Dewalt Tool Box PC

Dewalt Media Center PC

About 2 years ago, I needed a rough and ready ; road worthy PC, with built in wireless. What to do? Build one of course! The problem was simple - a notebook wouldn't do what we needed it to ; in terms of POWER, naturally - and the only solution was to take a full sized PC with us on the go.

Cases got dented, we cursed just about every manufacture until ....

We built two Dewalt tool box PCs. w000t. It's still exciting. I've (literally) kicked this one around for about 2 years now ; everything from being stacked to dropped pretty hard and it still works great. I should mention the rubber inserts (not contained in this article, I'm sure you can figure out some rubber padding) are a big reason why it still works.

Step 1 The problem....

The problem for me was fitting the full sized ATX board into a DeWalt Drill Box ; along with an ATX power supply. Keeping a full sized PC cool in a smaller space is always fun - AND it also had to be very quiet in this situation, so fan speed controllers were going to dial in the temp to make it quiet, as well as cool. In the end I drilled installed an ext. fan over the CPU ; and drilled vent holes . You'll have to shop around, and find the smallest components (I used a 3 PCI slot board ; with no PCI-E) ; mini ATX PSU, etc..

It took a lot of returns, but it's worth it. You end up with a really road-worthy PC, that takes the abuse ; and can be stacked just like any other road gear. Plus it's fun to make.

Some things to consider that aren't necessities but I recommend before starting this project are:

• Wireless USB Mouse / Keyboard (combo)
• Fan Speed Controller
• CPU Temperature Display / Sensor
• Foot switch (so you can throw it under something out of view, hit the side with your foot for on/off)
• Rubber Inserts (padding from shock)

Also not required ; but suggested:

• An understanding girlfriend whom doesn't (know) you are crazy (yet)
• Sedatives.
• Muscle Relaxers.
• Booze.
• A pink tu-tu
• And an eagle's feather.

Comments

[kve23]

What are the specs on that computer?

[macwhiz]

I made one of these too, a little more cramped because of my full sized PSU but it's pretty cool, all my friends love it. I only had one problem, my graphics card was too tall, so I got a agp flex cable and placed the card on an angle. Oh, BTW it's a hackint0sh

[cyrozap]

You could have an SSD and liquid cooling so you wouldn't have that huge hole in the case for the cpu fan. Less holes means more structural integrity, and nothing would be able to accidentally jam the CPU cooling fan. Also, less moving parts means less potential for failure. Maybe you could even liquid cool the PSU. Another idea: if you are using this in a car, ditch the ATX power supply. PCs run on DC electricity, so you could build your own DC-DC power supply. That way, you could power it off of a 12v car battery without need for an inverter. There are so many possibilities :)

[capth00k]

Wow, great suggestion -- I'd love to make a liquid cooled / SSD one ; it would really cut down on the noise ; possibly making it almost silent which would be great as a recording studio PC. I like your idea for ditching the PSU for DC-DC as well - that would be really useful for folks installing something like this in a Vehicle / RV.

[Pyroflea]

Liquid cooling systems still have radiators that usually requires fans to generate adequate airflow, and still give off heat. A fan and vents would still be necessary.

[capth00k]

Like I said... would really cut down on the noise.

[bobertoper1]

i just made one about 2 months ago but i used a bell and howell case and mine doesnt have a disk drive ill post an instructable on it soon

[capth00k]

Post a pic!

[crabbypup]

currently building my own case. my problem is that i need to fit 5 SATA HDD's, a custom fan controller, a home theater/volume/remote box (2x5.25") and a dvd drive into a case that ONLY vents from the front and back and is less than 7.25" wide by 24" tall. so far i have basically ripped apart a whole buch of old cases that fit one of the criteria but not some others. i have the tray and most of the back, but i still need the top and sides and i need to buy the innards. it will contain an AMD phenom II x4 940 (3ghz), 2x ati radeon 4790s and 4gb 1666 mhz dual channel DDR2 ram.

[bobertoper1]

no way your going to fit 5 in there i could only fit one and im still working on the disk drive  but just to tell you how much did that cost you! where did you get that kind of money!

[capth00k]

BTW, I have 4 Hard Drives in that little dewalt case now. Only problem is the heat can't dissipate fast enough, and I fried one. Will probably swiss cheese the box more before I fit another replacement. Using as a file server under the bed, and VNC into it when I need to control it.

peace,

Capt.

[crabbypup]

 the case i am building is not a toolbox. mine is designed for a specific space. it is 7.25"x24"x21" (WxHxD). and i have already built the drive trays for all of these, and they will fit, two of the drives are bolted sideways onto the case door to fit all of them. i have not actually bought the parts yet, i am waiting until february, when the price will probably drop.

