• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

What do you use to cut holes in your case

Joined
Mar 7, 2009
Messages
299 (0.05/day)
System Name Build 1
Processor i5 2500k
Motherboard Asus P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3
Cooling Cooler Master 212
Memory Corsair DDR3 1600
Video Card(s) onboard
Power Supply Corsair AX750
Software Windows 7 Professional
I wanna cut some for my psu on my antec 900 thinking of using a hole saw but not sure if itll tear it or it will be a clean cut.
 
Joined
Dec 5, 2007
Messages
5,207 (0.87/day)
System Name Addison Clark
Processor Ryzen 9 7950x3D
Motherboard Asus Strix X670E-I Gaming
Cooling Custom Bykski loop CPU and GPU
Memory G.Skill DDR5-6000 64GB CL30
Video Card(s) Gigabyte 4090 Aorus Master
Storage Kingston Fury 2TB and 4TB NVME
Display(s) LG 32" 1440p
Case Lian Li O11 mini
Audio Device(s) Asus Hive
Power Supply Thermaltake 1000w SFX-L
Mouse Corsair Dark Core RGB SE
Keyboard Corsair K95 Platnium
Software Win 11 Pro
Most of the time I use some painters tape(the blue stuff) to tape off were I am about to cut, grab a CD for the circle and trace it. You can either use a dremel or a hole saw. If using a hole saw take a ruler and make a X within the circle so you know were your center is.
 
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
3,527 (0.58/day)
Location
UK
System Name Dream Weaver
Processor Ryzen 5600
Motherboard B450 MSI Gaming Pro Carbon AC
Cooling NH-D14
Memory 16GB Flare X @ 3200MHz CL14
Video Card(s) Sapphire Vega 64 Nitro+
Storage 500GB evo 970 m.2 + 4TB HDDs
Display(s) ASUS 27" 1440p 144hz FreeSync
Case Fractal Design Define R3
Power Supply Corsair 850W
Software Windows 10 x64
Joined
Mar 7, 2009
Messages
299 (0.05/day)
System Name Build 1
Processor i5 2500k
Motherboard Asus P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3
Cooling Cooler Master 212
Memory Corsair DDR3 1600
Video Card(s) onboard
Power Supply Corsair AX750
Software Windows 7 Professional
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
3,527 (0.58/day)
Location
UK
System Name Dream Weaver
Processor Ryzen 5600
Motherboard B450 MSI Gaming Pro Carbon AC
Cooling NH-D14
Memory 16GB Flare X @ 3200MHz CL14
Video Card(s) Sapphire Vega 64 Nitro+
Storage 500GB evo 970 m.2 + 4TB HDDs
Display(s) ASUS 27" 1440p 144hz FreeSync
Case Fractal Design Define R3
Power Supply Corsair 850W
Software Windows 10 x64
I can picture that coming out bad lol

lawl, my case is a jagged mis-shapen monstrosity, but there's now slightly better airflow. :roll:
 
Joined
Nov 26, 2008
Messages
4,251 (0.76/day)
Location
California
System Name New Build - Oct. 2021
Processor Intel i7 10700k
Motherboard Asus TUF Gaming H570-PRO
Cooling Corsair H100i
Memory Corsair Vengence 16gb 3600 mhz
Video Card(s) Gigabyte RTX 3060ti 8gb
Storage 1Tb Samsung 970 EVO NvMe m.2
Display(s) 27" LG Ultragear 144hz
Case Fractal Design- Meshify 2
Audio Device(s) Onborad dts
Power Supply Corsair RX 650 W
Mouse Roccat Kiro
Keyboard Razer Tarantula
Software Windows 10 Home x64
I use a dremel;)
 
Joined
Dec 27, 2007
Messages
8,518 (1.43/day)
Location
Kansas City
System Name The Dove Box Rev 3.0
Processor i7 8700k @ 4.7GHz
Motherboard Asus Maximus X APEX
Cooling Custom water loop
Memory 16GB 3600 MHz DDR4
Video Card(s) 2x MSI 780 Ti's in SLI
Storage 500GB Samsung 850 PCIe SSD, 4TB
Display(s) 27" Asus 144Hz
Case Enermax Fulmo GT
Audio Device(s) ON BOARD FTW
Power Supply Corsair 1200W
Keyboard Logitech G510
Software Win 10 64x
I punch right through it Chuck Norris Style!

