Dremel for cutting holes in steel m/b tray?

[Strid]

Hey, I just wanted to ask a quick question to all the case modders out there... I want to cut a couple of holes in my steel motherboard tray for some better cable management. Will something as little as a Dremel suffice? I have an aversion against underpowered power tools, since I last time bought a "screwing machine" - apparently it makes you go "Screw this machine!" because it lacked serious torque. I went back to my good ol' trusty 800 W drill with bits. I don't want to end up with a Dremel if I could just use an angle grinder. Still, a Dremel will be la lot handier if it works.
I also have a few blow-holes to cut in a couple of

So; can a standard Dremel grind through a sheet metal like found "on" a motherboard tray?

Cheers!

[Nick Geraedts]

A quality rotary tool (Dremel or the like) should be able to cut through a motherboard tray without too much trouble. I've used mine to cut out the restrictive fan grilles in the back of cases a number of times, and I'd imagine that the thickness of the metal is comparable for the two.

[QuietOC]

So; can a standard Dremel grind through a sheet metal like found "on" a motherboard tray?

Definitely. I did burn out my Dremel cutting a 30mm axle nut in half, but Dremel fixed it under warranty pretty quickly, and I haven't had any trouble with it since then. Computer case metal cuts like butter. The little cutting disks don't last long, though, but the sparks are fun!

[felix_w]

If you wanna do the job right, just use the reinforced dremel disks (the thick ones)...the others may break easily if you don't have experience in cutting metal...

[QuietOC]

If you wanna do the job right, just use the reinforced dremel disks (the thick ones)...the others may break easily if you don't have experience in cutting metal...

Actually, I haven't noticed a big difference. Both normally shatter due to user error.

[felix_w]

Yeap, but they last longer...

[SilentKev]

For clean holes I prefer to use a drill with a circular hole cutter bit. Same as for cutting a fan hole, just with as smaller diameter cutter bit. A bit of sanding to remove any burrs or you can line the holes with a protective strip of rubber to protect the cables. Of course this works best for round or narrow cables compared to wide flat ones such as IDE cables.

[Strid]

Ok, thank you guys! Imma get a Dremel. This is gonna be fun!!

I was thinking of just using the rotating sanding thingy on the dremel for smoothing out the edges of the holes I cut, by the way. If that doesn't work I'd probably just line the edges with, like, duct tape or something.