geekhack
geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: Photoelectric on Sat, 19 October 2013, 23:20:10
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Is there such a thread already? If so, I haven't found it, but this could be merged with it!
I've been annoyed with keycap box prices being high due to shipping cost, and given that most are made of cardboard... well, I felt that I'd rather make some myself than pay ~$20 per box.
So here's what I've come up with:
Materials:
- cardboard box (in this case a Dell keyboard box)
- foam lining
- good paper or wood glue
- (optional/for decoration) box lining (using a roll of red wallpaper I got in a Goodwill store for 99c)
The box (chosen for its flat size and large base capacity)
[attachimg=1]
Line the box with something you like: either "velvet" lining paper, or something soft, or just interesting decorative paper.
Cut foam into strips of similar width, put some glue on the bottom of each strip, and place the strip onto the bottom of the box, using a spacebar keycap to guide the placement
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
Put in your keycaps :D
[attachimg=4]
Update #1
There is still room for another level! Make a "tray" out of cardboard (have to measure everything carefully, so the tray fits well without being too tight). Leave some flaps of cardboard on the side to use as handles. I recommend using a good utility knife for cutting instead of large scissors. I used some tape to reinforce the corner connections as well as stronger glue (Elmer's wood glue)
[attachimg=5]
Line it with liner of your choice (optional)
[attachimg=6]
I am still out of foam, so instead, I used cork pads--a temporary solution for me, as I prefer foam
[attachimg=7]
Glue in the divider strips, using a spacebar as a guideline for the separation between the dividers. Place your keycaps :)
[attachimg=8]
Still some room left at the top for a 3rd level--say, for novelty caps
[attachimg=9]
Update #2:
Wrapped the box in some wallpaper:
[attachimg=10]
[attachimg=11]
And found some better foam for the top trays
[attachimg=12]
All done!
~ Please add any of your ideas here, such as if you've found good boxes for this task, or a place to get good foam, or if your idea beats this one by a mile, and it's something entirely different! ~
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Added a second level to the storage box. Going to work on the third and final level.
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Rigid board foam insulation at Home Depot is great - firm, strong, cuts well, all good except that horrible pink color. Pretty cheap but you may have to buy a very large sheet.
Sometimes you can find blue which is much nicer.
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That's good to know, thanks! I need to go to HD soon, and I'll look for it. Not a fan of the cork--it looks cool, bit is a bit crumbly.
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Awh thought it said competition, not compilation. Was getting excite.
Nice ghetto'y-ness photo!
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Hey, making something yourself goes not make it ghetto :)). It's an extension of the tweaking and crafting nature some of us have :thumb:
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Final update: the box has been finished and is fully functional. Having good foam is definitely key to keeping keycaps securely in place.
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Not bad.
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Looks good. I have one I can try to post later if you like. Caps aren't laid out but it can hold 12 - 16 sets depending how you want to space it out.
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Looks good. I have one I can try to post later if you like. Caps aren't laid out but it can hold 12 - 16 sets depending how you want to space it out.
Sure! My goal was to have more caps fit into as small space as possible. Though it does help that I don't own many extra sets. The pre-made boxes look really nice, but they generally only fit one full set + a bit of extras. My box can fit at least 3 sets with 2 top tier inserts. I've made the separating foam lines as narrow as possible.