DIY Memory Stick Case

The New Geeky Workshop

Problem: Sony Memory Sticks are small, easy to lose, and somewhat delicate. While Sony does sell a case that holds eight sticks, it’s $20.00 + shipping and handling, and I would like something now that I can make from available materials.

Solution: Modify a business card case to serve as a memory stick case. While it will only hold four sticks, I currently only have two, and one is always in my PDA. This would also work with any kind of small, easily lost/broken removable media.

Disclaimer: I am assuming that you, as a person who would be interested in attempting this stupendous feat of engineering, have the basic knowledge and self awareness to use tools in a safe and responsible manner. If you get hurt in any way while doing this, it is all your fault. I’m not telling you to do it. I’m telling you how I did it. If you don’t understand that, or get the idea of actions having long term consequences, STOP HERE. Thank you.

Time Required: ½ hour

Materials:

•          Business Card Case with a latch mechanism. I had one that I got as swag from a friend’s company. The latch is important, as you do not want the case to open on it’s own.

•          Mouse pad - The thinner, the better. It should match the depth of one side of the card case. I lucked out and used an old pad that I’d had for years.

•          Straight edge - for guiding either the pen or the knife as you cut.

•          X-acto knife, and/or scissors, a surface you can cut on safely.

•          Adhesive: I used rubber cement in a well-ventilated area.

•          A dime - as a trace for when I cut out the corners of the pad.

•          A pen, to mark where you need to cut on your mouse pad.

How to:

1.         Measure the interior dimensions of the card case.

2.         Mark the size of the card case, less about 1/8" on each side, on the top of your mouse pad. Likely, trying to mark the padded side of the mouse pad will not work. Use the top.

3.         Cut the mouse pad according to the dimensions you have marked.

4.         Check the fit of the pads, making sure that they will fit in the case. If you need to trim the corners to match up with your case, now is the time to do it. I traced the edge of a dime with my pen, the trimmed the excess off with a pair of scissors. Be sure to recheck the fit after you trim.

5.         Now, make sure that the latch mechanism in your case has enough clearance to open and close. I had to trim back a little shy of 1/4" in shallow curve in order to insure reliable operation of the mechanism.

6.         Adhesive. I used Rubber cement to attach the pads to the case. For each, I first applied a thin coat of rubber cement to each surface that was to be mated, and let it dry. In this case, it was the insides of the card case, and the picture side of the mouse pad. Once it was dry but still tacky, I placed each of the pads, glue side down in the case, making sure to align each pad properly.

7.         I then covered one side of the padding with quarters stacked three high. This insured that there would be enough pressure to get the adhesive to stick together nicely.

Extra Credit:

Cut out the foam around the memory sticks, so that the stick is held snug and recessed. This will keep the sticks from jumping out, and allow you to hold more sticks in the same amount of space.

Conclusion:

This is a simple project that I have over explained, and so far, it has worked perfectly. I now can keep my sticks with me wherever I go, and do not need to worry about losing them.

Last update: 10/29/2002; 10:24:57 PM.