Modding 101: The Basics - Basic Tools

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A hand sander, specifically a rubber sanding pad available at most auto parts stores, allows you to attach various grits of sandpaper on the pad for sanding between coats of paint. The hand pad lets you control the pressure more, unlike the electric sander, and allows you to employ wet-sanding to smooth out the finish on the paint against the evils of “orange peeling”. This rubber pad is also easier on your hands and more comfortable to use.

Jigsaw
A jigsaw can be an excellent case modding tool. The variety of blades will allow you to cut through many materials with relative ease. The biggest drawback to the jigsaw is its reciprocating action, which can sometimes make a project more cumbersome than necessary. The blade can get quite hot, quite fast and using a spray lubricant like WD-40 as you go does make things easier. However, the reciprocating action of the saw can cause the panels to warp or flex. This flex can really affect any precision or complicated pattern cutting. Most flex can be hammered back out but if the piece you’re cutting can be done with another tool, use the other one. The extra time it will take is worth it compared to the time needed to fix the flexing damage.

Dremel (rotary) tool
The ubiquitous rotary tool is your absolute best piece of equipment in your modding kit. With the multitude of accessories and bits available for this tool, you can find just about anything you need for anything you’re trying to achieve. From cutting wheels to grinding stones and even engraving tools, this is most definitely your most versatile tool. However, stay away from the cordless versions.

The cordless versions after have less than satisfactory battery life and the torque they produce are significantly less than that of a similar AC version. The most low-cost rotary tool is exactly that: low cost. Spend the money to buy something a little beefier, with variable speed settings and accessories like a plunger or guide. Your greatest cost saving is buying accessories like cutting wheels in the largest quantity possible, as the average cost per wheel is significantly reduced when you’re buying a pack of ten over a pack of three.

Also avoid those snake-like flexible power shafts. Like their drill counterparts, their success and functionality is very erratic and inconsistent. Unless the cord is left at the perfect angle, its ability to deliver the flexibility it advertises quickly devolves into irritation with its limitations.

Files
Metal files come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and having the versatility to put the right tool to the right job is invaluable. Metal files are best used to take the sharp edges off of any cuts you’ve made and even before you make any cuts in your case. Many budget cases have unfinished edges on various surfaces. While investing in a home tetanus kit can also be a worthwhile investment, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Pliers, snips, multi-tools
Pliers, snips, and multi-tools are an excellent bit of kit to keep handy to grip objects that your fingers just can’t hold. Look for good quality tools, as the dollar-store versions are often made of inferior metals and rust and oxidize quickly. A tool should be looked at as an investment. You want to get significantly greater use out of it than what you paid for, and poor equipment results in a poor product regardless of how good you are.

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