Price:
Acrylic L-shaped window - £8;
Rubber window moulding with locking strip - £4.99 for 1.4m;
Total price: £12.99
Supplier: www.kustompcs.co.uk
What you need: Dremel or equivalent rotary tool with reinforced cut-off wheels and grinding wheels; 2in masking tape; blunt tool of some description.
1. There are many ways of fitting a window to your case, but we'll focus on the cheapest and simplest method, which is to buy a piece of acrylic and the appropriate rubber mount from www.kustompcs.co.uk. The best cutting tool for this job is a trusty Dremel, and you'll also need some hardy reinforced cut-off wheels for it, which typically cost £6.99 for a pack of six.
2. Mask the case's panel using 2in masking tape, and then mark out where you want your window. You then need to mark out the extra space for the rubber. The rubber moulding from KustomPCs includes a washer for this job - you simply insert a pencil in the middle and follow the outline of the window.
3. Start cutting your panel, using long sweeping cuts at a high rotational speed. When you come to a curve, use the bend of your wrist to help you sketch the turn from the inside, which will stop the cut being jagged. You can smooth any rough edges with a grinding wheel and sandpaper later. Remove the tape and brush off any filings.
4. Fit the rubber moulding into the aperture, with the join at the bottom so that it isn't obvious. Then guide your window into the frame, starting at a corner. The fit should be ridiculously tight, and you'll need to use a blunt tool to force the rubber fully into position. Finally, slip in the locking strip that comes with the rubber moulding, again using a tool to guide it into place, and you're done.
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