Building a tech station (sorta)

[Kantastic]

What materials and tools would I need to build myself a tech station? I want it very simple, top level for the motherboard with dimensions 10.5x10.5, just enough to fit a mATX board with an inch or so of border. I'd like the bottom level to be "closed" sort of to reduce noise coming from the storage/optical drives.

I'm looking to buy/order some 12x12 inch sheets of acrylic, cut them down and use it as the main material, then use some steel where needed.

Here's a rough image of what I want:

The left image is the outside view, the right image would be the rough internal structure.



If space is an issue I might mount the HDD's vertical and decrease the amount from 4 drives to like 2 or 3 since I'll never use more than 2 anyway.

Edit: Scrap the 2 5.25'' bays, I'll be using some of that room for a power supply so it'll be one optical bay.
Edit2: Scrap the 1st edit, 2 3.5'' bays + 1 5.25'' bay on one side, the other side for the PSU.

I've never done anything like this so would it be hard for an amateur even with the simple design? Sure buying one would make my life a whole lot easier, but I'm anal about having a square tech station and I don't want any wasted space on my desk.

[(FIH) The Don]

this is mine http://techpowerup.com/gallery/2395.html

not so pretty but its working, just need a mobo tray so my gfx is firmly secrured.

but okay, mine is wood,

[Kantastic]

Originally Posted by (FIH) The Don

this is mine http://techpowerup.com/gallery/2395.html

not so pretty but its working, just need a mobo tray so my gfx is firmly secrured.

but okay, mine is wood,

Roughly what I have in mind, but I'm looking to make it a little cleaner with a secured power supply, a closed bottom level, and waaay shorter than what you have.

Was it hard to make? I'm looking to use acrylic cause it's awesome.

[(FIH) The Don]

Originally Posted by Kantastic

Roughly what I have in mind, but I'm looking to make it a little cleaner with a secured power supply, a closed bottom level, and waaay shorter than what you have.

Was it hard to make? I'm looking to use acrylic cause it's awesome.

i just made mine because i did not have a case atm, and it only took about an hour to make.

but yeah it is a hightower, planning on cutting it down to half the hight, and paint it after the mb tray comes on.

yeah i would love to have a huge amount of arcyllic, but i havent worked with it before so if i were to get something acryllic i would just buy the tech station from sunbeam.

[smashed_99cbr]

Originally Posted by Kantastic

Was it hard to make? I'm looking to use acrylic cause it's awesome.

its also really easy to work with....