Let’s face it –- the modding market is flooded with unoriginal mass-produced cases and components. While this may popularize our art, computers are starting to look the same. Everyone has the same mods and creativity is out the door. Modder’s mesh is a raw material that is truly a mod-artist’s canvas. You can do so many creative things with it with little work and high *bling*. More ambitious users can take more time and come up with some very impressive mods.
Modder’s mesh was invented by mnpctech owner Bill Owen, a professional case modder who started selling this product a few years ago. He came up with the idea when building a computer for a customer, and dubbed his creation “Modder’s Mesh”, resting on the seventh day… er…
Anyway, this product has become so popular in the modding community that nearly all metal mesh is referred to by this brand name, similar to branding tissues are as KleenexTM and all sodas as Coke®.
Packaging
The mesh is sold by the square foot and is available in two patterns. The product arrived in a plain but protective square padded envelope. The envelope was just large enough for the 1 foot square, keeping it nice and secure. The two pattern samples were in excellent condition.
There are two patterns available: a holed pattern and a honeycomb pattern. The first pattern is 22 gauge steel needled with 5/32” holes. The honeycomb pattern is comprised of ¼” hexagons offering 70% airflow and is also fabricated from 22 gauge steel.
A slightly greasy but transparent substance coats the metal pieces, but this is merely a light oil to prevent oxidation. Bill recommends either painting the mesh or maintain the oil periodically. A computer is generally not going to be in an area prone to moisture, so you should be able to use the product as-is, but more preparation is required for painting. Basically use laquer thinner and a stiff brush to remove the oil, and dry it quickly. You should probably lightly sand it with 200 grit sandpaper and then apply a primer, else the paint might peel off. All of these products can be found at any automotive store. After preparation, you can get really creative: you can match your case colors, use glossy, matte or even neon paint. Rustoleum would probably look pretty good, providing a thick glossy finish.
Working with the product
Working with the mesh is very easy. You can use simple wire-cutters or get precise with a Dremel. Since the edges of my products were to be hidden behind other things, I chose the “quick and easy” path with the wire cutters. The mesh is stiff and holds its form but is also very pliable. It offers good resistance to the wire cutters, but is easily cut. One may wish to use a Dremel if precise cuts are to be made, to achieve a professional edge. Gloves are recommended, as the edges can be quite sharp and pointy!
It would be difficult to review a product like this without actually using it in a few projects. The next section describes some simple projects that can be completed with Modder’s Mesh, and a guide on how they were created. Whithout further ado…
The mesh was used for several simple projects, and yielded outstanding results. This mesh can be used in many different ways, adding an industrial touch. It creates a nice shadow patterns when wrapped around a light source, or can be wrapped around a fan for a custom-looking fan grill. It can also be used to improve ventilation, or diffuse lighting for some nifty effects. The only tools required to perform these mods are a SharpieTM and wire cutters, and none of these projects are particularly difficult to produce.
Fan Grill
You can add an industrial touch to your existing fan grills with little work. Since the mesh would be hidden behind an existing grill, I did not require the edges be perfect. First pull out the grill of your choice and place on the mesh for sizing. Try to line up at least two screw holes so the mesh will mount securely behind your grill. Draw an outline with a permanent marker and then simply cut the pattern with some heavy-duty wire cutters (the more leverage the better!).
Once you have the pattern cut out, place over the fan and lay the desired grill on top, making sure the screw holes are lined up. Then simply secure with case screws. For an added touch, I used rounded washer ends found in any hardware store’s lighting department (they are typically used to secure outdoor fixtures, and are available in chrome or brass).
Decorative Front Screen
I had previously made a window for the front door of my Chenming case. I thought the case could do with a touch of mesh. Since I could not remove the window, I measured the window size and then marked a sheet of the 5/32” mesh with a permanent marker (I added a little overlap to make sure no edges were seen, as this was going behind the window). I used wire cutters to trim between each hole, and eventually cut the piece free of the 1 foot sheet. I have a decorative fan grill on the window, so I had to cut holes for the mounting screws. The holes on this pattern of mesh are not big enough to accommodate a typical case screw.
Power Supply Cage
This was the most involved of these projects, but was still simple to do. Once the power supply is removed, remove the top cover, which we must measure. You can then measure the width and height, wrapping around the corners of the lid. Now that you have your total height, mark your measurements on a sheet of mesh. A typical power supply will probably be 1 foot long, using the entire length of a mesh square. Add a about ¼” to the length to make sure it can be tucked inside the power supply’s housing.
Once cut, you can bend the cage into shape. I recommend using the edge of a table with a sharp 90° angle. This should be pretty simple to figure out, so I won’t go into a step-by-step detail of how to measure bends in metal. Once you have your cage formed, fit on top of the power supply and note where the screw holes are. The small screws should fit through the mesh, but you may need to do some cutting if the mesh is blocking any screw holes. If your power supply has a fan attached to the lid, you must measure and cut mounting holes for it. Now the entire cage doubles as your fan’s grill!
Once all this work is complete, simply place on top of your power supply and tuck edges into the main housing. Then secure the lid tight with mounting screws!
Modder’s mesh can only improve the look of any case when installed. It is relatively inexpensive and is easy to work with, and adds depth and creativity to your case project, as can also enhance lighting and ventilation. Many modding products are mass-produced, which has stalled originality. This product is a raw material that requires some work, which is what will make your case so unique!
There is not one thing that could make this product any better. The oxidation issue is a property of the raw material and cannot be changed without altering the product’s quality. If the mesh were aluminum then it would not be prone to rust, but then would not be as pliable and could possibly break when bending. If the mesh were pre-painted, it would crack when working with it. Any treatment must be applied after the desired shape is formed.
This is a nearly perfect modder’s tool, allowing outstanding effects to be achieved for a low price, and receives a well-deserved 9.5 out of 10.
Pros
- Fantastic results
- Inexpensive
- Easy to work with
Cons
- May oxidize without preparation