Apple Power Brick to Tape Measure Mod

I don't even really remember how I got this idea. What I do remember is that I didn't want my brothers old Apple laptop power brick charger to go to waste, so I recycled it into a new form with a new life!

This happens to be my first Instructable ever and I had this tutorial in the making for a very long time so if I could see some comments on what you think, what you like, or constructive criticism, it would all be greatly appreciated! 😃

So this is all that you'll need, you can replace what you like for your own needs.

• An Apple Power Brick, I used the 85W MagSafe A1343
• A tape measure with a tape width of 3/4 inch. No more.
  Here's the one I used: https://www.craftsman.com/products/hand-tools/meas...
• Super glue or something that binds plastic together well
• Sandpaper, I used 60 and 180 grit
• a Dremel
• Long Nose Pliers
• Goo Gone or equivalent
• Wire Cutters

Also quick note BEFORE YOU GO ON TO THE VIDEO please read the description to the next step, then watch.

--POWER WARNING--

You may have a risk to get an electric shock, please disassemble at your own risk.

Unfortunately, I did not take any photos of myself taking it apart since I didn't think of making this and instructable until a quarter way through the project. lol

Fortunately, I have a video that will demonstrate it pretty well! The man dissembling the Power brick bends it at one of the separation points. I'd suggest not bending it and trying your best to separate the two pieces completely.

I don't know if it'll start at a specific spot but I suggest you start the video at 1:27 til 4:23.

Now that you have the two parts separated you can pull out the Circuit board. I have the Power Adapter with the angled charger (picture 2) so I was able to separate it from the body with a little bit of force. If you have one of mine and are having a really hard time separating the board from the body you should be able to heat up the other side with a hairdryer to melt the glue (picture 3).

Once separate, you can use wire cutters to cut the board from the angled piece.

Speaking of the glue, I used Goo Gone to remove it by applying some, letting it sit, and rubbing it off; I used warm water as well.

Make sure you clean up the edges of each body piece so they can fit back together when reassembled. This can be done by taking the pliers and peeling away excess plastic, be careful not to chip the edges!

Now we'll put a pause on that and head over to our tape measure!

The specific tape measure i'm disassembling is in the supplies list. For other tape measures - as they say - mileage may vary.

There are three screws on the back that need to be unscrewed (picture 1). The middle one is inside the belt clip which will need to come off as well. Now here you need to be careful, you'll need to lift the side with the clip from the other side. As soon as you can get your fingers in there, hold the roll of tape and make sure it doesn't unravel.

Now pull the tape roll from its compartment making sure to hold the sides of it. There may be some tension, and if you can not pull it directly out, rotate it around the tape measures side, it should want to go that direction. I'd suggest taking the roll and putting a rubber band around it so you can put it to the side (picture 3).

Now you should have the two sides of the tape measure, but don't throw these away yet! We can reuse the tape holder.

Here comes the fUn part. Sadly it's all sorta vague since I made no initial measurements so for those of you who like preciseness and are obsessed with getting things done right the first time - like me - you're out of luck. Sorry! Just embrace pain it'll be fine. 😂

So first you'll want to mark a square where you want to cut out the two pieces that hold the tape (picture 1 & 4). Make sure it includes the lowest raised circle on both sides! It's crucial and lets the tape rotate (picture 5 & 6). Look at the rest of the photos to get some ideas on how to do it, because it is kinda a translucent plastic, you can hold it up to the light and make marks around it, then cut from the other side like I did.

Next I just cut it out with a Dremel (picture 3) and sanded the edges to get it round.

Note, the "floor" of the tape measure will be sanded away, there only needs to be the raised circle. (If you compare the 6th and 8th picture, you'll see that I did not keep the floor and sanded it off so the only thickness was the raised circle. Also look at the last picture. I'm sorry I know that is a little confusing i'm not very good with words 😬)

Cool! Once all the pieces are fully sanded we can get ready to glue!

Here we go. Start off by sanding one of the power brick's insides so the super glue can grab to it's surface. I used the side with the "85W MagSafe Power Adapter" text.

Now position the tape roll where you'd like it to go, make note that if you took out the angle piece that holds the outlet adapter cable to compensate for it - unless you don't care. From there mark the center where the long piece (piece 1) will be glued.

Before you glue test out and see if the whole assembly will come together by fitting the long piece (piece 1) into the tape roll and fitting the shorter piece (piece 2) on top of the long piece as if it was in the original tape measure. You may have to uncomfortably place the tape in the sides but do not let that tap uncoil. Also!! make sure the piece is in the original orientation it was in when it was in the original tape measure. Mine was vertical when the top right corner of the case id the hole.

Once you've finished testing you can super glue the long piece onto the rough side of the tape measure; Picture 6 for reference. Now to cut the tape entry hole.

Alright so here comes the fun part! Use your Dremel to start cutting on one side and keep putting your tape measure it to make sure it fits and slides correctly! My hole is 8mm tall and 2cm wide (ON ONE SIDE!!!) if you want something to base it off of. Once your hole is good enough, mirror it to the other side. It also helps to compare it to the original tape measure case (if you haven't thrown it away already).

I'd recommend putting the two sides together and to keep testing and making sure everything works together. If you'd like to put the tape measure in its spot and get it in action, put it on its peg - MAKING SURE the metal piece gets in between the peg - and rotating the whole tape clockwise 6 times or until it gives you the response you want.

Now that the two holes are cut you can test fit it. Put the two pieces together - including the tape - and put piece 2 over piece one (picture 8). If there's gaps that's totally fine, you won't be able to completely cover the gaps, but now you can adjust that by slowly sanding off layers of piece two. Careful not to completely sand the raised circle.

You're almost done! Now to polish it up.

Put everything into place as if you were to put it back together, the 3 things that will need to be changed are the 3 parts of the latch. Unfortunately you can't use the metal part since it interferes with the tape opening, but i like the latch being flappy anyways. 😁

Now align the latch with where it will go and cut it off! Attempt one (Picture 4) was to snip it but the plastic was too thick! At least it made a mark I could use as a guide for the Dremel.

Yes i'm not using the common circle bit, mine broke, i'm sure it would've been easier using that bit but it's good to work with what you got. Get's you to practice overcoming the unexpected!

Then I did some sanding, I didn't overdo it too much but you put however much time you want to into it. Last is to get the other piece that sits under the tape and cut it. This one was thin enough to snip.

Last thing, I didn't actually do this to my tape measure yet but I have a part that you can 3D print to go into the hole to make it look a little nicer! I'll attach it below as an STL file.

Now put everything in place, test fit it one more time and put it together! You can use super glue or some other method. Personally I didn't do anything yet but the tension has kept it together well.

Marvel at the fact that you put in time and effort into making this, give yourself a pat on the back, and thank God that it's over!

Thanks to you all who read through this whole thing! It really means something to me that I can help other people be creative and do things. If you are going to make one yourself i'd love to see it!

Also!!!!! I'm adding this to the Trash to Treasure contest and if you really liked it I'd appreciate if you voted me up over there. 😋

Enjoy your new tape measure and God bless!!!

The fitness gram pacer test is a- nah jk lol.

Open both tape measure and power brick; gut them. Take the two pieces that hold the tape off of the tape measure and put them in the power brick case. Cut the power brick an opening for the tape to come out of. Twist the tape back into the power brick case, returning tension. Adjust and cut the flaps. Close it all up however you like. vwala. u done.