Floppy Disk Bag: Install Disk 2

 by imanalchemist
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Nigh on two years ago, I began working on my first floppy disk bag (second picture) and then on my first instructable. Within those two years, the bag has been blogged around the world, won an instructables.com contest and various art awards, been presented in various galleries and the Oregon Museum of Craft, and has even been featured on German public television.
More important than that, however, is that immediately after publishing the instructable, people began making their own bags, improving on my design, and posting suggestions for people interested in making their own. Thus is the nature of instructables.com.
I never revisit projects, I feel that instead I could be working on one of the many half finished projects encroaching on my living space; However, I needed a laptop bag, and have always wanted to incorporate into the original design the two best ideas posed by other bag makers:
- A canvas lining
- Using a binding material other than hard-to-find jump-rings

This rather long instructable features two sub-instructables:
- How to Tie A Square Knot
- How to Prevent Fraying in Cotton Webbing Without Glues

Please read through the instructable in its entirety before taking on this project because it has two different "things you will need" pages and an interlude about adhesives.
Add EL wire here: [http://www.instructables.com/id/Floppy_Disk_Bag_Retrofit_EL_Wire]
 
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Step 1: What's wrong with the old bag?

As you can tell from the pictures, the old bag began to fall apart where the flap meets the back. When wearing the bag, bending over causes the bag to compress, over time this led to the jump rings tearing through the weak areas of the floppy disk.
For this new bag, since we aren't limited by the size of the jump rings, we can drill the holes further away from the edge of the disk, reducing the possibility of tearing.
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softenersreviews says: Mar 2, 2013. 4:07 AM
yaaahhh!!!...I wish I can have a bag like that...
awesomecreations says: Dec 13, 2012. 10:30 AM
Ummm... Those aren't FLOPPY disks, but nice work anyway. How long did it take you to make your first one?
destructopop says: Jun 21, 2011. 3:17 AM
I think my favourite part of the new one is how clean and professional the final bag looks. If you used black zip ties, new black floppies (like yours), and similar hardware, it would be (in my opinion) a professional enough no-frills briefcase... Albeit way cooler and more original than your co-workers'!
Rabi-Chan says: Mar 29, 2011. 1:28 PM
Has anyone done a stress test with this bag? such as the total amount of weight that the bag can withstand? I'm wondering this because I'm a full time student and i carry a lot of books and a laptop so i wanted to see if the bag can handle my hectic semester.
crjeea says: Sep 6, 2010. 1:32 PM
Hmm... I think im going to make a floppy disk PC case... that is if i can find enough dead floppy disks (:
storygarvie says: Mar 31, 2010. 5:48 PM
I put the floppies in position on an old white towel,  then used an awl to punch through the towel, which held the hole-shape really well until I could get the ziptie through the hole and towel.  Plus I don't have a sewing machine so I didn't have to hem the towel.
storygarvie says: Jan 22, 2010. 2:56 PM
 I just rescued a whole mess of floppies destined for the trash bin at my work and I'm totally making this bag.  What do you think of using colored zip ties instead of twine?  I like the yellow on black contrast, but I don't think I have the patience to tie so many knots.
ogmosic in reply to storygarvieMar 31, 2010. 11:30 AM
I built 2 versions of this bag. One the size mentioned above and another smaller one. I made both using small ZipTies and no fabric.

I had the same idea of using ZipTies with the fabric but was unsure how to proceed. Use a knife and cut small holes? Any suggestions?
imanalchemist (author) in reply to ogmosicMar 31, 2010. 12:58 PM
I would suggest using some sort of punch, a large needle, or a small hobby knife would work fine.
todddiskin says: Mar 26, 2010. 10:38 AM
Rather than the footman's loop, one might be able to weave the strap in such a manner that it would loop through the bag, supporting the bottom. I have a cardboard bag that is very similar in dimension to this bag and the strap is exposed, supporting the bottom of the bag, "weaves" into the bag on the side and then back out at the top. One could easily do this by having the strap support the bottom of the bag on the outside, weave it through the space between the disks on the bottom and the bottom disk on the side (make a slot through the canvas, of course), then allowing the strap to come out through the space between the bottom of the top disk on the side.

