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ouija · 9th Feb 2003, 18:21

Here's a quick guide on mounting fans for blowhole use without having the ugly screws showing.

The screws I am using have a 4mm diameter and are 16mm long. It is important that the heads are countersunk. First, key the heads of the screws with sandpaper or emery cloth. I used grit 100 paper

Next mark out where the screws are to go. I just used an 80mm wire grill. I won't be cutting out the hole because this is a box I use to test stuff on before I do anything to aluminium. That, and I'm waiting on new holesaws

For the adhesive I used 5 minute epoxy resin which is safe to handle in about 15 minutes and completely cured in one hour. I've been told JB Weld would be a much better option, so I'll probably use this in the future. Mix equal amounts of resin and hardner

I have keyed the area for each screw with some more 100 grit sandpaper. Generously apply the adhesive to the head of each screw making sure it gets into the groove for the screwdriver. Any that gets out and leaks over the head of the screw will only help it stay in place. Here I placed a delta fan on top to keep the screws in the correct position, and placed a weight on top of the fan

After an hour off came the fan

Fix whatever 80mm fan you want to use in place (after cutting the hole out obviously)

On the underside, you will see nothing but the blowhole and grill if you choose to use one

Nice and strong

ouija · 10th Feb 2003, 16:30

Yes, if you push the screws or try to pull them off... they will come off, but the weight of a fan and grill will not cause any problems and the adhesive will hold it very securely.

ouija · 13th Feb 2003, 17:29

After reading that JB Weld has steel particles in the resin, I tried a little experiement which was a complete success... If you are dremeling anything, steel or aluminium, don't brush the dust away. Scrape it onto an old cd or something, and mix it in with the epoxy. It should turn silver and holds much better.

ouija · 5th Apr 2003, 16:28

DeX, I wouldn't use superglue if I were you. Epoxy is quite cheap and is a lot stronger. Superglue tends to be very brittle. I bought some JB Weld the other day and mounted screws to alu sheets with it and it is a hell of a lot stronger.

ouija · 19th Apr 2003, 10:38

What happens if you change your mind?

ouija · 27th Apr 2003, 07:48

I'm talking about changing your mind about which fans to use. If they are glued onto the case then you will ruin the fan removing it. Besides, removing the bolts is easy. A sharp knock with a small hammer or similar will shear the epoxy.

ouija · 9th Jun 2003, 21:56

Good good, let us see

ouija · 11th Jun 2003, 11:52

I will when I get my new digicam in a week. My Finepix 2300 is on the blink. You're talking about 1mm unless you were to enlarge the screw holes on the fan, countersink the holes, or use thinner screws such as M3 (3mm dia)

ouija · 12th Jun 2003, 17:28

Countersinking actually creates a slope to the hole drilled. It allows countersunk screws, which have a triangular shaped head when viewed from the side, to sit in the hole and be flush with the surface. This means your fan will be closer to the steel/alu/whatever.

ouija · 12th Jun 2003, 20:01

Devil_h@ck, the countersunk screws are used because they have a flat heat. The only thing needing countersunk if there is too much of a gap is the fan/gril

Deviate, some laser cut grills come countersunk.

sinizterguy, use a countersink. No seriously, it's an attachment for your drill and is cone shaped.

ouija · 21st Oct 2003, 19:27

Yes, unless you have a wire grill which you can widen the holes of. Some laser cut grills have the holes already countersunk which means they sit almost flush with the case.

You can put rubber washers on with maybe a tiny gap.

ouija · 21st Oct 2003, 23:22

I use JB weld for my mounts now. Oh, and IMO using moulding on the blowhole would defeat the purpose. When done properly, a laser cut grill will sit flush against the inside of the case panel and appear almost seamless.

ouija · 15th Feb 2004, 08:29

Never read that before. Nice case that

ouija · 13th Dec 2004, 16:29

And if the fan gets dusty or it needs replacing...?

ouija · 23rd Dec 2004, 01:02

I'd rather undo a few screws than wrench the fan off and reglue it. Wouldn't you?

Yes Koolvin's article was posted earlier in the thread. However, a guide does not necesserally have to be a never before done mod.

ouija · 23rd Dec 2004, 02:14

Didn't someone suggest just using hot glue to fix the fan to the case and not the bolts? In that case, to replace the fan you would have to pull the fan from the glue and reglue it.

ouija · 25th Jan 2005, 18:20

Amusing ain't it?

ouija · 15th Mar 2005, 15:57

The question was already answered on page one.... god I wish this threa was closed

