Then I stuck 2 fans and the power button on the Plexiglas.
This is the OEM/temporary power button, I made a little bracket out of Plexiglas to hold it in place. I am going to buy a fancy button next time I order some stuff from a computer store. I used a scrap piece of Plexiglas(its all scratch up) for the side window because I wanted to make sure I liked the positioning of the fans. As you can see I have to clean up and paint the side panel cut line.
I finally got around to taking some pictures of my modded emachine. I wish I would have taken step by step pictures, But I didn't, So, O' well.....
This is what it looked like when I got it.
The next picture is the keyboard, Front panel, and the 2 pieces of Plexiglas that will cover the DVD drives.
I cut out the middle of the front panel, Then I flipped the 5" card reader panel upside-down and moved it from the middle to the bottom of the front panel. I used epoxy resin to glue it on, Then I took a piece of Plexiglas and epoxyed it on-top of the card reader panel. I countersunk the Plexiglas's 1/2" on the bottom where it meets the card reader panel, So it wasn't perfectly flat across the front of my case. I only used the Epoxy on the back, Then I used Bondo on the front of to tie it all together.
I never used the number keys on the right hand side of my keyboard, So.......I cut em' out. I used the plastic from a CD case(cuz it's thin) and epoxyed it to the bottom of the hole where the number keys used to be, Then I used Bondo to give the edges a nice rounded shape. I taped a piece of paper in between the two sheets of "chipboard contacts?" You know.....The thing under the keys that touch together when you push a key on your keyboard, Well.... the piece of paper separates that from happening.
I sanded it all down for what seemed to be a eternity, Then I sprayed it with 3 coats of primer. After that, I wet sanded it with 2,000 grit sandpaper. This is very important for a super smooth finish. Then I sprayed it with 4 coats of silver. I was going to use clear coat on it, But I really liked the satin silver look it had, So I kept it like that.
I used double sided tape to attach the Plexiglas pieces to my DVD drives to make them stealthed.
Behind the window on the front panel I made a cardboard backing like a picture frame has, So I can slip any picture, game book, or DVD book, in there It was hard to get a good picture of the front, It was either to bright and shinny from the reflection off the silver or to dark from no flash. I did the best I could, But I'm not a photographer.
I cut out the side panel window hole below the PSU and DVD drives so they wouldn't show, Then I stuck 2 fans and the power button on the Plexiglas.
This is the OEM/temporary power button, I made a little bracket out of Plexiglas to hold it in place. I am going to buy a fancy button next time I order some stuff from a computer store. I used a scrap piece of Plexiglas(its all scratch up) for the side window because I wanted to make sure I liked the positioning of the fans. As you can see I have to clean up and paint the side panel cut line.