Geek Bag - 101 uses for a dead keyboard part 1

OK, there probably aren't actually 101 totally different uses for a dead keyboard but we will see how far we get.

Our local Geek Central - "The Electron Club" ( http://carrierdetect.com/?cat=23 ) - in Glasgow has provided me with a crate of dead keyboards in preparation for the workshops at the upcoming Scottish maker fair: McMADSAT, so I needed to be ready to use up the pile of parts accumulating on the living room floor.

There are already some excellent ones on Instructables:
1 Keyboard as planter or seed sprouter: http://carrierdetect.com/?cat=23
2. Keyboard keys as drawing pins/thumbtacks: http://www.instructables.com/id/Keyboard_Thumbtacks/
3. Keyboard keys as beads: http://www.instructables.com/id/Wintereenmus-ideas-Keyboard-Bracelet/
4. Keyboard badges and name plates: http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-Techie-Name-Badge/ and http://www.instructables.com/id/Geeky_Valentines_Name_Sign/
5. Keyboard films as wallets: http://www.instructables.com/id/Wallet-made-from-a-computer-keyboard/
6. Coat rack: http://www.instructables.com/id/Apple-puck-mousekeyboard-coat-rack/
7. Keyboard in a bottle decoration: http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Simple-Keyboard-in-a-Bottle-Decoration/
8. T-shirt modding: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-cool-cyberpunk-top-using-keyboard-bi/
9. Kelendar: http://www.instructables.com/id/Keylendar/

I will obviously be using some of these but of course wont be posting them as my ideas unless the method is altered substantially.

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This bag is the first in my own series, but with the above, brings the running total to date to 10

Step 1 What you need

Obviously you are going to need an old keyboard, which you take to pieces. Undo all visible screws, pull the cable off and cut away any circuitry. Pull all the keys off.

For this bag you need:
the base plate, If you have any choice - choose a very flat, lightweight base plate. Cut away any sticky-out bits on the inside.
some keys
the cable. NOT the curly kind. You need the straight kind, or you will go mad in step 3.
Some fabric or perhaps some soft plastic, bike inner tube or anything like that, as long as it is soft enough to force a sewing needle through.

You will also need some simple tools:
A very large sewing (darning) needle, such as is usually used for wool.
Stanley knife or a saw if the base plate is thick
Drill or soldering iron (for making holes)

Comments

[Noblevagrant]

I have to admit that thumbnail picture had me thinkin it was an AT-AT bag..

[NatureBoom21]

Yeah.....Me 2

[bounty1012]

lol

[mg0930mg]

Nice! Five Stars...

[lemonie]

Chunky! That'd hurt if you hit someone with it. What did you glue the keys on with? L

[greensteam]

I used a hot glue gun but super glue or double sided sticky foam tape would do it too. Our former (unlamented) lady prime minister went in for pretty terrifying handbags too......

[lemonie]

Yes, that's sort of what I was thinking of... L