Which of these materials should I use to Suspend HDDs?

[AERo]

I know elastic material utilized in the elastic suspension guide
is cheap enough; problem is "accesibility".
I can't find any place around where I reside that has some sort
of elastic cord / string.

So I'm left to my own devices.

Ok, what I have on me currently is:

• 1) 2x2m jump rope that is consisted of rubber/elastic material.
  Not very strechy/elastic and has a diameter of 0.5cm
  
  2) Couple shoe laces 20~30cm long, and about 0.2cm in diameter
  
  3) Bunch of elastic bands. Various sizes.

So what can I utilze to suspend my HDD out of these materials?

For reference:

Hard drives:
Western Digital Raptor 150GB
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB single platter
Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB

Highest temp any one of them have reached:
Around 45C degrees

Case:
Mini P180

Location of drives:
Bottom 5.25 cages


Thank you for the read

[thepwner]

I am using rubber bands right now but MikeC (I think that's his name) told me he has done that before but the brands break over time...so like temporary the bands would work but long term they would break.

[psiu]

Shoe laces will probably hold up the best.

[jhhoffma]

Local hardware store should have bungee cords of various diameters and lengths. Find the thinnest bungee cord you can. They'll work way better than any of the given options and last longer too.

[DanceMan]

I get round elastic cord at a fabric shop. You must have one of those where you live.

[blackworx]

+1 elastic from a fabric shop

Although in a pinch, I'd say that the purple elastic band, IF it is the kind I think it is (i.e. food grade) is much, much less prone to perishing than standard bands and therefore most suitable out of your photograph. It would still perish, but in my experience the time to failure would be measured in months or years, not weeks.

[InfyMcGirk]

You could use the elastic band(s) but also fashion a looser 'cradle' from the shoelaces, so if/when the elastic snaps, your drive doesn't clatter into the void but just rests within the shoelaces? The shoelaces won't decouple the vibration as well as rubber in themselves, but they'll last longer. So if you can't get a better option, try combining those two...

[AERo]

Interesting enough, I've search my neighbourhood this morning
for a fabric shop in a car and on foot. I even had help from a
friend. None was to be found

What are some large franchise names for fabric retailer/store?
(In Ontario, Canada. Also more specifically in the Greater Toronto Area/Mississauga)

Also, jhhoffma mentioned "bungee cords" from a hardware store.

I went to one hardware store before I started to post and asked
if they had any elastic cords/straps things; and due to my very
vague description, they said no

But would "bungee cords" do? At least now I know the correct term
I can use to ask a sales person. (There are still 3 more hardware
stores around my area I can visit within 15 minutes)

[AERo]

Quick google search has shown me that the closest store to my
residence is 6~7km away and is not even a Fabric store, more of
a upholstery / furniture store

[jhhoffma]

Call the closest Walmart you have. Usually, they have a fabric/craft section that will have all kinds of elastic. Cord is the easiest to use, but the elastic bands used in underwear will also work.

JoAnn Fabrics (Jo-Ann) is the biggest craft store around in the US, next to Michael's (of which there are 32 in Ontario). They will all have what you need. Both of them should also have stretch-magic in one form or another, which is usually found in the jewelry section.

[AERo]

Well, Thank you very much for the Walmart suggestion.

I went there and bought myself some canopy ties, which
seems to be the right stuff (polyester and rubber/elastic)\

About 0.3~0.4 cm in diameter.

It's like a mini bungee cord




I looked at the fabrics section at walmart and found
elastic bands, but really, they were bands... no cord like elastics.

Plus I felt awkwaaaaaaaard being the only dude in that section;
also being the only one who, well, for the lack of a better word:
was young.

[jhhoffma]

Glad you got something. When in doubt, go to Walmart!!

Those will work for sure as long as they aren't too stiff. You don't want the material to be taught as you will get the guitar string effect, which will allow vibrations to travel down the cord.

Plus I felt awkwaaaaaaaard being the only dude in that section; also being the only one who, well, for the lack of a better word:
was young.

Small price to pay for the reward of silence.

BTW, bands will work well. I've used them before, they just aren't as compact or easy to handle, nor do they look as good when installed.

[AERo]

MMMMM, looks great, sounds like nothing; which is great.

All now I need to find is a slim fan to put in front or under these guys
because the PSU behind em is hogging all the cold air and heating
em up

Anyone know of a good 120mm, 90mm or 80mm fan that is
very thin?

Oh, resulting pics (500GB and the 1TB suspended)





Put Long flat headed screws on the back and front sides of HDDs
just in case they slipped off of the cord due to vibration.

[xev]

Scythe Kaze-Jyu Slim http://www.scythe-usa.com/product/acc/0 ... etail.html

The thinnest good 120 fan out there.

[jhhoffma]

Scythe Kaze-Jyu Slim http://www.scythe-usa.com/product/acc/0 ... etail.html

The thinnest good 120 fan out there.

+1