MoDYezariael says: Dec 28, 2009. 7:06 AM
Since I had to buy new floppies I just used the box as a template although duct tape was my second choice since I had nothing at home to make a template. Another nice side effect is that my wooden breakfast plate now has cool holes in it ^.^
imanalchemist (author) in reply to MoDYezariaelDec 28, 2009. 10:26 PM
that's the smartest thing I've ever heard. I never would have thought of that. thank you
azaana says: Aug 6, 2009. 4:21 AM
I used a old computer cable and removed the screws which secure it then used the holes in the floppys to secure it to my bag.
azaana says: Aug 2, 2009. 12:44 PM
i was making a jig but then realized it was to much effort when you can just use duct tape to hold them together, for an all the more simpler method
red-king says: Jun 12, 2009. 11:27 AM
I have a ton of floppy disks somewhere... once i find them this might be what happens to them.
EtherPants says: Apr 28, 2009. 1:08 PM
Bah the image didn't attach
Picture 044.jpg
EtherPants says: Apr 27, 2009. 1:54 PM
Just finished my own floppy bag after working on and off since winter break. I had fun gathering up the more colorful ones and am proud to say it has exactly 42 disks. The strap is a couple of belts from goodwill
Iridium7 says: Apr 2, 2009. 6:37 PM
That is a good instructable! my bag was actually based off the old bag but the holes farther apart but secured by zip ties.
Canadarocker says: Oct 15, 2008. 5:59 PM
Looks much better then the first and more flexy (or how every you spell that) nice job.
mg0930mg in reply to CanadarockerMar 8, 2009. 4:13 PM
you would say flexible. ;D
imanalchemist (author) in reply to mg0930mgMar 8, 2009. 9:24 PM
would I?
mg0930mg in reply to imanalchemistMar 9, 2009. 11:59 AM
Yes, at least I hope you would...
imanalchemist (author) says: Feb 13, 2009. 1:12 PM
yes, yes you could.
BlankJebus says: Feb 12, 2009. 4:15 PM
couldn't you use a guitar strap for this? because most are still comfortable after wearing them for ling periods of time and they have the loops on the ends already.
stunnedmullet07 says: Jan 29, 2009. 9:33 PM
This is the bag my Girlfriend and I made, we used cable ties because it's a lot quicker and less hassle. We got the discs, the canvas and bag strap from the local tip shop.
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aliceownsj00 says: Aug 14, 2008. 3:10 AM
I love it, who says floppies are out of date? Next shall we try to do a CD purse?
phant0m_sp00f3ra in reply to aliceownsj00Jan 3, 2009. 10:05 AM
i've done that. Not as good, because it was effing hard for me to get a good (and actually practical) pattern.
imanalchemist (author) in reply to phant0m_sp00f3raJan 3, 2009. 1:11 PM
pics?
phant0m_sp00f3ra in reply to imanalchemistJan 4, 2009. 11:27 AM
i'll upload em when i get to my Computer. Its strrongly based on duct tape and CD, more a proof of concept.
phant0m_sp00f3ra says: Jan 3, 2009. 10:05 AM
[quote]Floppy Disks: 42 disks are used in the bag, so in a box of 50 you get some to practice on.[/Quote]

your bag is certainly conspiring against us, but Don't panic!
hc92 says: Dec 17, 2008. 9:06 AM
are you ok with people making thses these and selling them?
imanalchemist (author) in reply to hc92Dec 18, 2008. 11:55 AM
Nope, it's licensed under a non-commercial share share-alike creative commons license. I would rather that it was available free to everyone.
kburesh says: Sep 28, 2008. 11:30 AM
is the sobo glue in the picture any good?
imanalchemist (author) in reply to kbureshSep 28, 2008. 12:10 PM
The sobo glue is a great craft glue and firmly affixed the canvas to the diskettes.
kburesh says: Sep 28, 2008. 10:54 AM
Is the canvas to make it steady or something, what are the differences in the bag ( not meaning looks)
imanalchemist (author) in reply to kbureshSep 28, 2008. 12:10 PM
The canvas is to provide a sturdy backing for the floppy disks to make for a stronger bag. I provided more detailed instructions for attaching the strap and provided alternatives to the hard-to-find jump-rings
KreaKatri says: Sep 27, 2008. 9:37 AM
Where do you get those footman's loops? I have no idea where to look, and I have no idea what they are called in my language either, which makes it even harder to find them :)
imanalchemist (author) in reply to KreaKatriSep 27, 2008. 11:44 AM
If you can't find them at sporting goods stores or military surplus stores, you should be able to find them at boating stores. if you are still can't find them, try eBay what language would that be?
KreaKatri in reply to imanalchemistSep 28, 2008. 2:40 AM
Okay, thanks. With 4 possibilities it should be able to find them. :) That would be danish. (Denmark is a part of Scandinavia)
MrL33TPenguin says: Aug 16, 2008. 3:41 AM
I just finished on my second bag!!!! It's isn't a messenger bag, but it is a backpack. Here are some pics. Hope you people like it.
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