9th Feb 2003, 18:21	#1
ouija Trust me, I am doctor! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 3,026	Blowholes with hidden screws Here's a quick guide on mounting fans for blowhole use without having the ugly screws showing. The screws I am using have a 4mm diameter and are 16mm long. It is important that the heads are countersunk. First, key the heads of the screws with sandpaper or emery cloth. I used grit 100 paper Next mark out where the screws are to go. I just used an 80mm wire grill. I won't be cutting out the hole because this is a box I use to test stuff on before I do anything to aluminium. That, and I'm waiting on new holesaws For the adhesive I used 5 minute epoxy resin which is safe to handle in about 15 minutes and completely cured in one hour. I've been told JB Weld would be a much better option, so I'll probably use this in the future. Mix equal amounts of resin and hardner I have keyed the area for each screw with some more 100 grit sandpaper. Generously apply the adhesive to the head of each screw making sure it gets into the groove for the screwdriver. Any that gets out and leaks over the head of the screw will only help it stay in place. Here I placed a delta fan on top to keep the screws in the correct position, and placed a weight on top of the fan After an hour off came the fan Fix whatever 80mm fan you want to use in place (after cutting the hole out obviously) On the underside, you will see nothing but the blowhole and grill if you choose to use one Nice and strong

13th Feb 2003, 17:29	#3
ouija Trust me, I am doctor! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 3,026	After reading that JB Weld has steel particles in the resin, I tried a little experiement which was a complete success... If you are dremeling anything, steel or aluminium, don't brush the dust away. Scrape it onto an old cd or something, and mix it in with the epoxy. It should turn silver and holds much better. Last edited by ouija; 13th Feb 2003 at 20:43.

12th Jun 2003, 17:28	#9
ouija Trust me, I am doctor! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 3,026	Countersinking actually creates a slope to the hole drilled. It allows countersunk screws, which have a triangular shaped head when viewed from the side, to sit in the hole and be flush with the surface. This means your fan will be closer to the steel/alu/whatever. Last edited by ouija; 23rd Dec 2004 at 01:04.

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10th Feb 2003, 16:30	#2
ouija Trust me, I am doctor! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 3,026	Yes, if you push the screws or try to pull them off... they will come off, but the weight of a fan and grill will not cause any problems and the adhesive will hold it very securely.

5th Apr 2003, 16:28	#4
ouija Trust me, I am doctor! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 3,026	DeX, I wouldn't use superglue if I were you. Epoxy is quite cheap and is a lot stronger. Superglue tends to be very brittle. I bought some JB Weld the other day and mounted screws to alu sheets with it and it is a hell of a lot stronger.

19th Apr 2003, 10:38	#5
ouija Trust me, I am doctor! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 3,026	What happens if you change your mind?

27th Apr 2003, 07:48	#6
ouija Trust me, I am doctor! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 3,026	I'm talking about changing your mind about which fans to use. If they are glued onto the case then you will ruin the fan removing it. Besides, removing the bolts is easy. A sharp knock with a small hammer or similar will shear the epoxy.

9th Jun 2003, 21:56	#7
ouija Trust me, I am doctor! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 3,026	Good good, let us see

11th Jun 2003, 11:52	#8
ouija Trust me, I am doctor! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 3,026	I will when I get my new digicam in a week. My Finepix 2300 is on the blink. You're talking about 1mm unless you were to enlarge the screw holes on the fan, countersink the holes, or use thinner screws such as M3 (3mm dia)

12th Jun 2003, 20:01	#10
ouija Trust me, I am doctor! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 3,026	Devil_h@ck, the countersunk screws are used because they have a flat heat. The only thing needing countersunk if there is too much of a gap is the fan/gril Deviate, some laser cut grills come countersunk. sinizterguy, use a countersink. No seriously, it's an attachment for your drill and is cone shaped.

21st Oct 2003, 19:27	#11
ouija Trust me, I am doctor! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 3,026	Yes, unless you have a wire grill which you can widen the holes of. Some laser cut grills have the holes already countersunk which means they sit almost flush with the case. You can put rubber washers on with maybe a tiny gap.

21st Oct 2003, 23:22	#12
ouija Trust me, I am doctor! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 3,026	I use JB weld for my mounts now. Oh, and IMO using moulding on the blowhole would defeat the purpose. When done properly, a laser cut grill will sit flush against the inside of the case panel and appear almost seamless.

15th Feb 2004, 08:29	#13
ouija Trust me, I am doctor! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 3,026	Never read that before. Nice case that

13th Dec 2004, 16:29	#14
ouija Trust me, I am doctor! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 3,026	And if the fan gets dusty or it needs replacing...?

23rd Dec 2004, 01:02	#15
ouija Trust me, I am doctor! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 3,026	I'd rather undo a few screws than wrench the fan off and reglue it. Wouldn't you? Yes Koolvin's article was posted earlier in the thread. However, a guide does not necesserally have to be a never before done mod.

23rd Dec 2004, 02:14	#16
ouija Trust me, I am doctor! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 3,026	Didn't someone suggest just using hot glue to fix the fan to the case and not the bolts? In that case, to replace the fan you would have to pull the fan from the glue and reglue it.

25th Jan 2005, 18:20	#17
ouija Trust me, I am doctor! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 3,026	Amusing ain't it?

15th Mar 2005, 15:57	#18
ouija Trust me, I am doctor! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 3,026	The question was already answered on page one.... god I wish this threa was closed