How to Make a Fancy Case for Organizing Computer Storage Devices

A common issue especially for those who go back and forth between the same two countries is to manage multiple sim cards, the miniscule size of such devices makes it almost impossible to take care of them for more than 6 months. My solution to this problem is to use a card sized case used to organize tiny items such as your computer storage devices(usb, sd and micro sd cards), dongles and most importantly your sim cards.

• Cardboard - quality cardboard that is about 1-2mm thick thats often found in recyclable food packaging material (or you can buy sheets from a store) [https://amzn.in/d/0eQJTP4f]

• Craft Glue (Fevicol preferred) - a quality glue is essential you could use glue used for sticking wood or cardboard [https://amzn.in/d/0aKP1HC9]

• Cheap earphones - our main objective here is to get two tiny magnets (1 extra) and a metal strip that attracts magnets however if you get them from a stationery shop thats fine too! [https://amzn.in/d/05P2XfZi]

• Additional tools if any will be mentioned above each step

NOTE: I will be referring to the following parts as LID, MAIN PLATE and BASE PLATE as shown in the above image

TOOLS: Xacto Blade, Fine tip pen

1. Trace an outline of any credit or business card using a fine tip pen, and arrange your most used devices inside the outline.
2. Make sure to balance out the weight when arranging your devices ( I made this mistake lol), because when you try to pick the case it can topple to the heavier side.
3. Space out your devices, don't place too many devices in a single case (or you could make separate cases for different purposes eg: for work, for your camera etc....)
4. Now hold each device in place using your finger, take your time on this one, the more time you take the better will be the fit.
5. Then cut the paper out using a fresh new blade to ensure that it is extremely precise

TOOLS: Xacto blade, Scissors, Cello-tape, Craft Glue (Fevicol)

Your paper template is now ready!!!

A technique often used in woodworking is crisscrossing the wood grain which combines the tensile strength along the parallel grain and the sturdiness along the perpendicular grain to form a strong structure as a whole. The same layer by layer method will be used when making this case and the grain of each layer of cardboard will be perpendicular to the previous layer

1. Stick the paper template parallel to the grain of the cardboard, as shown in the image using cello-tape on all four sides of the paper template
2. Now cut the inner outlines of the paper template carefully using a fresh new blade to ensure a perfect fit.
3. Once thats done, cut along the perimeter of the paper template, theres your first cardboard layer!
4. When cutting the subsequent layers there are two main things to keep in mind:
5. Finding how thick the case should be to fit all your components (measure the width of the largest component)
6. Planning out the depth of each hole, because otherwise the device will be stuck inside if the hole is too deep!
7. For example:
8. I cut a hole for a sim ejection tool (second row on the right of the main plate) and stopped right at the first layer because cutting any further would make it impossible to get out once pushed in, and then cut upto two layers for a USB that was about 2mm thick
9. However I cut all the way through for the sim card slot so that I can store more than just one of them. Also keep in mind that small micro devices such as micro sd cards and sim cards can break if pulled from the wrong direction, for example: when I made the hole for the sim cards I ensured that the gold portion was facing upwards (I felt there was a smaller chance of it breaking that way) but again this happens with trial and error so starts breaking those old sim cards if you gottem ;) .

TOOLS: Xacto blade, Scissors, Craft Glue (Fevicol)

This is purely to add to the finished look of the main plate and can be ignored.

1. Firstly, carefully pull apart the paper from the cardboard, as shown in the images above
2. Cut it into thin strips, a little more than the width of your case
3. Add glue along perimeter of the main plate , one edge at a time.
4. Once you have added the glue to an edge, making sure the strip is straight and there aren't any wrinkles, hold it down on the table for about 1-2 minutes.
5. Repeat this for all four sides and cut of the excess, only when you are sure it is dry!!



The above image shows the exact order in which I dismantled my earphones, here is good tutorial on how to do it!!

[https://www.instructables.com/DISMANTLE-EARPHONES/]

Keep the parts circled A (magnet) and B(a metal strip thats attracted to magnets) safe for later.

1. Stick the Main Plate diagonally to the cardboard using fevicol (I did this just because I wanted the design from a certain portion of the cardboard)
2. Once dry, carefully cut along the sides of the Main Plate
3. Additionally make some holes on the base plate, that fit a small portion of your thumb, to help get certain components out, if they have a tight fit.

TOOLS: Xacto blade, Hammer, Super Glue, Fevicol

Note: I am using a metal strip and a magnet over here, but if you find a small enough magnet you can even use two magnets (inserting the small magnet into the side of the main plate, instead of a metal strip) this reduces the chances of the lid opening on its own.

Main Plate

1. Take the part B from Step 4 and hammer it down to form a flat sheet
2. Cut either side of the metal along the diameter to give a rectangle of about 5mm width. (Second Image)
3. Find a nice space where you want the magnet to be, and cut a hole into the side of the main plate as shown in the Third Image.
4. Now push the metal strip into the hole that you have created , don't rush this step!!! If it doesn't fit make sure you use a knife to make enough space.
5. Then put a small dab of super glue to ensure that the metal strip is never coming out lol.
6. Finally, place a magnet over the region where you placed the metal strip to ensure the magnet actually sticks!

Lid

1. Once again using the Main plate as an outline to cut out a rectangular piece of cardboard for the lid. (Sixth Image)
2. Now keeping the magnet in place on the main plate place the lid on top to get a rough measurement of where the hole for the magnet has to be cut, lengthwise.( Seventh Image)
3. Then leave about 2mm space(widthwise) from the edge of the cardboard and trace out the magnet on the lid. (Eighth image).
4. Cut the circle that you have made making sure to cut only a layer of paper and the corrugated layer of the cardboard.
5. Now put a dab of super glue in the hole and place the magnet inside it.
6. For a final check, ensure the magnet on the lid is perfectly aligned with the metal strip on the main plate.

TOOLS: Xacto Knife, Fevicol

We're almost there!

1. Take a piece of cardboard that is 5cm by 5cm and peel of the paper layer ( First Image)
2. Now placing the lid over the main plate (magnetically attached) stick the paper about 1cm from the edge using fevicol.
3. Once thats dried, add fevicol to the side of the main plate. (Third Image)
4. Finally cut off the excess, the excess should look something like the Fourth image.

As the hinge dries make sure to move it once in a while so that it doesn't stiffen too much making it difficult to open the lid.

Thats pretty much it!!!

Heres the final product.

Hope you guys enjoyed this Instructable!

~Daniel