[bobertoper1]

aah i see by the way you want to have some kind of material to protect the hdds because mine sometimes rattles (can reduce its life by 50%) and you might want to check Milwaukee PC they've got them for cheap.

[TheParadox]

Try SSD drives.

[capth00k]

 Rubber cubes work great for this ; or you could make 'floating' rubber footed platforms for the HDs.  Think of how the lens / mechanism in a CD ROM / CD player 'floats' inside of the casing with rubber feet ; so it isn't jarred. 

[fingerlikin]

better get all your  guts first !!!

[your_dragon113]

I'm 95% finished mine here. Capth00k used a DeWalt cordless drill case and I thought that was Great! I took it a step father and used the DeWalt skillsaw case for mine. I threw in a DELL system into mine and there's a lot of room to grow with in there. I tossed out the 250Watt Dell P/S and put in a full sized 450Watt unit. I was able to put in 2 HHDsthere's room for 2 more...SATA maybe?,  as well as the CD reader(Dell didn't like the thought of DVD readers(?)) as well as wireless WiFi and Wireless keyboard/mouse(Logitech MX 5500). I'll be adding a set of logitech speakers to the case, first time I've boughten something JUST to butcher...well...ok...maybe a small lie there, then it'll be complete. (still working on pics ASAP)

[capth00k]

 Nice dude, post your pics when you get time to

[ANDY!]

battery power possible?

[capth00k]

Sure, why not run an 600 watt-ish inverter with a 12v battery, or off your vehicles cigarette lighter outlet to said inverter. No problem.

[Lance Mt.]

 Ooo, car battery maybe. Have 2 batterys in car ^.^

[hintss]

plus the picoPSU or whatever its called...

[your_dragon113]

I've got mine done now...just trying to get the pics loaded(the site isn't playing nice). As for the venting...I might sugest the use of 2" &\or 3" round soffet vents as they can be cut and bent in to hold them in place(and they worked out VERY well for speaker grills!).

I don't have any build pics as I started the project and it just kinda flowed (fast). But I CAN take a few parts out to show HOW things were mounted. I even got a Skil Saw WAV for the Windows Start sound...heh heh heh...now the DELL Really has an identity complex! LOL

[fingerlikin]

im glad everyone likes it lol!!!!!  the first one is still kickin around somewhere in my garage atm. mini atx system board, dvd drive, more usb/firewire ports than you could ever need, etc. etc.  I'll try to locate the build pics for ya capt.
aka Jon N. ;P

oh mine runs XP Pro media center, and Ubuntu

[capth00k]

 Yes!!! Add your pics dude, I'll give  you my login info. This instructable could use some more actual 'build' pics .

[MACKattacksnipe]

My case is from here
http://www.serpac.com/Products/Rseries/r-720.aspx
Yellow Water Poof im hoping the whole CPU will be water proof even the switches and Wireless Card will be "HOPEFULLY"

[eyobin2]

its pretty cool i made one out of a small toolbox a while back, now that i think we can actually use a nano or mini itx mobo and a pico power supply n dat would fit in a super small box.... imagine how tiny, powerful and portable, i have a mini itx running in my car as a carputer pretty fun.... but i like diy, i guess great minds think alike lol

[frikkie]

This is so awesome!Maybe with oil rings,silicone and rubber you can even make it like waterproof.I once saw the old army radios;they are in heavy iron casing.If one of those radios ever fell off an army jeep,the radio was still in working condition.On its insides,the pc boards are mounted on metal plates that again have springs that help to absorb shocks from falling.

[DiamondBack]

What an awesome idea. I have two or three of these in my storage shed. And I am getting close to needing another PC ...

[capth00k]

Hey thanks Man... the 'Pipster' thinks it's a lame idea but I think he just took too many drugs in high school and can't figure out why I'd (ruin) a perfectly good tool box and turn it into an evil computing machine.

[albylovesscience]

whats that program that you have on it

[dooj]

cool beans

[djtomczak678]

:O is that a pioneer vsx series??

[capth00k]

Yeah, an old one that burned out one of the channels.

[jeffdak]

could you say the application name for media control ?

[capth00k]

It's Windows XP ; Media Center Edition.

[John Smith]

You know those roll up silicone keyboards they sell for like $25? You could get one of those and mount it to the outside that way you would only need an extra mouse.

[Scott_Tx]

Neat! I've got a rolling plastic tool chest my bro gave me and had no use for it. Until now...

[cammel8]

This is freakin' Awesome!!! I have been looking for something to put in my RV and I think I have just found it. You are my freakin' hero man.... I think I will make false idols of you and worship them....Thank you thank you thank you...

[capth00k]

hahaha, thanks man