Nah most people use a drill bit and cut a pretty hole. Dremel is another option with the appropriate tips.
 
Joined
May 1, 2008
Messages
1,039 (0.18/day)
Location
Frankfurt/Main - Germany
System Name Shaman of Sexy
Processor AMD Phenom II X4 955 BE@4Ghz EK Supreme Block
Motherboard M3A79-T Deluxe Anfi-Tech Waterblocks
Cooling Magicool 360 + 120 + 120 Slim scythe slipped Laing DDC-1/T
Memory 4GB Corsair Dominator CM2X2048-8500C5D
Video Card(s) Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 EK 4870 X2 Block
Storage RAID 0 Seagate
Display(s) Samsung 226BW 22"
Case CoolerMaster Cosmos RC-1000 in mod progress
Audio Device(s) onboard
Power Supply Coba Nitrox 750W
Software Windows 7 Ultimate
Benchmark Scores http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dmv=1056967
Best way is to mark a circle, use a small drill-bit and drill as many holes arround it, then rasp till u are close to the mark ... easiest and cleanest way to do ....
 

jagass

New Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2009
Messages
271 (0.05/day)
Really haven't tried by myself...But I saw some guys doing it...
 
Joined
May 1, 2008
Messages
1,039 (0.18/day)
Location
Frankfurt/Main - Germany
System Name Shaman of Sexy
Processor AMD Phenom II X4 955 BE@4Ghz EK Supreme Block
Motherboard M3A79-T Deluxe Anfi-Tech Waterblocks
Cooling Magicool 360 + 120 + 120 Slim scythe slipped Laing DDC-1/T
Memory 4GB Corsair Dominator CM2X2048-8500C5D
Video Card(s) Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 EK 4870 X2 Block
Storage RAID 0 Seagate
Display(s) Samsung 226BW 22"
Case CoolerMaster Cosmos RC-1000 in mod progress
Audio Device(s) onboard
Power Supply Coba Nitrox 750W
Software Windows 7 Ultimate
Benchmark Scores http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dmv=1056967
Really haven't tried by myself...But I saw some guys doing it...

check my thread Projekt "cosmos" 1000, if done that with the upper fan cover pic avaible
 
Joined
Aug 29, 2008
Messages
112 (0.02/day)
Location
Northside Q.C.
System Name (redoing my loop) Dark Cloud
Processor Intel Core i7 920 2.6ghz D0
Motherboard Asus X58 Rampage 2 Extreme (pending)
Cooling [WC] Swiftech GTZ, 2x Ek Res 150, 2x Swftech MCP-655, Thermochill PA 140.3, HWLabs GTX 480
Memory OCZ Gold 6gb ddr3 1600
Video Card(s) 2x EVGA Geforce GTX 275 SC Edtition 1792mb SLI
Storage WD Raptor-X 150gb, WD 1tb Caviar Black
Display(s) LG 22" LCD W2252TQ Glossy
Case LIAN-LI PC-V2010B Full Tower Aluminum ATX
Audio Device(s) Creative Soundblaster Xi-fi Titanium Pci-E
Power Supply Corsair HX 1000W
Software Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit
Benchmark Scores gonna do this soon..
dremel for me.. slowly but surely :)
 

