Heat Shrink USB Mod

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Got some extra heat shrink tubing? Here is a quick and easy case mod for a USB stick! Yes, this is another USB case mod... But don't get upset, this one has never been done before! It's fairly straight forward to do, and pretty cool.

Step 1: Supplies

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You will need the following for this project:

Tools:

Scissors - $2.00
Lighter - $2.00

Materials:

Large Heat Shrink Tubing (any color, I chose yellow) - $2.00
USB Stick - $20.00

i thought i am the only one do this

we are Dicore heat shrink tubing supplier, could supply this heat shrink for USB mod, just visit us at www.dicoretubing.com

So, what was the size of the heatshrink tubing? I know it says Large on the instructable, but when I look at sites like this: http://www.heatshrink.com/heat_shrink_tubing/b2_spl.asp -- it says to "choose a size". Should I just measure the USB stick across and go from there?

how u added led

I like it!, but I would go for the clear heat shrink, so that you can see the inner workings.

You could just throw the drive on the ground, that usually works for me.

i like this. simple, easy to do and looks good

Pretty cool. I did the same thing to an old USB stick that the case broke on...still works to this day...and a lot smaller then the old case.

coooool

Where can I buy heat shrink tubing?

Electronic store :D

I added a piece of acrylic plastic to make sure it was rigid and wouldnt snap in my pocket, kept it clear so i could see the micro LED light up

Great idea! And cool (mindraping :P) picture!

whoa.. i will try...since shrinksble tube is available at my workshop...

a way to improve it would be to fold a piece over the end before you shrink over it that way it is not exposed

very nice idea I like you're thinking, personally i use heat shrink tubing on everything, this is the kind of project I would like

Very nice image! Proffessional Quality! FREAKIN' AWSOME!! ( haha! ITS DANCING! HAHAHA)

Thank-You.

Can you please make an Instructable on that image? It's amazing :D

<a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/make-a-3d-looking-image/">http://www.instructables.com/id/make-a-3d-looking-image/</a>

yes i love your awesome image. and great instructable btw!

polystyrene (aka shrinky dink plastic film) goes shrinky at around 350 degree F. Or at least, the home-made #6 plastic versions I got to make as a kid do (think clear salad take-out container). For any Lead-free solder, this should be a safe enough temperature. Older lead solder(or Chinese fake imports that did not actually pass RoHS testing, but slipped through customs or were bought on a trip to the Asian mainland) ARE in the danger zone at shrinky dink temperatures. You MAY get away with SHORT times at those temperatures, but don't count on it. The reason flames don't kill the flash drives is that, while shrinking, the heat shrink is also acting as a thermal insulator. The temp inside the heat-shrink is usually a lowly 120F. By the time the heat-shrink actually finishes shrinking, you've removed the flame, and only as small amount of thermal transfer sinks into the chip, and very quickly cools. Considerably more heat gets put to the chip during it's initial soldering during manufacture, so no worries there.

once again, very unigue, i have had the same idea, but i just never got to buying some heat shrink....i wonder if that shrinky-dink stuff would work...

Shrinky-Dink?

<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=shrinky%20dinks&gbv=2&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=iw">clicky</a>

Can't you possible damage the USB by getting it too hot?

Maybe, but not likely. I got mine pretty hot, and it's plugged into my computer beside me, working perfectly fine.

Noice. And cool image :P

About This Instructable

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Arbitror Check out my blog! Follow 130

Bio: One of my favorite hobbies is dismantling electronics, then either combining them together to create something new, or adding components to make them better. I ... More »

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