Wallet made from a computer keyboard

In all likelihood there is a keyboard within a few feet of you. Inside that keyboard there probably is a circuit sheet that makes for a surprisingly durable and thin material for making a wallet.

Any mention of this project must provide a link to www.zieak.com with credit to Ryan McFarland.

Why? In taking apart electronics i find uses for most of the parts. Things which can not be reused go into scrap piles for recycling. But these sheets couldn't be easily reused and probably can not be recycled. I tried using overhead transparency sheets that had been printed on for a customized clear wallet pattern but the sheets mark when folded or creased. These circuit sheets are extremely durable.

You'll need:
A desktop computer keyboard (for the circuit sheet and a metal piece as a straight edge)
A screwdriver to open the keyboard
A ruler or tape measure
A cutting board or cutting mat
A razor knife
Sharp scissors
A roll of clear packing tape

The fine folks at HowCast have made a video from my Instructable...

Step 1: Open the keyboard

All of the keyboards i have opened have used a series of small Phillips screws to secure the top and bottom pieces. Remove them and open the keyboard. There probably is a sheet of metal secured with more screws. Remove the screws and set the sheet of metal aside to use as a straight edge during your cutting. Next is the circuit sheet which should be quite easy to remove.

Comments

[signposts]

Absolutely loved this instructable well made, well explained, great job. Heres mine.

[frenzy]

This posting has won today's "I Made It" Challenge. For winning you will receive a 3 month pro membership!

Thanks for using instructables!

http://www.instructables.com/community/I-Made-It-Challenge-Is-Back-Win-A-Pro-Membership/

[KoKotheTalkingApe]

Fantastic! I wonder if tent repair tape would work well. It is very thin nylon fabric with strong, permanent adhesive that seems to be UV-resistant. It might stand up to repeated flexing better than packing tape.

[kylezo]

I'd like to add a middle flap, but I can't figure out how. Advice? What's it affixed to?

[blossom9283]

I might do this for my hubby for Christmas, it seems I have to get him a new wallet every year. (Can I say George Costanza wallet). Maybe this will help him to keep a neat and thus non falling apart wallet.

[mr magic]

Great, I had one for a while too.origami pattern out of same stuff ,otherwise same concept.
they last for ages

[Frostytheswimmer]

This is the probably the coolest thing I've made on Instructables so far.
I made it about 2 years ago and it's been my favorite wallet ever, hands down. Every time I whip it out for a quick purchase, there's usually someone who marvels at the superb craftsmanship of it, but mostly it's someone wondering how geeky you can get.
Props to you Zieak.

[zieak]

Thank you!

[Major627]

Probably one of the greatest nerd ideas ever.

[infob]

Done. Using it. Thanks.

[acarden]

Made this for my computer geek boyfriend. Added an extra card slot and an ID slot. Can't seem to keep it closed though, hopefully will mould more with time. Great instruct

[monsterlego]

Did this today. very cool!

[monsterlego]

Cool and easy!

imma make it.

[PJEC]

This is a great instructable, I love it. What would it look like if you put maybe bits of white plastic bag in the middle of it to make the circuit boards show up really well?

[Xombie Doll]

this is awesome

[snowflake81]

Loved this instructable! I made mine smaller, 15x9,5cm (the size of a 50euros bill, i never get higher value ones ;D ) and you put in the cards the other side.

[bilbo1195]

I printed a circuit on a transparent sheet and did the same thing as the instructable

[braxtonb110]

Awesome instructable good job just made mine turned out terrific

[ppatches24]

I love this wallet so much i have used it for a while and all my friends asked were i got it hahahaha thanks for the sweet project

[zieak]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing!

[geoschiss]

If you use the fiber reinforced shipping tape it will last much longer. Just make sure to keep the "grain" of the tape across (not with) the area being taped.

[raumthemad]

I took this idea and made a custom tri-fold wallet with 6 card slots: One windowed card slot (for driver's license) on the leftmost panel, two stacked card slots with a "secret compartment"-style slot behind them on the center, and then just two tiered card slots on the right panel. Instead of tape, I used something called "drafting applique", which is a very very thin layer of plastic with a super-strong adhesive on the other side that comes in paper-sized sheets. I was able to custom-cut tape in all sorts of odd shapes.
Even with six cards loaded in the wallet, it is about an eighth of an inch thick and only slightly larger than the average-sized credit card.

[glowe997]

cheersthis is a great help :)

[gabry207]

great idea!! here is mine:

[zieak]

Cool!

[Deslivres]

That was great n_n I saw your Instructable over the summer (shortly after my students and I dismantled a bunch of old keyboards) and thought I'd mix your idea with the trusty old duct tape wallet.

[zieak]

Ooohhh... I like the way the circuit sheets really show well!

[Deslivres]

Yeah, it was a pretty great surprise ! Polishing the concept, and then they're off to Etsy.

[madamcrumpworthy]

Made one as a present fro a friend today, love it so much I'm going to make my own. I added an extra flap in the middle for more cards.

[zieak]

That's great! I like your extra card hold holders.

[Stormed Wolf]

The only thing i have to say is Take your time. i took about 2 hours to make mine and it looks really nice. one bad thing is, i had to leave this under my mattress for about 8-12 hours to break it in and make the middle fold more permanent

[stu2theMax]

This has got to be one of the sweetest wallets I have ever seen. I've made a wallet 100% out of packing tape so its transparent. But how you came up this one i greatly commend you for. Thanx for sharing.

[dungeon runner]

Haha, you mean everyone can see the exact contents of your wallet at all times? Something tells me that was a bad move ;). JKLOL -Y

[Stormed Wolf]

Yeah, i thought of that too, but I just made one of these for fun and was very impressed with how it turned out, I won't use it as my everyday/keep all my important things in it, but more as a carrying around 30/40 dollars without them getting crumpled in my pocket type wallet

[abgpieceofcheese]

Great instructable! Mine didn't turn out as well as I had hoped it would, mostly because I'm an idiot though :P

[AronWanderer]

This was awesome. I made one today. I used a laptop keyboard which gave cooler colors in my opinion. It is a little smaller than yours, so I had to use the foil backing off the keyboard for the inside of the wallet, which was then covered by card pocket made from the circuit board. So, end result, a bi-fold wallet that may provide some RFID blocking, but looks like it's made completely from circuit board. Without anything in it it's very sparkly :)

[SushiFish]

Hmmm what else do you have in your pocket of endless tools? :D

[nagutron]

I just wrote an instructable for a new version of the wallet, with some refinements. Your comments and ideas would be much appreciated!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Keyboard-Circuitry-Wallet-Version-2/

[nagutron]

Oh, and a quick preview:

[boa123]

Hi, I have made the wallet and it works well, however I have still got quite an excess of the plastic sheets from keyboard, and I was wondering what else I could use this excess for.