Athlon2K15

HyperVtX™
Joined
Sep 27, 2006
Messages
7,909 (1.24/day)
Location
O-H-I-O
Processor Intel Core i9 11900K
Motherboard MSI Z590 Carbon EK X
Cooling Custom Water
Memory Team DDR4 4000MHz
Video Card(s) ASUS TUF RTX 3080 OC
Storage WD WN850 1TB
Display(s) 43" LG NanoCell 4K 120Hz
Power Supply Asus Thor 1200w
Mouse Asus Strix Evolve
Keyboard Asus Strix Claymore
jigsaw with a nice metal blade
 

MKmods

Case Mod Guru
Joined
Feb 26, 2008
Messages
5,697 (0.97/day)
Location
Nevada
System Name Crossflow III
Processor AMD 965 (4.04Ghz)
Motherboard Asus Crosshair III
Cooling Air
Memory 4 gigs Mushkin 7-7-7-20@1T
Video Card(s) single 9800GT
Storage Raptor 150's in Raid0
Display(s) LG Flatron 24"
Case Custom
Audio Device(s) AuzenTech X-Raider W/OP637
Power Supply Custom modded Corsair 750HX
Software Win 7 64/Solaris Utility
Benchmark Scores 3DMark06--21963 so far
Tin snips

+1 big time!

the more you do it the better you will get.. I have a pair of them that are over 30 years old and they cut just fine.
Best way is to mark a circle, use a small drill-bit and drill as many holes arround it, then rasp till u are close to the mark ... easiest and cleanest way to do ....
The prob is the amount of time needed, all the metal bits left over, and tons of chances to slip and scratch the case

If using a hole saw take a ruler and make a X within the circle so you know were your center is.
best way other than tin snips as long as you get a good quality hole saw

dremel for me.. slowly but surely :)
very expensive for all the cutting wheels (not to mention in the last 2 years I have gone through 4 Dremel tools)

jigsaw with a nice metal blade
works well as long as the surface is protected and a very fine blade is used..

I punch right through it Chuck Norris Style!
only works if ur chuck Norris:respect:
 
Last edited:
Joined
May 1, 2008
Messages
1,039 (0.18/day)
Location
Frankfurt/Main - Germany
System Name Shaman of Sexy
Processor AMD Phenom II X4 955 BE@4Ghz EK Supreme Block
Motherboard M3A79-T Deluxe Anfi-Tech Waterblocks
Cooling Magicool 360 + 120 + 120 Slim scythe slipped Laing DDC-1/T
Memory 4GB Corsair Dominator CM2X2048-8500C5D
Video Card(s) Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 EK 4870 X2 Block
Storage RAID 0 Seagate
Display(s) Samsung 226BW 22"
Case CoolerMaster Cosmos RC-1000 in mod progress
Audio Device(s) onboard
Power Supply Coba Nitrox 750W
Software Windows 7 Ultimate
Benchmark Scores http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dmv=1056967
+1 big time!

the more you do it the better you will get.. I have a pair of them that are over 30 years old and they cut just fine.

The prob is the amount of time needed, all the metal bits left over, and tons of chances to slip and scratch the case


best way other than tin snips as long as you get a good quality hole saw


very expensive for all the cutting wheels (not to mention in the last 2 years I have gone through 4 Dremel tools)


works well as long as the surface is protected and a very fine blade is used..


only works if ur chuck Norris:respect:



Make shure u Tape the area good if already painted, else sand it later on and then paint it ..... it´s up to you and what u can handle, drilling & rasp, saw with dremel or hole saw......
 

MKmods

Case Mod Guru
Joined
Feb 26, 2008
Messages
5,697 (0.97/day)
Location
Nevada
System Name Crossflow III
Processor AMD 965 (4.04Ghz)
Motherboard Asus Crosshair III
Cooling Air
Memory 4 gigs Mushkin 7-7-7-20@1T
Video Card(s) single 9800GT
Storage Raptor 150's in Raid0
Display(s) LG Flatron 24"
Case Custom
Audio Device(s) AuzenTech X-Raider W/OP637
Power Supply Custom modded Corsair 750HX
Software Win 7 64/Solaris Utility
Benchmark Scores 3DMark06--21963 so far
tape does nothing when a drill bit slips....

