Flash Drive Rescue Kit!

by gmgfarrand in Circuits > USB

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Flash Drive Rescue Kit!

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Ok, so it gets tiring to carry a CD case around, it even gets old either having a pocket full of USB Flash Drives rattling around, either in a carry case or not.

This Instructable came about from such annoyance..
I usually have USB Flash Drives, a Micro-SDHC card reader and several different micro SD's that have various bootable linux/PE/ tools on them.

Why not have em in one clean package??

*Please feel free to comment!

Find a Container!

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For this project, I found a waterproof "pill" bottle.
you can find something like this at most pharmacies or even large grocery stores.

Make sure the length looks OK for the drives.

Choose Your Weapons....

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Find suitable subjects for this project.
I'm using:
16GB PNY Attache
16GB Mushkin
16GB MicroSDHC
and for giggles, a Sony 1GB


It's Time to Strip Baby!

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Some drives, like the PNY, come apart without much fanfare..


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The Mushkin needed a little coaxing...
In most cases where the drive case is sealed, I use a thin blade such as the one found in my Swiss Army wallet card.

I slide the blade into the end with the USB plug between the metal and the plastic and a twist of the blade usually does it, you may have to do from both sides of the connector.


Check Your Fit!

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Since you can always put the drives back together, now would be a good time to see if you need glasses or not and check to see if your flash drives will fit in this little bugger.


Protect Your Bits!

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Ok, so this turned out a little ugly.
I used an old can of PLASTIDIP to slather the rubber onto the bare USB drives.

IDEALLY, with a new can or even a spray, you will have better results, AND remember, this stuff will peel off in case you ever change your mind.

I did this to protect them from banging together and ESD/handling.

Make sure you either avoid covering the LED lights or know where they are so you can "excavate" them later.

Put em all back in the container, screw the lid on, and be about your business!