Skip to main content
gamedev.net
🔒 Locked

Toothpick Computer Case

Started by Raymondo Jan 9, 2005 at 7:43 PM 23 replies 2.6k views
Original Post
Raymondo
Raymondo
i'm about to begin construction on a toothpick computer case, because i have way too much time on my hands. My current case is perfectly fine, and does not require any rope to hold it together. does any one have any thoughts? I was thinking about using a couple hundred boxes of these. Or is there a particular brand of toothpick that you might suggest for its structural qualities? Any company with a bulk price point would be a welcome suggestion as well.
Tron3k
Tron3k
Ha! Just don't come crying to me when the wolf comes along. I'll be safe in my brick computer case.
“[The clergy] believe that any portion of power confided to me, will be exerted in opposition to their schemes. And they believe rightly: for I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man” - Thomas Jefferson
kSquared
kSquared
Not to rain on your parade, but that sounds like a terrific fire hazard and a great way to burn down your living quarters. =P
- k2 "Choose a job you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life." — Confucius"Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will get you everywhere." — Albert Einstein"Money is the most egalitarian force in society. It confers power on whoever holds it." — Roger Starr{General Programming Forum FAQ<
Cold_Steel
Cold_Steel
Hmm, it would seem to me that it would be difficult to build a structurally sound computer case out of just toothpicks. When you add up the weight it might have to support with drives, fans, mobo, processor, heatsink, etc. Good luck though. I would definitely go with the more sturdy round toothpicks over the thinner, flatter ones that break easily. Actually, I'd probably cut the tips of the picks to make them uniform diameter across the pick. It might make things easier, and stuff might better line up.
______"Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains" - J.J. Rousseau
jfclavette
jfclavette
I'd start with popsicles if I were you [grin]
I teleported home one night; With Ron and Sid and Meg; Ron stole Meggie's heart away; And I got Sydney's leg. <> I'm blogging, emo style
Cold_Steel
Cold_Steel
Quote:
Original post by kSquared
Not to rain on your parade, but that sounds like a terrific fire hazard and a great way to burn down your living quarters. =P
I wouldn't worry about that too much. Nothing in your case should ever get hot enough to light a toothpick on fire. The only way it could happens is if the CPU came directly into contact with the wood, or if you had an electrical short of some kind, but then it's wood, so how much of a short could you get, unless you totally botched up some wiring?[wink] Isn't the ignition temp for wood around 400 degrees F?
______"Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains" - J.J. Rousseau
fractoid
fractoid
Two words: Geodesic Dome. :)

Sounds like a fun project - the structural problem Cold_Steel refers to is what I'd say makes the project worth doing. Anyone can build a computer case out of metal or bricks. :P

As for sources - don't buy toothpicks in little boxes aimed at people who pick their teeth. Go to an art&craft store, they should be able to sell you a big (200g or so) bag of toothpicks for very little.

As for fire hazards - nah. Even your CPU shouldn't get above 70 degrees centigrade. So basically, if something else in your case catches fire then the toothpicks might burn, but otherwise they aren't going to be the cause of any fires.
Cold_Steel
Cold_Steel
Oh, oh! If you do this, you absolutely need to use dental floss to tie things together!

The geodesic dome would be sweet! Might take up a lot of floor space, but who cares. That would be a total chick magnet...wait?

Just a rough estimate, I would guess you'd need at least on the order of 10,000 to 20,000 toothpicks.
______"Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains" - J.J. Rousseau
Hedos
Hedos
Right.....
So you guys haven't noticed he is mocking the lego computer case project?
Xtremehobo
Xtremehobo
I'd advise you to go with spaghetti instead. Toothpicks are too short and will only be as strong as the compound you use to bond them together.

Spaghetti on the otherhand, is longer and has a bit of give, which will make it easier to work with.


.. [grin]
pixelwrench.com | [email="matt[nospam]@pixelwrench[nospam]com"]email[/email] lethalhamster: gamedev keeps taking my money, but im too lazy to not let them
Maega
Maega
jfclavette
jfclavette
Quote:
Original post by Maega


That would be awesome.
I teleported home one night; With Ron and Sid and Meg; Ron stole Meggie's heart away; And I got Sydney's leg. <> I'm blogging, emo style
Programmer One
Programmer One
If you're worried about fire...you could just spray the whole thing with a fire retardent.
Ilici
Ilici
Quote:
Original post by zer0wolf
The Apple I had a wooden case.

I don't think they ever caught fire. [wink]


Read that ad, it says:

Quote:

And the firmware in PROMS enables you to enter, display and debug programs[all in hex]


Take that binary!
Maega
Maega
Quote:
Original post by zer0wolf
The Apple I had a wooden case.

I don't think they ever caught fire. [wink]


Based on the text of the article, it didn't come with a case. You had to build your own. In that particular picture, someone built a wooden case :D
kSquared
kSquared
Quote:
Original post by zer0wolf
The Apple I had a wooden case.

I don't think they ever caught fire. [wink]

Yes, but their power supply was just barely 50 Watts. That's not enough to light a room, let alone start a fire. Modern cases routinely have power supplies in excess of 400 Watts -- that's about half of a horsepower, or about the power of your garage door's opener. And when you look at the fraction of that energy that gets lost to heat, there's a risk in there somewhere. Remember, temperature is only an average measure. At very localized points on the CPU, the temperature could well exceed the boiling point of water.

All I'm saying is, don't blame me when your house burns down. :D
- k2 "Choose a job you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life." — Confucius"Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will get you everywhere." — Albert Einstein"Money is the most egalitarian force in society. It confers power on whoever holds it." — Roger Starr{General Programming Forum FAQ<
Michalson
Michalson
Two problems:

I don't see how toothpicks could bear as much weight as they would need to.

Toothpicks (wood) provide no shielding from electrical interference, which is a bad thing.

Topic Locked

This topic has been locked by a moderator. New replies are not allowed.

Sign in to reply to this topic.