I saw the big oval you did that way and let me tell you it took 1000X more skill than a hole saw or tin snips... the thing is 99% wouldnt be able to do as nice a job as you did..(me included)
 

AsRock

TPU addict
Joined
Jun 23, 2007
Messages
18,853 (3.08/day)
Location
UK\USA
Processor AMD 3900X \ AMD 7700X
Motherboard ASRock AM4 X570 Pro 4 \ ASUS X670Xe TUF
Cooling D15
Memory Patriot 2x16GB PVS432G320C6K \ G.Skill Flare X5 F5-6000J3238F 2x16GB
Video Card(s) eVga GTX1060 SSC \ XFX RX 6950XT RX-695XATBD9
Storage Sammy 860, MX500, Sabrent Rocket 4 Sammy Evo 980 \ 1xSabrent Rocket 4+, Sammy 2x990 Pro
Display(s) Samsung 1080P \ LG 43UN700
Case Fractal Design Pop Air 2x140mm fans from Torrent \ Fractal Design Torrent 2 SilverStone FHP141x2
Audio Device(s) Yamaha RX-V677 \ Yamaha CX-830+Yamaha MX-630 Infinity RS4000\Paradigm P Studio 20, Blue Yeti
Power Supply Seasonic Prime TX-750 \ Corsair RM1000X Shift
Mouse Steelseries Sensei wireless \ Steelseries Sensei wireless
Keyboard Logitech K120 \ Wooting Two HE
Benchmark Scores Meh benchmarks.
i'm another dremel user although i use it around the house for other things too.
 
Joined
Nov 13, 2007
Messages
10,209 (1.71/day)
Location
Austin Texas
Processor 13700KF Undervolted @ 5.6/ 5.5, 4.8Ghz Ring 200W PL1
Motherboard MSI 690-I PRO
Cooling Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 w/ Arctic P12 Fans
Memory 48 GB DDR5 7600 MHZ CL36
Video Card(s) RTX 4090 FE
Storage 2x 2TB WDC SN850, 1TB Samsung 960 prr
Display(s) Alienware 32" 4k 240hz OLED
Case SLIGER S620
Audio Device(s) Yes
Power Supply Corsair SF750
Mouse Xlite V2
Keyboard RoyalAxe
Software Windows 11
Benchmark Scores They're pretty good, nothing crazy.
Drill and then nibbler tool... gives the striaghtest cut and saves alot of sanding time. Only does straight lines well tho.



it can do curved likes too but its alot harder than it looks, also thick metal with break your hands.
 

MKmods

Case Mod Guru
Joined
Feb 26, 2008
Messages
5,697 (0.97/day)
Location
Nevada
System Name Crossflow III
Processor AMD 965 (4.04Ghz)
Motherboard Asus Crosshair III
Cooling Air
Memory 4 gigs Mushkin 7-7-7-20@1T
Video Card(s) single 9800GT
Storage Raptor 150's in Raid0
Display(s) LG Flatron 24"
Case Custom
Audio Device(s) AuzenTech X-Raider W/OP637
Power Supply Custom modded Corsair 750HX
Software Win 7 64/Solaris Utility
Benchmark Scores 3DMark06--21963 so far
Joined
Nov 13, 2007
Messages
10,209 (1.71/day)
Location
Austin Texas
Processor 13700KF Undervolted @ 5.6/ 5.5, 4.8Ghz Ring 200W PL1
Motherboard MSI 690-I PRO
Cooling Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 w/ Arctic P12 Fans
Memory 48 GB DDR5 7600 MHZ CL36
Video Card(s) RTX 4090 FE
Storage 2x 2TB WDC SN850, 1TB Samsung 960 prr
Display(s) Alienware 32" 4k 240hz OLED
Case SLIGER S620
Audio Device(s) Yes
Power Supply Corsair SF750
Mouse Xlite V2
Keyboard RoyalAxe
Software Windows 11
Benchmark Scores They're pretty good, nothing crazy.
that looks like fun....

