Hardware Hacking Projects for Geeks

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Part I: Basic Hacks, Tools, and Techniques

Task 7: Add a lid to the box

The final step is to solder on the lid of the water block. This lid will

be the side that sits on the CPU, so keeping it undamaged and free

from dents is important.

Use masking tape and some wood on the lid side to hold it onto the

water block itself, and use a vice to clamp it together (see Figure

4-17). Now, with the soldering iron, solder around the edges where

the lid meets the water block. Once you’ve soldered the area that

is not covered in masking tape, allow it to cool for five minutes,

unwrap the tape, and place new tape over the area you just soldered.

Now solder the rest of the unsoldered area to complete the seal of

the lid to the water block. When you are done, it should look like

Figure 4-18.

2. Connect water tubing to the box

It is very important to seal the tubing to the copper box. Water

leaks may permanently damage components. You will need two

pieces of tubing to connect the box to the pump, rubber bands or

hose clamps, and a water basin. There are several types of tubing

that you can use; clear vinyl tubing is the least expensive and most

easily found.

Two possible methods for connecting the plastic tubing to the cop-

per tubes are rubber bands and hose clamps. Rubber bands can

work well if you wrap them as tightly as possible around ...