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)
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
Put in your keycaps
Update #1There 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)
Line it with liner of your choice (optional)
I am still out of foam, so instead, I used cork pads--a temporary solution for me, as I prefer foam
Glue in the divider strips, using a spacebar as a guideline for the separation between the dividers. Place your keycaps
Still some room left at the top for a 3rd level--say, for novelty caps
Update #2: Wrapped the box in some wallpaper:
And found some better foam for the top trays
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! ~