:laugh: Im still healing after trying to nibble out an hole from a 2mm thick aluminum. But hey it looks good... Ive ruined 3 [cheap] cases because of my suckage with tin snips.

That grizzly is awesome...
 

MKmods

Case Mod Guru
Joined
Feb 26, 2008
Messages
5,697 (0.97/day)
Location
Nevada
System Name Crossflow III
Processor AMD 965 (4.04Ghz)
Motherboard Asus Crosshair III
Cooling Air
Memory 4 gigs Mushkin 7-7-7-20@1T
Video Card(s) single 9800GT
Storage Raptor 150's in Raid0
Display(s) LG Flatron 24"
Case Custom
Audio Device(s) AuzenTech X-Raider W/OP637
Power Supply Custom modded Corsair 750HX
Software Win 7 64/Solaris Utility
Benchmark Scores 3DMark06--21963 so far
lol, ALWAYS get the good ones (Wiss) and my fav is the red handle ones (left hand cuts)
 
Joined
May 1, 2008
Messages
1,039 (0.18/day)
Location
Frankfurt/Main - Germany
System Name Shaman of Sexy
Processor AMD Phenom II X4 955 BE@4Ghz EK Supreme Block
Motherboard M3A79-T Deluxe Anfi-Tech Waterblocks
Cooling Magicool 360 + 120 + 120 Slim scythe slipped Laing DDC-1/T
Memory 4GB Corsair Dominator CM2X2048-8500C5D
Video Card(s) Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 EK 4870 X2 Block
Storage RAID 0 Seagate
Display(s) Samsung 226BW 22"
Case CoolerMaster Cosmos RC-1000 in mod progress
Audio Device(s) onboard
Power Supply Coba Nitrox 750W
Software Windows 7 Ultimate
Benchmark Scores http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dmv=1056967
tape does nothing when a drill bit slips....

I saw the big oval you did that way and let me tell you it took 1000X more skill than a hole saw or tin snips... the thing is 99% wouldnt be able to do as nice a job as you did..(me included)

thx

if u take your time and don´t rush you can do it !
 
K

kyle2020

Guest
Personally, only ever used a dremel. My neighbour (Rolls Royce Engineer retiree) recommended tin snips, and I did use them for a few holes in my old 900, however since I have used my rotary tool with some reinforced wheels - usually one wheel will last me 2 - 3 cuts, but im still learning how to use one efficiently.

My advice? A rotary tool with some tough cutting discs and a pack of files.
 
Joined
Feb 7, 2008
Messages
42 (0.01/day)
System Name my rig
Processor C2D E6750@3,6 Ghz
Motherboard ASUS P5KC
Cooling Zalman CNPS 9700 LED, 2X120mm,5X92mm,2X70mm,1X40mm ;)
Memory Supertalent KIT 2x1+2x2 = 6GB DDR-2, 900Mhz, CL4 Oc 900 Mhz
Video Card(s) Sapphire HD 7770 GHz Edition OC 1GB GDDR5 Core 1100mhz, mem. 1250mhz
Storage 2X Hitachi 500GB + 1X1TB, SerialATA2, 7200, 16MB
Display(s) Samsung SyncMaster 931BF, Digital
Case Chieftec CA-01B-B-SL 530x205x650 mm
Audio Device(s) Integrated on Mobo
Power Supply Cooler Master B600
Software Win 7 x64
T

TechnicalFreak

Guest
I used my dremel, but then it broke. So now I drill a lot of small holes in circles with my ordinary drill, and then just "cut" it out (hard to explain), and after that I have to remove all the sharp edges from the the leftover holes.. Went faster with the dremel.
 
Top