Any sane geek would think that something as cool as Maxwell Smart's shoe-phone would be everywhere. You'd think there'd be a company or two selling them online, and the internet would be filled with hobbyists boasting about how proud they are of them.
But it's only ever been done once. That's right, there has only ever been one wearable working shoe-phone made. And it was made by a guy named Dr Paul Gardner-Stephen in Adelaide (in the world's sexiest country), who hasn't yet fully documented how he did it here. He also made a shoe bluetooth-headset, and thankfully he provided plenty of details. If you're ever looking to make a shoe-phone that's a little more technical than mine, he's the guy to talk to.
Anyway, due to the detail he provides, this instructable is largely based on Paul's shoe-headset, except... with a phone.
Things you'll need:
1. A nice-looking pair of shoes with wooden heels. The heels need to be big enough to fit a box 77x43x17 mm. If they cant, you'll have bits sticking out.
2. A Panasonic GD55. I.e. a SERIOUSLY tiny phone.
3. Big feet (to put in the big shoes)
This is where I got it all:
1. Shoes from a local op shop. I had to go to a few to find something that was good, but I found them eventually - $10
2. Phone from Ebay. And it came with a free headset - $46
3. Feet... well, I've had them for a while...
Tools:
1. Dremel
2. Kitchen knife and fork
3. Strong glue (Liquid Nails)
4. A tiny little Hex screwdriver
5. A drill
6. A jigsaw
To make sure your shoe has wooden heels, look at the side of the shoe. You should be able to see a small line between the base of the heel and the wooden bit.
Or, if you're lazy, you can just buy this one on eBay.
But it's only ever been done once. That's right, there has only ever been one wearable working shoe-phone made. And it was made by a guy named Dr Paul Gardner-Stephen in Adelaide (in the world's sexiest country), who hasn't yet fully documented how he did it here. He also made a shoe bluetooth-headset, and thankfully he provided plenty of details. If you're ever looking to make a shoe-phone that's a little more technical than mine, he's the guy to talk to.
Anyway, due to the detail he provides, this instructable is largely based on Paul's shoe-headset, except... with a phone.
Things you'll need:
1. A nice-looking pair of shoes with wooden heels. The heels need to be big enough to fit a box 77x43x17 mm. If they cant, you'll have bits sticking out.
2. A Panasonic GD55. I.e. a SERIOUSLY tiny phone.
3. Big feet (to put in the big shoes)
This is where I got it all:
1. Shoes from a local op shop. I had to go to a few to find something that was good, but I found them eventually - $10
2. Phone from Ebay. And it came with a free headset - $46
3. Feet... well, I've had them for a while...
Tools:
1. Dremel
2. Kitchen knife and fork
3. Strong glue (Liquid Nails)
4. A tiny little Hex screwdriver
5. A drill
6. A jigsaw
To make sure your shoe has wooden heels, look at the side of the shoe. You should be able to see a small line between the base of the heel and the wooden bit.
Or, if you're lazy, you can just buy this one on eBay.
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Signing UpStep 1: Opening the shoe
The rubber base of the heel should be attached by some nails (four in my case) and some nice strong glue. Slide something thin between the wood and the rubber, and then gradually try to prise it away.
I started with a craft knife, widened the gap until I could use a dinner knife, widened the gap further, then inserted a fork. I used the fork as a crowbar, and finally managed to prise the rubber from the bottom.
Keep the rubber bit somewhere safe.
Now do the exact same thing with the wooden bit. You should now have three pieces - the shoe, the wooden heel, and and rubber heel-sole. Put them all aside for a bit.
I started with a craft knife, widened the gap until I could use a dinner knife, widened the gap further, then inserted a fork. I used the fork as a crowbar, and finally managed to prise the rubber from the bottom.
Keep the rubber bit somewhere safe.
Now do the exact same thing with the wooden bit. You should now have three pieces - the shoe, the wooden heel, and and rubber heel-sole. Put them all aside for a bit.
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Of course, it is even more fun to use in real life, including when an interview about the shoe phone gets interrupted by the shoe phone ringing. Although the strangest moment so far would have to be when it first rang when I was driving.
Dr. Paul Gardner-Stephen