[Build Log] - The Big Budget Boomer Box (aka, the "BBBB") - Page 103

I've bought some samples of lots of different kinds. Even some from Home Depot, that you can get real cheap. Any of them could be spraypainted white. Haven't yet decided exactly what to do though. I have some of the Phobya you mentioned you had bought. Thought it was kind of thin....what did you think about that one?

Awhile back, I showed you the disassembly of my card reader in this post. Here is a shot of what it looked like taken apart:





I dropped the two aluminum casing shown above by my local powder coater before leaving for vacation, and picked up the finished products yesterday. I had also decided to sleeve the black USB cables with white sleeve, so here are some pictures of my progress today. The USB header breaks out into two separate USB cables, and I had a tough time deciding how to tackle this. I haven't ever repinned a USB connector, and wasn't in the mood to try this evening. I also don't quite have everything mapped out for the bays yet, and don't want to create a custom wire until I know exactly where it will run from.

So...for my first try, I decided to try and slip some of the USB sleeve over the ends of the connectors. First I wrapped the black cable in white electrical tape. This GREATLY improves the finished look when you are using white sleeving.





Then I worked for awhile at getting the sleeve to go over one of the connectors. Was not easy, but I finally got it. Little bit of shrink on the end, and this one looked pretty good.






But when I started the second cable, I found that the end was especially side on this one because it was the connector that screws into the PCB on the card reader. Try as I might.....I could not get the sleeve to go over this connector. It's going to require removal of the connectors or a custom wire. So....for tonight, I decided just to use some EXTRA large sleeve, and put both of the cables inside it. To be honest....I don't think it looks great like this....although its better than doing nothing to it. I'll keep this one on my to-do list, and will come back and make a custom cable for this at some point. And...here are the powder coated panels and the sleeve:





Here it is inside the 3.5 bay adapter from Caselabs:





And some pictures in the case. Even though I need to do a better job on the sleeve/cable....I really like the white powder coated casing. It makes it blend right in with the inside of the case, instead of standing out and looking ugly.





More later tonight!

Appreciate the thoughts. But I would consider making a custom faceplate for it before I would consider external. I hate external and one of my goals is for everything to be in the box. That includes the Blu-Ray drive. But I might be able to use one of the crimson bay covers and fashion some sort of custom plate for it. Will have to think about it.